Carolyn G. Nussbaum

Carolyn G. Nussbaum

Victor, NY recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2003
Nixon Peabody LLP

199 Best Lawyers awards

Nixon Peabody LLP logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Arbitration Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation Corporate Governance Law Litigation - Banking and Finance Litigation - Labor and Employment Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions Litigation - Securities

Biography

Carolyn Nussbaum is a partner in the Commercial Litigation group, and a member of the Securities and Governance Litigation team as well as the Class Action team. Carolyn represents companies and their management and leaders who confront business disputes. She is also the Managing Partner for the Rochester office of the firm, where she oversees policies impacting nearly 300 employees.

What do you focus on?

I concentrate my commercial litigation practice in four main specialized areas, using more than 30 years of experience in the courtroom to represent clients in securities and governance, trade secret, financial and complex contract disputes.

Securities and Governance Litigation

I counsel officers, directors and their companies confronting a threat of a securities or governance claim, with the goal of minimizing the risk of litigation and business disruption and helping them achieve their objectives. When litigation is unavoidable, I defend and advocate on behalf of my clients, bringing my extensive experience in this highly specialized area of the law to bear for the best practical and efficient resolution. I have a record of achieving dismissal of lawsuits on preliminary motions challenging transformative transactions.

Financial Institutions Representation

I represent local, regional and national financial institutions in the defense of claims by borrowers, consumers, and others, including consumer class actions, fraudulent transfers, and the investigation and defense of claims from suspected fraud by customers, counter-parties and employees. My experience includes defending Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claims, claims regarding disclosures at ATMs and claims arising out of customer misconduct.

Trade Secrets

One of the most important investments a business must make is in the protection of its intellectual property. When my client’s investment is threatened, whether by employees or competitors, I act quickly and aggressively to stop the damage, to seek redress and to achieve business objectives.

Business Litigation

I work with clients to explore strategies to prompt expedient efficient results to business disputes. Recently, I represented a global information and document management company faced with arbitration claims by nearly 100 members of its distribution chain, seeking in excess of $100 million in damages. Using creative case management techniques and rapidly evolving law from the United States Supreme Court, we assisted the client in reaching a business resolution that avoided the distraction and expense of continued litigation.

Nixon Peabody LLP

199 Best Lawyers awards

Nixon Peabody LLP logo

Overview

  • The George Washington University, J.D., graduated 1981
  • Smith College, BA

  • New York, New York State Bar Association
  • District of Columbia, District of Columbia Bar Association

  • American Arbitration Association - member
  • Rochester Area Community Foundation - Board member

  • United States Court of Appeals
  • United States Supreme Court
  • New York, New York State Bar Association
  • District of Columbia, District of Columbia Bar Association
  • American Arbitration Association - member
  • Rochester Area Community Foundation - Board member
  • The George Washington University, J.D., graduated 1981
  • Smith College, BA
  • United States Court of Appeals
  • United States Supreme Court

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Corporate Governance Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Litigation - Securities Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Arbitration Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Corporate Governance Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Arbitration Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Litigation - Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Litigation - Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Litigation - Securities
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions, Rochester, NY (2025)
  • Corporate Governance Law, Rochester, NY (2024)
  • Litigation - Securities, Rochester, NY (2024)
  • Arbitration, Rochester, NY (2023)
  • Corporate Governance Law, Rochester, NY (2021)
  • Arbitration, Rochester, NY (2020)
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Rochester, NY (2019)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Rochester, NY (2018)
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Rochester, NY (2017)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Rochester, NY (2015)
  • Litigation - Securities, Rochester, NY (2014)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Arbitration
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Corporate Governance Law
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Litigation - Securities
Special Focus:
  • Civil Litigation
  • Class Actions
  • Complex Litigation
  • Contract Disputes
  • Corporate Governance
  • Securities
  • Stockholders' Suits
Awards:
  • “Top Women in Law” award recipient by the Daily Record
  • New York Upstate Super Lawyers magazine, she has been selected as one of the Top 25 Women annually since 2007
  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review RatingTM from Martindale Hubbell®
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2016

Additional Information

  • Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

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