Nicci is a skilled trial lawyer who has demonstrated her courtroom prowess with more than 12 years of experience managing a variety of civil and criminal cases. She has arraigned thousands of cases, handled criminal trials and presented hundreds of felony cases to the grand jury as a former prosecutor in the Narcotics Bureau of the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office.
In addition to practicing law in one of the country’s busiest jurisdictions, Nicci is also a seasoned civil litigator who has tried cases in Brooklyn Supreme Court. While working as in-house counsel for Allstate Insurance Company, she successfully defended policyholders in personal injury lawsuits. Although Nicci is a self-described introvert, she is at ease with public speaking and particularly excels at cross examination and closing arguments.
As a senior prosecutor for the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, Nicci investigated police misconduct complaints. She obtained the first guilty verdict in over two decades for a NYPD officer accused of using a banned chokehold during an arrest.
“I am passionate about opportunities to seek justice for marginalized communities. I enjoy being able to help people who often feel that no one cares about them or fights for them.“
While Nicci grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, she left her hometown to pursue her education and passion for a career in law. Since then, she has returned to the city and now applies that experience toward helping those in her local community.
Nicci earned her juris doctorate from St. John’s University in Queens, New York, after graduating with a BA in English and Political Science from Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Prior to attending law school, Nicci was a legal assistant at a boutique Wall Street firm that worked with major banks and hedge funds around the world facilitating the purchase and resale of distressed debt. It was this work experience that led her to the realization that she had no interest in practicing transactional law.
When she first started law school, Nicci wanted to be an immigration attorney based on her personal experiences with undocumented family members. However, she was later drawn to criminal law because she enjoyed the real-world applications of the practice area. Today, she focuses on criminal defense and family law. As a successful attorney, Nicci hopes to serve as a role model for other black women in Erie.
“I didn’t know anyone like me when I was growing up here. Now, young black women can see someone that is representative of them when they see me and the few other black women attorneys in town. This pushes me to always do my best.”
Nicci continues to remain active in her local community. She is a member of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), the Erie Historical Society and the Erie Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
