Nichole T. Browning

OF COUNSEL

Nichole T. Browning has represented clients in a range of complex litigation matters, including shareholder derivative actions, securities fraud class actions, consumer class actions, and antitrust litigation.  She has handled all aspects of case management from inception through trial and appeals.  Ms. Browning spearheads Robbins Umeda LLP's settlement group, and focuses her practice on negotiating and documenting complex litigation settlements.

Before joining Robbins Umeda LLP in 2011, Ms. Browning was a senior associate at the San Francisco office of Barroway Topaz Kessler Meltzer & Check, LLP, where she represented shareholders throughout the United States in complex litigation involving securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative actions.  Earlier in her career, Ms. Browning worked for preeminent Atlanta-based firms prosecuting and defending complex litigation, including securities fraud and antitrust class actions.

Ms. Browning earned her Juris Doctor degree from the American University, Washington College of Law. While in law school, Ms. Browning was a moot court finalist and studied law at Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia and the Universidad de Chile/Diego Portales in Santiago, Chile.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Emory University.

Selected Noteworthy Cases

• Atmel Corporation, In re Atmel Corp. Derivative Litig., No. 06-4592 (Aug. 13, 2010 N.D. Cal.):  Ms. Browning acted as co-lead counsel in this shareholder derivative action involving stock option backdating at a high-tech company based in Silicon Valley.  The case ultimately secured $9.65 million for the company and the implementation of significant corporate governance reforms, including a strengthened process for granting and documenting the issuance of employee stock option awards and enhanced independence of the board of directors.

• Stone Energy Corporation, In re Stone Energy Corp. Sec. Litig., No. 6:05CV2088 (Mar. 23, 2010 W.D. La.):  Ms. Browning represented a pension fund in this securities fraud class action alleging that Stone Energy, an oil company, had misstated their financial results by overvaluing its oil reserves through improper and aggressive reserve methodologies.  The case ultimately secured $10.5 million in cash for the class of shareholders.

• Apple Computer, Inc., In re Apple Computer, Inc. Derivative Litig., No. C-06-04128 (Nov. 10, 2008 N.D. Cal.):  Ms. Browning played an instrumental role in recovering $14 million for the company in this shareholder derivative action involving stock option backdating at Apple Computer.  Ms. Browning helped prosecute plaintiffs' claims, and supported team efforts that prompted Apple to implement cutting edge corporate governance practices.