Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk concentrates her practice on the defense of white collar criminal prosecutions, government and regulatory investigations, and complex civil litigation.

Nicole leverages her strong litigation experience to advise clients on navigating the unique challenges of parallel criminal, civil, and regulatory proceedings.

A significant portion of Nicole’s practice is devoted to the representation of health care providers in state and federal criminal investigations and prosecutions, and parallel civil proceedings. She has successfully defended clients in a variety of related areas, including workers’ compensation fraud, false billing, improper referrals, compound medications, and physician-owned distributorships.

Nicole also has extensive experience defending clients in criminal matters related to government contracting fraud, mortgage fraud, and labor violations, as well as civil qui tam actions and business disputes.

Prior to joining Bird Marella in 2012, Nicole served as law clerk to the Honorable Josephine Staton of the United States District Court for the Central District of California and practiced for three years as a litigation associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

Education

  • Harvard Law School, J.D., 2008
  • University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., 2005

Honors & Awards

  • Up and Coming, Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Chambers and Partners USA, 2021-present

  • Top 40 Under 40, Daily Journal, 2022

  • Rising Star: White Collar, Law360, 2022

  • Top Women Lawyers, Daily Journal, 2022

  • Women of Influence: Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2022

  • California Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation, 2022

  • Local Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation, 2022

  • Top 250 Women in Litigation, Benchmark Litigation, 2021-present

  • Next Generation Lawyer of the Year, Century City Bar Association, 2021

  • Minority Leaders of Influence: Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2021-2022

  • Top Women Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2020

  • Southern California Super Lawyers, Los Angeles Magazine, 2020-present

  • Best Lawyers in America, Health Care Law, Best Lawyers®, 2019-present

  • Health Care Law Trailblazers, National Law Journal, 2019

  • Under 40 Hot List, Benchmark Litigation, 2018-2021

  • Southern California Rising Stars (Up-and-Coming 100), Los Angeles Magazine, 2016-2018

  • Women Southern California Rising Stars (Up-and-Coming 50), Los Angeles Magazine, 2018

  • Most Influential Women Lawyers, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2017-2018

  • Women’s Summit Nominee, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2016

Representative Cases

  • Represents a major league sports team in relation to multiple high-profile investigations.

  • Represents a British aerospace company in internal investigation and counseling matters relating to false claims allegations.

  • Achieved dismissal of federal criminal complaint charging executive with participating in government contracting fraud scheme.

  • Achieved complete dismissal of civil complaint alleging company executive engaged in fraud, misrepresentations, and civil conspiracy in connection with government contracts, and dismissal of all fraud and misrepresentation counts against the company.

  • Achieved dismissal of 26 felony counts on behalf of employee of construction firm charged with wage theft and fraud.

  • Won dismissal of 24 charges in a high profile grand jury indictment described by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office as the largest health care fraud in California history. Twenty-one of the now-dismissed counts carried a potential life sentence.

  • Obtained dismissal of 89 out of 90 counts, including counts of insurance fraud and involuntary manslaughter, on behalf of a client accused of allegedly masterminding a $100 million medical workers’ compensation fraud scheme. After obtaining an order from the California Supreme Court requiring the review of the Orange County District Attorney’s grand jury practices, the Court of Appeal granted a writ petition, resulting in the Court dismissing all but one count.

  • Represented a physician accused of accepting kickbacks and falsifying billing records in a federal health care fraud investigation. The client was granted immunity as a result of Nicole’s efforts.

  • Achieved dismissal of claims brought against the Chairman and CEO of a health care company in a civil case involving alleged improper billing, unfair competition, and fraud.

  • Obtained complete dismissal of a federal action seeking contribution from an international law firm under Section 18(b) of the Securities Act of 1934.

Affiliations

  • Member, Board of Directors, Los Angeles Chapter, Federal Bar Association
  • Member, Women’s White Collar Defense Association
  • Member, Hispanic National Bar Association
  • Fellow, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
  • Former Member, Advisory Board for the Western Center on Law & Poverty

Recent News & Events

Other News & Events

  • Panelist, “Perennial Ethics Issues,” 36th National Institute on White Collar Crime, American Bar Association, October 2021
  • Panelist, “Recent Trends in Data Privacy Law,” Association of Corporate Counsel, January 2021

Publications

Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk concentrates her practice on the defense of white collar criminal prosecutions, government and regulatory investigations, and complex civil litigation.

Nicole leverages her strong litigation experience to advise clients on navigating the unique challenges of parallel criminal, civil, and regulatory proceedings.

A significant portion of Nicole’s practice is devoted to the representation of health care providers in state and federal criminal investigations and prosecutions, and parallel civil proceedings. She has successfully defended clients in a variety of related areas, including workers’ compensation fraud, false billing, improper referrals, compound medications, and physician-owned distributorships.

Nicole also has extensive experience defending clients in criminal matters related to government contracting fraud, mortgage fraud, and labor violations, as well as civil qui tam actions and business disputes.

Prior to joining Bird Marella in 2012, Nicole served as law clerk to the Honorable Josephine Staton of the United States District Court for the Central District of California and practiced for three years as a litigation associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

Representative Cases

  • Represents a major league sports team in relation to multiple high-profile investigations.

  • Represents a British aerospace company in internal investigation and counseling matters relating to false claims allegations.

  • Achieved dismissal of federal criminal complaint charging executive with participating in government contracting fraud scheme.

  • Achieved complete dismissal of civil complaint alleging company executive engaged in fraud, misrepresentations, and civil conspiracy in connection with government contracts, and dismissal of all fraud and misrepresentation counts against the company.

  • Achieved dismissal of 26 felony counts on behalf of employee of construction firm charged with wage theft and fraud.

  • Won dismissal of 24 charges in a high profile grand jury indictment described by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office as the largest health care fraud in California history. Twenty-one of the now-dismissed counts carried a potential life sentence.

  • Obtained dismissal of 89 out of 90 counts, including counts of insurance fraud and involuntary manslaughter, on behalf of a client accused of allegedly masterminding a $100 million medical workers’ compensation fraud scheme. After obtaining an order from the California Supreme Court requiring the review of the Orange County District Attorney’s grand jury practices, the Court of Appeal granted a writ petition, resulting in the Court dismissing all but one count.

  • Represented a physician accused of accepting kickbacks and falsifying billing records in a federal health care fraud investigation. The client was granted immunity as a result of Nicole’s efforts.

  • Achieved dismissal of claims brought against the Chairman and CEO of a health care company in a civil case involving alleged improper billing, unfair competition, and fraud.

  • Obtained complete dismissal of a federal action seeking contribution from an international law firm under Section 18(b) of the Securities Act of 1934.

Affiliations

  • Member, Board of Directors, Los Angeles Chapter, Federal Bar Association
  • Member, Women’s White Collar Defense Association
  • Member, Hispanic National Bar Association
  • Fellow, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
  • Former Member, Advisory Board for the Western Center on Law & Poverty

News & Events

Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk Honored with Daily Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 Award

Principal Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk has been named to the Daily Journal’s 2022 list of the Top 40 Under 40.   The annual list honors exceptional lawyers throughout California under the age of 40 who have made their mark on the legal industry. The Daily Journal highlighted Ms. Van Dyk’s noteworthy ...

Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk Named to Law360’s Rising Star List for White Collar

Bird Marella Principal Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk has been named a Law360 White Collar Rising Star for 2022.   The elite Rising Stars list features the “top legal talent under 40” whose career accomplishments transcend their age. Out of nearly 1,350 submissions, Ms. Van Dyk was selected as one of only ...

Daily Journal Names Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk to Annual Top Women Lawyers List

Principal Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk has been named to the Daily Journal‘s 2022 list of Top Women Lawyers.   The special issue features the most prominent women in the legal industry, distinguished for their leadership and high-level achievements in the past two years.   Ms. Van Dyk’s profile notes her recent ...

Bird Marella Wins Complete Dismissal of $300 Million Healthcare Fraud Prosecution

After almost 30 days of evidentiary hearings, Bird Marella won a complete dismissal of all charges against Kareem Ahmed, the lead defendant in a 17-defendant, $300 million healthcare fraud prosecution in Orange County, California. Principals Benjamin Gluck and Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk led the defense, cross-examining the Deputy District Attorney ...

Diversity Committee Co-Chairs Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk and Timothy B. Yoo Named Leaders of Influence by Los Angeles Business Journal

Principals Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk and Timothy B. Yoo were recognized among the “Leaders of Influence: Minority Attorneys” list by the Los Angeles Business Journal.    In the 2022 supplement, Van Dyk and Yoo were included among the exceptional attorneys of color celebrated for their impactful legal work in the Los Angeles region. The Journal profiled Van Dyk’s headline-grabbing success against the Department of ...

15 Bird Marella Principals Recognized as Southern California Super Lawyers in 2022

For the past twenty years, Bird Marella attorneys have been consecutively recognized as top rated attorneys among the Southern California Super Lawyers list. The firm is proud of its reputation for providing distinguished lawyers that are not only well-respected by the bench, but also its peers.   Congratulations to the principals selected for ...

Other News & Events

  • Panelist, “Perennial Ethics Issues,” 36th National Institute on White Collar Crime, American Bar Association, October 2021
  • Panelist, “Recent Trends in Data Privacy Law,” Association of Corporate Counsel, January 2021

Publications