Featured Practices
Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk concentrates her practice on the defense of white collar criminal prosecutions, government and regulatory investigations, and complex civil litigation.
Nicole leverages her strong litigation experience to advise clients on navigating the unique challenges of parallel criminal, civil, and regulatory proceedings.
A significant portion of Nicole’s practice is devoted to the representation of health care providers in state and federal criminal investigations and prosecutions, and parallel civil proceedings. She has successfully defended clients in a variety of related areas, including workers’ compensation fraud, false billing, improper referrals, compound medications, and physician-owned distributorships.
Nicole also has extensive experience defending clients in criminal matters related to government contracting fraud, mortgage fraud, and labor violations, as well as civil qui tam actions and business disputes.
Prior to joining Bird Marella in 2012, Nicole served as law clerk to the Honorable Josephine Staton of the United States District Court for the Central District of California and practiced for three years as a litigation associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
Education & Admissions
- Harvard Law School, J.D., 2008
- University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., 2005
- California, 2008
Associations
- Member, Board of Directors, Los Angeles Chapter, Federal Bar Association
- Member, Women’s White Collar Defense Association
- Member, Hispanic National Bar Association
- Fellow, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
- Former Member, Advisory Board for the Western Center on Law & Poverty
Notable Matters
Represents a major league sports team in relation to multiple high-profile investigations.
Represents a British aerospace company in internal investigation and counseling matters relating to false claims allegations.
Achieved dismissal of federal criminal complaint charging executive with participating in government contracting fraud scheme.
Achieved complete dismissal of civil complaint alleging company executive engaged in fraud, misrepresentations, and civil conspiracy in connection with government contracts, and dismissal of all fraud and misrepresentation counts against the company.
Achieved dismissal of 26 felony counts on behalf of employee of construction firm charged with wage theft and fraud.
Won dismissal of 24 charges in a high profile grand jury indictment described by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office as the largest health care fraud in California history. Twenty-one of the now-dismissed counts carried a potential life sentence.
Obtained dismissal of 89 out of 90 counts, including counts of insurance fraud and involuntary manslaughter, on behalf of a client accused of allegedly masterminding a $100 million medical workers’ compensation fraud scheme. After obtaining an order from the California Supreme Court requiring the review of the Orange County District Attorney’s grand jury practices, the Court of Appeal granted a writ petition, resulting in the Court dismissing all but one count.
Represented a physician accused of accepting kickbacks and falsifying billing records in a federal health care fraud investigation. The client was granted immunity as a result of Nicole’s efforts.
Achieved dismissal of claims brought against the Chairman and CEO of a health care company in a civil case involving alleged improper billing, unfair competition, and fraud.
Obtained complete dismissal of a federal action seeking contribution from an international law firm under Section 18(b) of the Securities Act of 1934.
Awards & Recognition
- Ranked (Up and Coming), Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Chambers USA, 2021-present
- Lawdragon 500 X - The Next Generation, 2023
- Rising Star: White Collar, Law360, 2022
- Top 40 Under 40, Daily Journal, 2022
- Top Women Lawyers, Daily Journal, 2022
- California Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation, 2022
- Local Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation, 2022
- Top 250 Women in Litigation, Benchmark Litigation, 2021-present
- Next Generation Lawyer of the Year, Century City Bar Association, 2021
- Minority Leaders of Influence: Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2021
- Top Women Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2020
- Southern California Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2020-present
- Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Health Care Law, Best Lawyers®, 2019-present
- Health Care Law Trailblazers, National Law Journal, 2019
- Under 40 Hot List, Benchmark Litigation, 2018-2022
- Southern California Rising Stars (Up-and-Coming 100), Super Lawyers Magazine, 2016-2018
- Women Southern California Rising Stars (Up-and-Coming 50), Super Lawyers Magazine, 2018
- Most Influential Women Lawyers, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2017-2018
- Women’s Summit Nominee, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2016
Publications
- Contributor, “California: An Introduction to Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations,” Chambers and Partners USA, May 2021
- Co-Author, “Strategic Compliance: The Benefit of a Results-Oriented Approach to Corporate Compliance Programmes,” Fraud & White Collar Crime 2020 Expert Guide, Corporate LiveWire, October 2020
News & Insights
Record Number of Bird Marella Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers®
Bird Marella is proud to announce the inclusion of 26 lawyers in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® by U.S. …
Friday, August 18, 2023
Go to the postNicole Rodriguez Van Dyk Named Among Top Women Litigators in the Nation
Principal Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk has been named among Benchmark Litigation‘s national list of Top 250 Women in Litigation. The list features the top women lawyers “from …
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Go to the postBird Marella Wins Complete Dismissal of Criminal Healthcare Fraud Case
Principals Benjamin Gluck and Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk, along with associate Naomi Solomon, won the dismissal of a criminal healthcare fraud complaint after five years of litigation. …
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Go to the postThree Bird Marella Principals Named to Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation
Principals Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk, Gopi Panchapakesan, and Julia Cherlow have been named to the inaugural list of the 2023 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation. The …
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Go to the postBird Marella Earns Firm Recognition in Entertainment as Principals Advance in 2023 Chambers USA Rankings
Chambers and Partners, internationally regarded as one of the primary arbiters of achievementin the legal profession, recognizes Bird Marella in its 2023 rankings of the top lawyers and …
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Go to the postBenjamin Gluck and Ariel Neuman Named Lawyers of the Year as 20 Bird Marella Attorneys Recognized Among the 2023 Best Lawyers in America®
Bird Marella is proud to announce the inclusion of 20 lawyers in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch by U.S. News. Benjamin …
Friday, August 19, 2022
Go to the post