Areas of Focus
Nicole Allen is widely recognized for her work defending Fortune 500 companies in high-profile class action cases alleging market manipulation, securities and commodities fraud, and antitrust claims worth billions of dollars. Nicole also has extensive experience representing companies in high-profile investigations, including criminal matters initiated by the Department of Justice.
She represents clients in a variety of industries, with a particular emphasis on energy and agricultural companies, having defended some of the largest energy and agricultural companies in the world in matters against the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Internal Revenue Service, and in private litigation. She has also defended broker-dealers, investment advisors, energy companies, and multi-national agricultural and food and beverage companies in cases involving market manipulation, securities fraud, bribery, antitrust violations, and breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract claims.
Nicole recently represented the nation’s largest utility in a Department of Justice criminal investigation involving allegations of bribery, resolving the matter and winning dismissal of related class action cases brought in federal and state court. She also won dismissal of a securities class action involving allegations of bribery and corruption on behalf of a large Ohio utility.
Prior to joining Jenner & Block, Nicole worked for DaimlerChrysler AG in Corporate Union Relations. She represented DaimlerChrysler in labor contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers, and was responsible for investigating and responding to charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Sometimes the biggest victories come when you get involved in a matter early on and you're able to resolve it without criminal charges or regulatory actions. It's not good for collecting headlines, but it's great from the client’s perspective.
Areas of Focus
Representative Matters
- Represented nation’s largest utility in a Department of Justice investigation involving allegations of bribery and corruption, resolved with no charges against the parent company and a deferred prosecution agreement for the utility subsidiary.
- Won dismissal on behalf of a national utility of federal and state class action cases seeking billions in damages and asserting claims under RICO, the Consumer Fraud Act, the Public Utilities Act, and for civil conspiracy.
- Defended and successfully resolved a class action case on behalf of a large agricultural company, alleging market manipulation and fraud and seeking over $400 million in damages.
- Successfully resolved, without litigation, a Department of Justice investigation of a Fortune 500 company for alleged violations of the False Claims Act seeking over $1 billion in damages.
- Secured dismissal of a securities class action alleging bribery and corruption against an Ohio utility.
- Defended and successfully resolved a Commodity Future Trading Commission enforcement action brought against a Fortune 500 food and beverage companies in federal court and alleging commodity manipulation and antitrust violations.
Credentials
Service / Recognition
Overview
Nicole Allen is widely recognized for her work defending Fortune 500 companies in high-profile class action cases alleging market manipulation, securities and commodities fraud, and antitrust claims worth billions of dollars. Nicole also has extensive experience representing companies in high-profile investigations, including criminal matters initiated by the Department of Justice.
She represents clients in a variety of industries, with a particular emphasis on energy and agricultural companies, having defended some of the largest energy and agricultural companies in the world in matters against the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Internal Revenue Service, and in private litigation. She has also defended broker-dealers, investment advisors, energy companies, and multi-national agricultural and food and beverage companies in cases involving market manipulation, securities fraud, bribery, antitrust violations, and breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract claims.
Nicole recently represented the nation’s largest utility in a Department of Justice criminal investigation involving allegations of bribery, resolving the matter and winning dismissal of related class action cases brought in federal and state court. She also won dismissal of a securities class action involving allegations of bribery and corruption on behalf of a large Ohio utility.
Prior to joining Jenner & Block, Nicole worked for DaimlerChrysler AG in Corporate Union Relations. She represented DaimlerChrysler in labor contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers, and was responsible for investigating and responding to charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Sometimes the biggest victories come when you get involved in a matter early on and you're able to resolve it without criminal charges or regulatory actions. It's not good for collecting headlines, but it's great from the client’s perspective.
Areas of Focus
Representative Matters
- Represented nation’s largest utility in a Department of Justice investigation involving allegations of bribery and corruption, resolved with no charges against the parent company and a deferred prosecution agreement for the utility subsidiary.
- Won dismissal on behalf of a national utility of federal and state class action cases seeking billions in damages and asserting claims under RICO, the Consumer Fraud Act, the Public Utilities Act, and for civil conspiracy.
- Defended and successfully resolved a class action case on behalf of a large agricultural company, alleging market manipulation and fraud and seeking over $400 million in damages.
- Successfully resolved, without litigation, a Department of Justice investigation of a Fortune 500 company for alleged violations of the False Claims Act seeking over $1 billion in damages.
- Secured dismissal of a securities class action alleging bribery and corruption against an Ohio utility.
- Defended and successfully resolved a Commodity Future Trading Commission enforcement action brought against a Fortune 500 food and beverage companies in federal court and alleging commodity manipulation and antitrust violations.
Credentials
Admissions
- Illinois, 2008
- Ohio, 2024
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, JD, cum laude, 2008
- University of Michigan, Ross School of Business, BBA, Concentrations in Finance & Management; with distinction, 2003
Court Admissions
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 2013
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2008
- US District Court, Southern District of Illinois, 2010
Service / Recognition
Awards
- The American Lawyer, Midwest Trailblazer, Financial Services Litigation, 2023
- The BTI Class Action Leaders, 2026
- Crains Chicago Business, Notable Women in Law, 2026
- Illinois Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Criminal Defense: White Collar, 2012-2021
- National Association of Professional Women, Woman of the Year, 2011, 2012
Community
- Foundations of Music, Junior Board of Directors, Member
- University of Michigan Law Alumni Club of Chicago, Member
Service to the Bar
- Chicago Bar Association, Member, 2008