Nicholas Ma is an associate in the firm’s Labor & Employment and Litigation practice groups.  Nicholas has significant experience in defending his clients in business, personal injury, and employment litigation.  Nicholas serves a diverse range of clients, including tech companies, financial institutions, public entities, religious institutions, and real estate developers.  In addition to defending his clients in various commercial litigation matters, Nicholas defends his clients in all areas of employment litigation, including against claims involving workplace harassment, discrimination, retaliation, PAGA, and wrongful termination.

Nicholas provides counseling and advice to employers on risk management and employee policy.  He also advises his clients through various government investigations, including investigations and inquiries under State and Federal Securities laws.

In addition to his labor and employment practice, Nicholas has successfully litigated business, general liability, landlord-tenant, real estate, fraud, and unfair competition disputes.  He has obtained favorable results for his clients through mediation, settlement, and multiple motions, including dispositive motions.

Before joining the Firm, Nicholas worked at a national law firm, representing clients in a variety of litigation matters, including defending claims in complex construction defect, products liability, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury litigation.

Nicholas attended the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where he focused on trial and appellate advocacy, securities regulation, and antitrust law.  He served as the Executive Articles Editor of the Hastings Business Law Journal and as a regular competitor on the nationally-ranked Hastings Moot Court Team.  Nicholas also provided corporate legal services to multiple tech companies in the Bay Area through the Hastings Startup Legal Garage.  Nicholas received multiple CALI awards at Hastings, including awards for Appellate Advocacy, Trial Advocacy, and Antitrust & Intellectual Property.

Outside of the office, Nicholas enjoys traveling, biking, and performing music.

Representative Cases:

• Successfully opposed a special motion to strike (also known as an anti-SLAPP motion), thereby preserving a tenant’s claims of extortionate conduct against his landlord in San Francisco County.
• Represented financial services technology provider through government investigations by various state and federal securities enforcement agencies.
• Negotiated nuisance value settlement on behalf of landowner in premises liability matter involving dog bite and “fear of rabies” claims.
• Negotiated nuisance value settlement on behalf of university following claims of defamation by an employee against university administration.

Speaking Engagements:

Weintraub Seminar Series

• Employment Law Update 2019; January 23, 2019