Cravath’s New York Office Moves to Two Manhattan West
Dean M. Nickles is a member of the Investigations and Regulatory Enforcement Practice, with a focus on cybersecurity and data privacy. He advises global companies and individual clients with respect to internal and government investigations, regulatory compliance and enforcement matters and civil litigation.
Mr. Nickles has represented clients in numerous sensitive matters, including matters concerning cybersecurity, digital assets, securities fraud, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and commercial arbitration. His representations have spanned a wide range of clients in industries including banking, energy, financial services, fintech, gaming, healthcare, metals and mining, shipping and technology. Mr. Nickles has represented clients in matters before a number of enforcement agencies, including the Department of Justice; the Securities and Exchange Commission; the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; the Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights; the New York State Department of Financial Services; and numerous state attorneys general.
Mr. Nickles regularly advises clients on cybersecurity and data privacy issues. His representations include providing clients with disclosure and compliance advice related to cybersecurity and data privacy and counseling companies on various matters throughout the life cycle of a cyber incident, including revisions to cybersecurity policies and procedures, management of and response to incidents, breach notification and disclosure issues and related civil litigation.
Mr. Nickles was also part of the Cravath team that won a U.S. Supreme Court decision holding that a copyright owner may recover damages under the Copyright Act for any timely filed infringement claim, regardless of when the infringement occurred.
Mr. Nickles received a B.A. magna cum laude in History from Villanova University in 2013 and a J.D. summa cum laude from Notre Dame Law School in 2016, where he received the Hoynes Prize and was the Managing Online Editor of the Law Review and the Chair of the Honor Council. After graduating from law school, Mr. Nickles served as a law clerk to Hon. Richard C. Wesley of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and to Hon. Karen LeCraft Henderson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Mr. Nickles was a summer associate at Cravath in 2015 and rejoined the Firm as an associate in 2016 and again in 2021 following his clerkships. He was named of counsel in 2024.
Mr. Nickles has represented clients in numerous sensitive matters, including matters concerning cybersecurity, digital assets, securities fraud, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and commercial arbitration. His representations have spanned a wide range of clients in industries including banking, energy, financial services, fintech, gaming, healthcare, metals and mining, shipping and technology. Mr. Nickles has represented clients in matters before a number of enforcement agencies, including the Department of Justice; the Securities and Exchange Commission; the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; the Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights; the New York State Department of Financial Services; and numerous state attorneys general.
Mr. Nickles regularly advises clients on cybersecurity and data privacy issues. His representations include providing clients with disclosure and compliance advice related to cybersecurity and data privacy and counseling companies on various matters throughout the life cycle of a cyber incident, including revisions to cybersecurity policies and procedures, management of and response to incidents, breach notification and disclosure issues and related civil litigation.
Mr. Nickles was also part of the Cravath team that won a U.S. Supreme Court decision holding that a copyright owner may recover damages under the Copyright Act for any timely filed infringement claim, regardless of when the infringement occurred.
Mr. Nickles received a B.A. magna cum laude in History from Villanova University in 2013 and a J.D. summa cum laude from Notre Dame Law School in 2016, where he received the Hoynes Prize and was the Managing Online Editor of the Law Review and the Chair of the Honor Council. After graduating from law school, Mr. Nickles served as a law clerk to Hon. Richard C. Wesley of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and to Hon. Karen LeCraft Henderson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Mr. Nickles was a summer associate at Cravath in 2015 and rejoined the Firm as an associate in 2016 and again in 2021 following his clerkships. He was named of counsel in 2024.
Education
-
J.D., 2016, University of Notre Dame Law Schoolsumma cum laude
-
B.A., 2013, Villanova Universitymagna cum laude
Clerkships
- Hon. Karen LeCraft Henderson, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
- Hon. Richard C. Wesley, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Admitted In
- New York
Deals & Cases
July 09, 2024
Silvergate’s Settlement Agreements with the Federal Reserve, California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation and Securities and Exchange Commission
On July 1, 2024, Silvergate announced it has agreed to settlements with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Federal Reserve”), the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (“DFPI”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In a statement, Silvergate noted its decision to liquidate voluntarily and without government assistance in March 2023, and that, as of November 2023, all deposits had been repaid to banking customers, soon after which Silvergate ceased banking operations. The announced settlements, which facilitate the surrender of Silvergate’s bank charter, are part of the Bank’s continued orderly wind down and conclude investigations by the Federal Reserve, DFPI, and SEC. Cravath represented Silvergate in connection with the investigations, resulting settlements, and voluntary liquidation.
Deals & Cases
May 11, 2024
Music Producer Sherman Nealy’s U.S. Supreme Court Victory Affirms Ability to Recover Copyright Damages in Case Against Warner Chappell Music
On May 9, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Cravath client Sherman Nealy, affirming the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling that the Copyright Act entitles a copyright owner to obtain damages for any timely filed infringement claim, regardless of when the infringement occurred. The Supreme Court’s decision resolves a split between the Ninth and Eleventh Circuits and the Second Circuit and holds that Nealy may seek damages for copyright infringement claims against Warner Chappell Music.
Publications
February 21, 2025
Bloomberg Law Publishes Article by Dave Kappos, Evan Norris, Sasha Rosenthal‑Larrea and Dean Nickles on Regulatory Landscape for AI
Cravath partners David J. Kappos, Evan Norris and Sasha Rosenthal‑Larrea and of counsel Dean M. Nickles co‑authored an article entitled “Early Trump AI Moves Come in a Complex Regulatory Landscape,” which was published in Bloomberg Law on February 20, 2025. The article provides an overview of the current U.S. federal and state regulatory landscape for AI and looks ahead to potential future developments.
Publications
January 13, 2025
Cravath Data Privacy and Security Review: H2 2024
On January 13, 2025, Cravath published the fourth edition of its Cravath Data Privacy and Security Review newsletter. The Review provides an overview of U.S. state and federal legislative and regulatory developments, alongside U.S. and global enforcement trends and takeaways, in data privacy and cybersecurity for the last six months of 2024. The Review also provides an update on emerging and existing privacy and security legislation at the federal level, including the Video Privacy Protection Act, and highlights notable legislative developments at the state level, including in California, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania. This edition highlights the heightened focus on cybersecurity and privacy‑related enforcement at federal agencies including the Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Justice, and provides global enforcement updates from the European Union, Australia and China.
Firm News
November 14, 2024
Cravath Announces New Of Counsels
Cravath named Saagar Kaul, April Michelle Kent, Dean M. Nickles, Nathan Noh, Ellen H. Park and Patrick S. Taylor of counsels of the Firm, effective January 1, 2025.
Dean M. Nickles is a member of the Investigations and Regulatory Enforcement Practice, with a focus on cybersecurity and data privacy. He advises global companies and individual clients with respect to internal and government investigations, regulatory compliance and enforcement matters and civil litigation.
Mr. Nickles has represented clients in numerous sensitive matters, including matters concerning cybersecurity, digital assets, securities fraud, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and commercial arbitration. His representations have spanned a wide range of clients in industries including banking, energy, financial services, fintech, gaming, healthcare, metals and mining, shipping and technology. Mr. Nickles has represented clients in matters before a number of enforcement agencies, including the Department of Justice; the Securities and Exchange Commission; the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; the Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights; the New York State Department of Financial Services; and numerous state attorneys general.
Mr. Nickles regularly advises clients on cybersecurity and data privacy issues. His representations include providing clients with disclosure and compliance advice related to cybersecurity and data privacy and counseling companies on various matters throughout the life cycle of a cyber incident, including revisions to cybersecurity policies and procedures, management of and response to incidents, breach notification and disclosure issues and related civil litigation.
Mr. Nickles was also part of the Cravath team that won a U.S. Supreme Court decision holding that a copyright owner may recover damages under the Copyright Act for any timely filed infringement claim, regardless of when the infringement occurred.
Mr. Nickles received a B.A. magna cum laude in History from Villanova University in 2013 and a J.D. summa cum laude from Notre Dame Law School in 2016, where he received the Hoynes Prize and was the Managing Online Editor of the Law Review and the Chair of the Honor Council. After graduating from law school, Mr. Nickles served as a law clerk to Hon. Richard C. Wesley of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and to Hon. Karen LeCraft Henderson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Mr. Nickles was a summer associate at Cravath in 2015 and rejoined the Firm as an associate in 2016 and again in 2021 following his clerkships. He was named of counsel in 2024.
Mr. Nickles has represented clients in numerous sensitive matters, including matters concerning cybersecurity, digital assets, securities fraud, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and commercial arbitration. His representations have spanned a wide range of clients in industries including banking, energy, financial services, fintech, gaming, healthcare, metals and mining, shipping and technology. Mr. Nickles has represented clients in matters before a number of enforcement agencies, including the Department of Justice; the Securities and Exchange Commission; the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; the Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights; the New York State Department of Financial Services; and numerous state attorneys general.
Mr. Nickles regularly advises clients on cybersecurity and data privacy issues. His representations include providing clients with disclosure and compliance advice related to cybersecurity and data privacy and counseling companies on various matters throughout the life cycle of a cyber incident, including revisions to cybersecurity policies and procedures, management of and response to incidents, breach notification and disclosure issues and related civil litigation.
Mr. Nickles was also part of the Cravath team that won a U.S. Supreme Court decision holding that a copyright owner may recover damages under the Copyright Act for any timely filed infringement claim, regardless of when the infringement occurred.
Mr. Nickles received a B.A. magna cum laude in History from Villanova University in 2013 and a J.D. summa cum laude from Notre Dame Law School in 2016, where he received the Hoynes Prize and was the Managing Online Editor of the Law Review and the Chair of the Honor Council. After graduating from law school, Mr. Nickles served as a law clerk to Hon. Richard C. Wesley of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and to Hon. Karen LeCraft Henderson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Mr. Nickles was a summer associate at Cravath in 2015 and rejoined the Firm as an associate in 2016 and again in 2021 following his clerkships. He was named of counsel in 2024.
Education
-
J.D., 2016, University of Notre Dame Law Schoolsumma cum laude
-
B.A., 2013, Villanova Universitymagna cum laude
Clerkships
- Hon. Karen LeCraft Henderson, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
- Hon. Richard C. Wesley, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Admitted In
- New York
Deals & Cases
July 09, 2024
Silvergate’s Settlement Agreements with the Federal Reserve, California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation and Securities and Exchange Commission
On July 1, 2024, Silvergate announced it has agreed to settlements with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Federal Reserve”), the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (“DFPI”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In a statement, Silvergate noted its decision to liquidate voluntarily and without government assistance in March 2023, and that, as of November 2023, all deposits had been repaid to banking customers, soon after which Silvergate ceased banking operations. The announced settlements, which facilitate the surrender of Silvergate’s bank charter, are part of the Bank’s continued orderly wind down and conclude investigations by the Federal Reserve, DFPI, and SEC. Cravath represented Silvergate in connection with the investigations, resulting settlements, and voluntary liquidation.
Deals & Cases
May 11, 2024
Music Producer Sherman Nealy’s U.S. Supreme Court Victory Affirms Ability to Recover Copyright Damages in Case Against Warner Chappell Music
On May 9, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Cravath client Sherman Nealy, affirming the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling that the Copyright Act entitles a copyright owner to obtain damages for any timely filed infringement claim, regardless of when the infringement occurred. The Supreme Court’s decision resolves a split between the Ninth and Eleventh Circuits and the Second Circuit and holds that Nealy may seek damages for copyright infringement claims against Warner Chappell Music.
Publications
February 21, 2025
Bloomberg Law Publishes Article by Dave Kappos, Evan Norris, Sasha Rosenthal‑Larrea and Dean Nickles on Regulatory Landscape for AI
Cravath partners David J. Kappos, Evan Norris and Sasha Rosenthal‑Larrea and of counsel Dean M. Nickles co‑authored an article entitled “Early Trump AI Moves Come in a Complex Regulatory Landscape,” which was published in Bloomberg Law on February 20, 2025. The article provides an overview of the current U.S. federal and state regulatory landscape for AI and looks ahead to potential future developments.
Publications
January 13, 2025
Cravath Data Privacy and Security Review: H2 2024
On January 13, 2025, Cravath published the fourth edition of its Cravath Data Privacy and Security Review newsletter. The Review provides an overview of U.S. state and federal legislative and regulatory developments, alongside U.S. and global enforcement trends and takeaways, in data privacy and cybersecurity for the last six months of 2024. The Review also provides an update on emerging and existing privacy and security legislation at the federal level, including the Video Privacy Protection Act, and highlights notable legislative developments at the state level, including in California, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania. This edition highlights the heightened focus on cybersecurity and privacy‑related enforcement at federal agencies including the Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Justice, and provides global enforcement updates from the European Union, Australia and China.
Firm News
November 14, 2024
Cravath Announces New Of Counsels
Cravath named Saagar Kaul, April Michelle Kent, Dean M. Nickles, Nathan Noh, Ellen H. Park and Patrick S. Taylor of counsels of the Firm, effective January 1, 2025.
Cravath Bicentennial
Celebrating 200 years of partnership. In 2019, we celebrated our bicentennial. Our history mirrors that of our nation. Integral to our story is our culture.
Attorney Advertising. ©2025 Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.