Client Alerts
In October 2025, New York (the “State”) enacted Senate Bill S7882, adding Section 340-b to the New York General Business …
October 22, 2026
October 22, 2026 • 8-minute read
Nicole L. Castle
Partner
Antitrust
“I like to help clients navigate complex antitrust challenges with strategic, practical advice. Whether in litigation, investigations, or counseling, I provide solutions that deliver results and align with clients’ goals and business objectives.”
Overview
Nicole L. Castle provides strategic legal counsel in complex civil and criminal antitrust litigation. She has extensive experience representing clients in class action antitrust cases, including multidistrict litigation. Nicole also represents companies in merger and nonmerger antitrust investigations conducted by the Federal Trade Commission, United States Department of Justice, and state attorneys general.
Defended an American multinational technology company in various lawsuits against claims of false advertising and violation of state unfair competition statutes
Defended Mars, Incorporated in a multi-district class action price-fixing litigation, winning summary judgment for Mars, Incorporated In re Chocolate Confectionary Antitrust Litigation
Defended Stora Enso North America in a multi-district class action price-fixing litigation and in a criminal trial against the Department of Justice. After a five-day trial, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty In re Publication Paper Antitrust Litigation
Successfully defended hospital systems in several class actions alleging nurse wage-fixing conspiracy claims
Successfully defended Lockheed Martin against monopolization and tortious interference claims involving aftermarket service on P-3 aircraft
Defended Eagle Materials Inc. and American Gypsum Company LLC in a multidistrict litigation arising from allegations that defendants conspired to fix the price of gypsum wallboard in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act In re Domestic Drywall Antitrust Litigation
Defended two defendants in multidistrict litigation involving allegations that generic pharmaceutical manufacturers conspired to increase the price of generic pharmaceuticals in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act In re Generic Pharmaceuticals Antitrust Litigation
Represented a Fortune 500 American health care company in grand jury investigation which resulted in the DOJ pursuing no enforcement action
Defended multinational restaurant chain and its affiliates in putative class action in which a proposed class of employees challenged “no-poach” clauses in the company’s franchise agreement under federal and state antitrust laws
Capabilities
Credentials
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center, JD, cum laude, 2006
- College of William and Mary, BA, magna cum laude, 2003
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Massachusetts
- New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Recognitions
- Legal 500 U.S., Recommended Lawyer, 2023 and 2024; Antitrust: Cartel, 2026; Antitrust: Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense, 2026
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch 2021, Litigation – Antitrust
- Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under Hot List 2018–2021
- Selected to the Washington, D.C. Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2014–2016
- Selected to the New York Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2019 and 2020
Insights
Client Alerts
Q2 2026 Healthcare Antitrust and Competition Update
The pace of policy initiatives, legislation, enforcement actions, and private litigation related to antitrust and competition in the healthcare sector …
August 24, 2026
August 24, 2026 • 14-minute read
Client Alerts
FTC’s FY 2026-2030 Strategic Plan: Strong Enforcement Signals Despite Business-Friendly Tone
By Jason Powers, Adam Hudes, Nicole Castle, Reese Poncia, and Stephen Creighton* Overview The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) recently issued …
July 21, 2026
July 21, 2026 • 3-minute read
Client Alerts
Q1 2026 Healthcare Antitrust and Competition Update
The healthcare sector accounts for an increasingly significant component of the U.S. economy. Healthcare spending constitutes 18.0 percent of U.S. …
May 19, 2026
May 19, 2026 • 11-minute read
Client Alerts
2025 Energy & Chemicals Antitrust Report
Vinson & Elkins’ 2025 Energy & Chemicals Antitrust Report details how antitrust enforcement under the second Trump administration has shifted …
January 13, 2026 •
January 13, 2026 • 1-minute read
