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Nicole Dania Lueddeke

Associate, Litigation Department

nicolelueddeke@paulhastings.com

Los Angeles

Phone: +1-213-683-6116
Fax: +1-213-996-3116

Overview

Nicole Dania Lueddeke is an associate in the Litigation Department and focuses her practice on complex litigation and multi-jurisdictional disputes, white collar defense and internal investigations.

In state and federal courts and arbitrations, Nicole represents a broad range of clients in the Americas, Europe and Asia.  She has extensive experience in all stages of litigation, from pre-filing through trial and appeal, and in state and federal investigations, from pre-indictment and pre-disclosure through resolution. Nicole defends individuals and corporations in high-stakes disputes involving fraud, trade secrets, securities litigation, class actions and contract disputes; and in criminal cases involving anti-corruption and regulatory violations. She advises clients in pre-litigation disputes, risk assessment and mitigation strategies; counsels on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), False Claims Act (FCA) and compliance remediation; and heads investigations in defense of U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and state attorneys general enforcement actions. Her practice cuts across various industries, including life sciences, financial services, consumer goods and technology.

Prior to joining Paul Hastings, Nicole served as judicial law clerk to the Honorable Otis D. Wright II of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Accolades

  • Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers, Daily Journal
  • White Collar Rising Star, Law360
  • Top White Collar Lawyers, Daily Journal
  • Women of Influence: Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal
  • Top Women Lawyers, Daily Journal
  • The Next Generation: Complex Litigation, Lawdragon
  • On the Rise-Top 40 Young Lawyers, American Bar Association
  • West Trailblazers, The American Lawyer

Representations

  • Co-founder of South Korean blockchain cryptocurrency platform against allegations of wire fraud, securities fraud and commodities fraud arising from $45 billion market capitalization collapse.
  • A medical technology company in parallel DOJ and SEC investigations into alleged improper grants violating U.S. anti-bribery laws and FCPA compliance in Japan.
  • SVP of global private banking group against allegations of Swiss Banking Act, U.S. tax and anti-money laundering violations tied to Russian private-client deposits.
  • A biotechnology company in DOJ False Claims Act investigation arising from civil investigative demand concerning alleged cybersecurity representations to FDA and related Medicare reimbursement practices.
  • A private university in highly publicized “Varsity Blues” college admissions investigation by DOJ involving alleged bribery, honest-services wire fraud and related federal criminal violations.
  • A financial institution in DOJ civil asset forfeiture action involving major U.S. real estate holdings allegedly tied to money laundering and unlawful proceeds.
  • A Ret. U.S. Navy Adm. in “Fat Leonard” federal corruption case involving alleged conspiracy, bribery and fraud charges in the “worst corruption scandal in the history of the Navy.” All charges dismissed with prejudice following a nearly five-month jury trial.
  • A Japanese medical device company in DOJ investigation involving alleged improper payments and distributor-related kickback schemes across the Americas, Europe and Asia.
  • A pharmaceutical company in SEC investigation involving alleged SOX, Dodd-Frank, insider trading and securities fraud violations arising from clinical trial disclosures and material omissions. 
  • A financial services company providing earned wage access services in civil investigations by multistate attorneys general related to alleged violations of state consumer protection and deceptive trade practices statutes.
  • An Asia-focused technology investment fund in obtaining and defending enforcement of arbitration award through initial proceedings, subsequent action and appeal arising from disputes over the formation of an international entity.
  • A national real estate development company in action involving fraud claims in multiple lawsuits for allegedly defective structural design, construction and development of mixed-use skyscraper. 
  • The CEO of venture capital firm in DOJ investigation led by U.S. Special Counsel involving alleged meetings with presidential advisors and foreign officials from Russia and the UAE; represented client in three separate appearances before Special Counsel.
  • A mobile streaming video platform in designing and implementing global anti-bribery, anti-corruption and FCPA compliance framework and programs.
  • An international telecommunications provider in DOJ investigation into alleged tax evasion and fraud involving cross-border financial transactions and regulatory exposure.
  • The CFO of information technology company in SEC investigation against allegations of tax fraud related to improper revenue reporting under GAAP.   
  • A rent-to-own corporation in five-year long investigation into alleged consumer practices violations related to Karnette Rental-Purchase Act by California Attorney General.
  • A Delaware investment fund in alleged breach of contract and declaratory relief litigation arising from holographic display advertising agreements for national retail chain.

News

Accolades

Insights

Engagement & Publications

Speaking Engagements

  • “From Law School to Clerkship: Navigating the Judicial Clerkship Process,” Paul Hastings Panel Series, Moderator 
     (March 4 2026)
  • “Paul Hastings: Ethnicity & Intersectionality,” Chambers Associate, Podcast Guest (May 2, 2022)
  • “Taking the Steps to Federal Court,” Federal Bar Association, Panelist (February 17, 2022)
  • “State Attorneys General Investigations,” Paul Hastings Investigations and White-Collar Defense, Best Practices 
     Series, Moderator (November 10, 2021)
  • “Defining Your Impact as a Leader,” Paul Hastings Global Diversity & Inclusion Women’s Initiative, Panel Series, 
     Moderator (March 31, 2021)

Publications

  • “Federal Litigation and Enforcement Trends for Colleges and Universities: Core Federal Enforcement Risks,” Paul 
     Hastings Client Alerts, Co-author (March 23, 2026)
  • “Senate Democrats Propose Doubling FCPA Statute of Limitations,” Paul Hastings Client Alerts, Co-author (March 
     16, 2026)
  • “Sign on the Dotted Line: Compliance Certifications by CEOs and CCOs A Likely Requirement,” Lexology, Co-author 
     (July 27, 2022)
  • “Pharma Industry Can Expect More Scrutiny from State AGs,” Law360, Co-author (March 24, 2021)
  • “INSIGHT: Cybercrime is Rising - How to Protect your Financial Firm,” Bloomberg Law, Co-author (June 4, 2020)
  • “From Lockdown to a Showdown: What Questions Should Companies Consider Pertaining to the Authority of the 
     Federal or State Governments to Reopen the Economy?” Paul Hastings Client Alerts, Co-author (April 22, 2020)
  • “The Attorney Proffer and the Increased Risk of Waiving Work Product Protection,” California Bar Journal, Co-
     author (May 31, 2018)
  • “Searching for Fraud on the Market,” Daily Journal, Co-author (March 19, 2018)

Involvement

  • Vice-chair – Paul Hastings; Summer Associate Committee
  • Co-chair – Paul Hastings Affinity Network’s (PHAN) Global Diversity and Inclusion Council; Los Angeles Women's Network
  • Certificate Holder – Healthcare Compliance Program with a Specialization in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
  • Member – Paul Hastings Steering Committee; Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
  • Member –Paul Hastings Talent Development Committee
  • Member – Federal Bar Association, Los Angeles Chapter, Litigation Section
  • Member – Los Angeles County Bar Association, Litigation Section
  • Member – Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Los Angeles
  • Pro Bono Attorney – KIND (Kids in Need of Defense) serving as legal counsel to unaccompanied immigrant children in the United States
  • Co-honoree – American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California 2017 Homeless Rights Advocacy Award
  • Member –American Bar Association, Litigation Section

Practice Areas

Litigation

White Collar Defense

Anti-Corruption and FCPA

Investigations and White Collar Defense

Life Sciences and Healthcare

Compliance & Regulatory Counseling


Languages

Spanish

English


Admissions

California Bar


Education

University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, J.D. 2014

University of California, Los Angeles, B.A. 2010