Nanci E. Nishimura

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 2026Northern 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

• Partner

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

• 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

• 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)

• 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

• California, 1991

• 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)