SAN DIEGO – Mintz is pleased to announce that Nicole (Nikki) Rivers has been selected as a finalist in San Diego Business Journal’s (SDBJ) 40 Next Top Business Leaders Under 40 2023. According to the publication, this list honors young professionals – leaders, change makers and innovators – who are making waves, creating impact, and leaving a positive mark on the San Diego community.

Ms. Rivers defends employers of all sizes in high-stakes employment litigation and labor matters and counsels clients on employment best practices. She has provided representation in complex cases involving claims of wage and hour violations, harassment, retaliation, discrimination, breach of employment agreements, Family and Medical Leave Act violations, and violations of California employment and labor laws, including the Private Attorneys General Act, the California Family Rights Act, and the Fair Employment and Housing Act. Additionally, Ms. Rivers counsels businesses and institutions on voluntary affirmative action efforts and diversity programs, and has worked alongside federal contractors to guide them through their affirmative action responsibilities and requirements. 

Further to the SDBJ recognition, Ms. Rivers was recently honored by Chambers USA in the Diversity & Inclusion: Future Leader category for her contributions to Mintz’s Addressing Racial Inequality Group, which seeks to end systemic racism and police brutality in America. The Group's initiatives include mentoring programs for diverse law students, community education, and high impact litigation. In partnership with the ACLU Foundation of San Diego and Imperial Counties, Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance, and Brody McBride Law, the Group recently secured a settlement for client Christina Griffin-Jones in a federal lawsuit against the City of San Diego, challenging the San Diego Police Department's cell phone seizure practices and which resulted in changes to those practices.

Moreover, Ms. Rivers was also selected to the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s 2023 Pathfinders Program, which is designed to train high-performing, early-career attorneys in critical career development strategies including leadership and the building of professional networks.

For more information about Mintz, please visit www.mintz.com.