Nina is an incredibly accomplished litigator with impressive trial experience. In her work on product liability, premises liability, and personal injury cases, Nina has successfully defended major clients, including major vehicle and RV manufacturers, railroads, amusement park owners, water slide manufacturers, construction equipment makers, retail businesses, movie producers, and many more.

As an associate, Nina played a crucial role in a notable two-month-long jury trial, skillfully defending a major vehicle manufacturer against a requested $103 million jury award. Her team achieved a complete defense verdict after the jury deliberated for only one hour.

Not only is Nina a shark in the courtroom, she also excels in appellate work as well. In 2023, the Fourth Appellate District, Division Three of the California Court of Appeal published a favorable decision in an appeal Nina co-wrote (Smalley v. Subaru of America, Inc., No. G059904), upholding a manufacturer's properly-issued settlement offer pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure section 998. Based on Nina's work, the manufacturer, in that case, avoided having to pay nearly half a million dollars in attorney's fees, even though the plaintiff was the prevailing party at trial. This case has set precedent in California, properly holding that CCP Section 998 trumps the 'prevailing party' language awarding attorney's fees under the Song-Beverly Act.

Bar Admissions

• California

Education

• Pepperdine University School of Law, J.D.
• University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., Psychology

• Served as local counsel in obtaining a complete defense verdict in Yolo County Superior Court for a company providing consulting services related to urban forestry in a wrongful death case. After a 17-day trial, the jury found no liability for our client, while the co-defendant was found liable for over $24 million in damages.