Carolyn G. Nussbaum

Carolyn G. Nussbaum


Nixon Peabody LLP

Recognized since 2003

Rochester, New York

Practice Areas

Arbitration

Bet-the-Company Litigation

Commercial Litigation

Corporate Governance Law

Litigation - Banking and Finance

Litigation - Labor and Employment

Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions

Litigation - Securities

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Corporate Governance Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Litigation - Securities Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Arbitration Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Corporate Governance Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Arbitration Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Litigation - Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Litigation - Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Litigation - Securities
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Carolyn Nussbaum is a partner in the Commercial Litigation group, and a member of the Securities and Governance Litigation team as well as the Class Action team. Carolyn represents companies and their management and leaders who confront business disputes. She is also the Managing Partner for the Rochester office of the firm, where she oversees policies impacting nearly 300 employees.

What do you focus on?

I concentrate my commercial litigation practice in four main specialized areas, using more than 30 years of experience in the courtroom to represent clients in securities and governance, trade secret, financial and complex contract disputes.

Securities and Governance Litigation

I counsel officers, directors and their companies confronting a threat of a securities or governance claim, with the goal of minimizing the risk of litigation and business disruption and helping them achieve their objectives. When litigation is unavoidable, I defend and advocate on behalf of my clients, bringing my extensive experience in this highly specialized area of the law to bear for the best practical and efficient resolution. I have a record of achieving dismissal of lawsuits on preliminary motions challenging transformative transactions.

Financial Institutions Representation

I represent local, regional and national financial institutions in the defense of claims by borrowers, consumers, and others, including consumer class actions, fraudulent transfers, and the investigation and defense of claims from suspected fraud by customers, counter-parties and employees. My experience includes defending Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claims, claims regarding disclosures at ATMs and claims arising out of customer misconduct.

Trade Secrets

One of the most important investments a business must make is in the protection of its intellectual property. When my client’s investment is threatened, whether by employees or competitors, I act quickly and aggressively to stop the damage, to seek redress and to achieve business objectives.

Business Litigation

I work with clients to explore strategies to prompt expedient efficient results to business disputes. Recently, I represented a global information and document management company faced with arbitration claims by nearly 100 members of its distribution chain, seeking in excess of $100 million in damages. Using creative case management techniques and rapidly evolving law from the United States Supreme Court, we assisted the client in reaching a business resolution that avoided the distraction and expense of continued litigation.

Location
  • 1300 Clinton Square
    Rochester, NY 14604-1792
Education
  • The George Washington University, J.D., graduated 1981
  • Smith College, BA
Bar Admissions
  • New York, New York State Bar Association
  • District of Columbia, District of Columbia Bar Association
Affiliations
  • American Arbitration Association - member
  • Rochester Area Community Foundation - Board member
Federal Clerkships
  • United States Court of Appeals
  • United States Supreme Court

Nixon Peabody LLP
Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts

195 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

94 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Corporate Governance Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Litigation - Securities Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Arbitration Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Corporate Governance Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Arbitration Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Litigation - Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Litigation - Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Litigation - Securities
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions, Rochester, NY (2025)
  • Corporate Governance Law, Rochester, NY (2024)
  • Litigation - Securities, Rochester, NY (2024)
  • Arbitration, Rochester, NY (2023)
  • Corporate Governance Law, Rochester, NY (2021)
  • Arbitration, Rochester, NY (2020)
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Rochester, NY (2019)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Rochester, NY (2018)
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Rochester, NY (2017)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Rochester, NY (2015)
  • Litigation - Securities, Rochester, NY (2014)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Arbitration
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Corporate Governance Law
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Litigation - Securities
Special Focus:
  • Civil Litigation
  • Class Actions
  • Complex Litigation
  • Contract Disputes
  • Corporate Governance
  • Securities
  • Stockholders' Suits
Awards:
  • “Top Women in Law” award recipient by the Daily Record
  • New York Upstate Super Lawyers magazine, she has been selected as one of the Top 25 Women annually since 2007
  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review RatingTM from Martindale Hubbell®
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2016

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Publications

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