Nikki 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 (FMLA) violations, and violations of California employment and labor laws, including the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Additionally, Nikki 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.
Prior to joining Mintz, Nikki was an associate with a full-service law firm in San Diego, where she represented clients in individual and class action lawsuits at the federal, state, and administrative levels. Nikki also counseled clients on day-to-day human resources matters and drafted employment-related documents, including employee handbooks, transportation liability waivers, executive severance agreements involving exercise of stock options, and arbitration agreements.
Earlier Nikki was an associate in the St. Louis office of a global employment and labor law practice, and practiced in the Chicago and Los Angeles offices of another large law firm, where she handled both commercial and employment litigation matters and maintained an active pro bono practice. After earning her JD, Nikki was an Environmental Attorney Fellow at the Environmental Law and Policy Center in Chicago.
In law school, Nikki was staff editor of the Washington University Law Review. She also spent a semester as an exchange student at Hong Kong University, and served as a judicial internal to the Honorable Mary Ann Medler, then a federal magistrate judge on the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
She has authored several articles on employment and labor law topics for national publications, including Bender’s Labor and Employment Bulletin.
viewpoints
DEI & Affirmative Action – A Challenge with Consequences
September 24, 2024 | Webinar | By Jennifer Rubin, Nicole Rivers
In their webinar, “DEI & Affirmative Action – A Challenge with Consequences,” Member and ESG Co-chair Jen Rubin and Associate Nikki Rivers offered practical solutions for navigating these rulings, which are specifically geared toward in-house counsel and HR professionals.
California Employers: the July 1, 2024 California Violence Prevention Deadline is Quickly Approaching – Do You Know What Your Obligations Are?
June 14, 2024 | Alert | By Kevin Kim, Nicole Rivers, Jennifer Rubin
A gentle reminder for California employers: the clock is ticking on your obligations to prepare a workplace violence prevention plan and conduct a training session on that plan under California’s new violence prevention plan law (SB 553).
What the FTC’s New Rule on Non-Competes Means for M&A and Private Equity Transactions
May 23, 2024 | Article | By Benjamin Ferrucci, Brendan Lowd, Nicole Rivers, Zachary Liebnick
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s new rule to ban most post-employment non-compete agreements could significantly impact M&A and private equity transactions. Assuming it withstands legal challenges, the rule will require buyers and private equity sponsors to rethink many of their asset protection strategies.
ESG Political Partisanship: Guidance for In House Counsel
February 7, 2024 | Podcast | By Jennifer Rubin, Alexander Hecht, Nicole Rivers
ESG is today’s political football. As Americans take sides and root for their home teams, companies find themselves at the crux of a battlefield that pitches corporate values, strategy, and reputation against a shifting and dynamic legal and political landscape. This informative panel discussed practical strategies in-house counsel may employ to tackle ESG-related challenges.
Do as I Say And as I Do – California Amends Its Non-Compete Law
September 18, 2023 | Blog | By Nicole Rivers, Jennifer Rubin
On the heels of the New York and FTC non-competition legislation (discussed here and here), Governor Newsom recently signed an amendment to California’s non-compete ban into law. The amendment, S.B. 699, takes effect on January 1, 2024.
Webinar Recording: Boilerplate Contract Clauses Through the Litigator’s Lens: Starting the New Year off Right
January 30, 2023 | Webinar | By Andrew D. Skale , Daniel Pascucci, Nicole Rivers
This program focuses on pitfalls and risks of using boilerplate contract language in business contracts and recent developments in employment law that make arbitration agreements more favorable if drafted correctly.
Cal/OSHA Revised Guidance Effective January 14, 2022
January 13, 2022 | Blog | By Nicole Rivers, Paul Huston, Jennifer Rubin
News & Press
'Spycraft' by Employers Raising Alarm as Technology Advances
October 10, 2024
Associate Nikki Rivers spoke on a panel this week at the Association of Corporate Counsel’s annual meeting in Nashville, and some of her insights were quoted by Corporate Counsel in an article about the intersection of hybrid/remote work and the risk of IP theft. The article discusses how employers have increased surveillance of their employees, which could lead to conflict over related legal and ethical considerations.
The Best Lawyers in America 2025 Recognizes 184 Mintz Attorneys across 56 Practice Areas
August 15, 2024
187 Mintz attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, three Mintz attorneys received 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 64 firm attorneys were included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
Court Finds Employer Had Legitimate Reason to Fire Nurse Who Complained of Discrimination
November 9, 2023
Associate Nicole Rivers was quoted in a SHRM article providing insights on workplace behavior policies in the context of a recent case where an Alabama nurse lost a racial discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against Crestwood Healthcare.
Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
Nikki Rivers Selected As A Finalist In San Diego Business Journal’s 40 Next Top Business Leaders Under 40
August 10, 2023
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.
BOSTON and SAN DIEGO – Chambers & Partners has named two Mintz attorneys as finalists for its 2023 Chambers USA Awards, which celebrates firms and individuals who are furthering the advancement of diversity and inclusion across the United States (U.S.).
SAN DIEGO – Mintz is pleased to announce that four attorneys have been named San Diego Super Lawyers and three have been recognized as Rising Stars in the 2023 edition of the annual publication.
Chair of Mintz’s ESG practice group, Jennifer B. Rubin and Associate Nicole Rivers co-authored an article published by Bloomberg Law about the National Labor Relations Board's McLaren Macomb decision and its proposed limits on non-disparagement and confidentiality. Jen and Nicole explain, "Employers should carefully consider who counts as a ‘supervisor’ when drafting non-disparagement and confidentiality clauses in separation agreements after the NLRB’s McLaren Macomb decision."
Three Mintz Attorneys To Participate In Leadership Council On Legal Diversity Programs
January 24, 2023
BOSTON- Mintz is pleased to announce that Associate Rachel Gholston has been selected to participate in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s (LCLD) 2023 Fellows Program, while Associates Jason Burrell and Nicole Rivers have been selected to participate in the LCLD 2023 Pathfinders Program.
Unlawfully Restrictive Covenants Must Be Redacted
January 17, 2023
Members Randy Jones, Anthony Nash, and Associate Nicole Rivers co-authored an article published by The Daily Journal analyzing discriminatory racial covenants and their presence in California housing deeds.
How Mintz's San Diego Office Is Working to Dismantle Systemic Racism, Police Brutality
November 14, 2022
Mintz was handed the Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion Award at the California Legal Awards. The firm's nomination was featured in an article published by The Recorder where Member Randy Jones and Associate Nicole Rivers discussed how the firm is working to end systemic racism and police brutality in America.
Mintz Awarded For Innovation In Diversity And Inclusion At California Legal Awards
November 04, 2022
Mintz is pleased to announce that it has won the Innovation In Diversity and Inclusion award at the California Law Awards. The award recognizes firms that are making meaningful impact and seeing concrete results in the legal community.
Events & Speaking
Arbitration: A True Alternative for Dispute Resolution? Practical Guidance for Real Estate Practitioners
American Bar Association
Marriott Marquis Washington, DC
CRISIS in the C-Suite – A Playbook for In-House Counsel
Mintz, 3580 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite 300 San Diego, CA 92130
Recognition & Awards
Featured in Best Lawyers in America Ones to Watch, Labor and Employment Law - Employee; Labor and Employment Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment (2024 - 2025)
Recipient, Innovations in Diversity and Inclusion Award (2022), California Law Awards
San Diego Business Journal 40 Under 40 Next Top Business Leaders - Winner (2022)
San Diego Super Lawyers: Rising Stars - Business Litigation (2022 – 2024)
Super Lawyers: Included on the list of Illinois Rising Stars (2014 – 2017)
Involvement
- Member, National Employment Law Council
Recent Insights
Associate Nikki Rivers spoke on a panel this week at the Association of Corporate Counsel’s annual meeting in Nashville, and some of her insights were quoted by Corporate Counsel in an article about the intersection of hybrid/remote work and the risk of IP theft. The article discusses how employers have increased surveillance of their employees, which could lead to conflict over related legal and ethical considerations.
DEI & Affirmative Action – A Challenge with Consequences
September 24, 2024| Webinar|
187 Mintz attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, three Mintz attorneys received 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 64 firm attorneys were included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
