Nanci E. Nishimura - a Burlingame, United States Antitrust & Global Competition Lawyer

Burlingame Antitrust & Global Competition Lawyer

Updated: 03/10/2026

Areas of Practice

Antitrust & Global Competition
Commercial Litigation
Municipal & Public Entity Litigation

Litigation: 95%

Attorney Information

Overview

Nanci E. Nishimura is a Principal at Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP where she practices civil litigation focusing on antitrust, business litigation and consumer class actions. Ms. Nishimura received a B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California. Following a career in the United States and Japan as a business development and marketing consultant, she received her J.D. from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University in Washington, D.C. She worked at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the International Trade Commission and served as a Legislative Analyst to Senator Daniel Inouye.

Ms. Nishimura's experience in civil and criminal appellate litigation includes First and Fourth Amendment and civil rights. She wrote the brief on the merits and appeared before the United States Supreme Court in Hanlon v. Berger, 526 U.S. 808 (1999). She co-authored, "An Invasion of Privacy: The Media's Involvement in Law Enforcement Activities," 19 Loy. L.A. Ent. L.J. 313 (1999). Published cases, among others, include Berger v. CNN Inc., 188 F.3d 1155 (9th Cir. 1999); Ayeni v. Mottola, 35 F.3d 680 (2d Cir. 1994), cert. denied, 514 US 1062 (1995), aff'g Ayeni v. CBS Inc., 848 F. Supp. 362 (E.D.N.Y. 1994); Brunette v. Humane Society of Ventura County, 294 F.3d 1205 (9th Cir. 2002); Aquila, Inc. v. Superior Court, 148 Cal. App. 4th 556 (2007); Regents of University of California v. Superior Court, 165 Cal. App. 4th 672 (2008).

She was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the 11 member Commission on Judicial Performance (2011-2015); formerly served on the State Bar Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission (JNE) for the 2005-2008 term; on the Board of Governors and first Vice President for the California Women Lawyers (District 3). She is also a member of the San Mateo and Los Angeles County Bar Associations, Consumer Attorneys of California, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the American Bar Foundation. She is a frequent lecturer for California Women Lawyers, and past member of the LACBA Litigation Section Trial Practice Inn of Court.

Ms. Nishimura is on the Board of Trustees of the California Science Center Foundation, a joint state-private facility to created to promote science education throughout California, and past president of the Board of Directors of The MUSES of the California Science Center Foundation. She is a frequent speaker to promote science and math education in California. In addition, she is on the Board of Trustees of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco; the Rotary Club of San Mateo; and the creator of Storytime for Children with Abby Rabbit, an interactive reading and development program for children.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

Nanci E. Nishimura included in a Super Lawyers® list

Honors

Daily Journal Top 100 Women Litigators in California
Northern California Super Lawyer

Other Sources of Feedback About Nanci E. Nishimura

Included on the 2026 Northern California Super Lawyers list

Past Lists

2025 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2024 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2023 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2022 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2021 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2020 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2019 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2018 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2017 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2016 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2015 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2014 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2013 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2012 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2011 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2010 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2009 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2008 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2007 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2006 Northern California Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education
- Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, Washington, District of Columbia, 1989
  J.D.
Non Legal Education
- University of Southern California, California, 1975
  B.A.
  Major: Psychology
- University of Southern California, California, 1978
  M.A.
  Major: International Relations

Current Employment Position(s)

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Partner
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Past Positions

Overseas Private Investment Corporation
International Trade Commission
Senator Daniel Inouye, Legislative Analyst

Classes and Seminars

California Women Lawyers 2012 Annual Conference Silicon Valley, April 20, 2012
Doing Justice and Finding Fulfillment in the Law, April 2011
Diversity, Rainmaking and Success in the Legal Profession, June 2010
Women Breaking Through in 2009: Capitalizing on Opportunities, October 2009
Developing Your Oral Argument Style, June 2009
Ethics: How to Keep Your Boss Out of Trouble, July 2008
Pathways to the Bench: Judicial Appointments - Making Our Voices Count, 2008
Strategies for Class Action and Coordination Proceedings - Class Actions in Action, February 2008
Frequent Lecturer, California Women Lawyers

Pro Bono Activities

Board of Trustees, California Science Center Foundation
Board of Trustees, Asian Art Museum in San Francisco
Board of Trustees, Rotary Club of San Mateo
Past President of the Board of Directors, MUSES of the California Science Center Foundation
Member, American Bar Foundation

Representative Cases

Berger v. CNN Inc., 188 F.3d 1155 (9th Cir. 1999)
Ayeni v. Mottola, 35 F.3d 680 (2d Cir. 1994), cert. denied, 514 US 1062 (1995)
aff'g Ayeni v. CBS Inc., 848 F. Supp. 362 (E.D.N.Y. 1994)
Brunette v. Humane Society of Ventura County, 294 F.3d 1205 (9th Cir. 2002)
Aquila, Inc. v. Superior Court, 148 Cal. App. 4th 556 (2007)
Regents of University of California v. Superior Court, 165 Cal. App. 4th 672 (2008)

Published Works

Articles

Hanlon v. Berger, 526 U.S. 808 (1999)
An Invasion of Privacy: The Media's Involvement in Law Enforcement Activities," 19 Loy. L.A. Ent. L.J. 313 (1999)

Bar Admissions

California, 1991

Other Affiliations

California Women Lawyers (First Vice President)
Commission on Judicial Performance
11 member Commission on Judicial Performance, 2011 - 2015
State Bar Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission (JNE), 2005 - 2008
California Women Lawyers (District 3) (Board of Governors and first Vice President)
San Mateo County Bar Association (Member)
Los Angeles County Bar Association (Member)
Consumer Attorneys of California (Member)
Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Member)
LACBA Litigation Section Trial Practice Inn of Court (Past Member)

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Contact

Burlingame, CA

San Francisco Airport Office Center
840 Malcolm Road
Suite 200
Burlingame, CA 94010

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Phone: (866) 553-9736

Fax: (650) 697-0577

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Nanci E. Nishimura - Burlingame, CA