About Nicole Lynn Kobrine

Nicole Lynn Kobrine has successfully climbed to the top of the often male-dominated areas of complex business litigation and commercial real estate. She has been trying cases for more than 20 years and has secured major victories in the courts of DC, Maryland and Virginia. The judges in these jurisdictions know her, and oftentimes she is the only female lawyer in the well of the courtroom. Primarily practicing throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area and nationally, Nicole's recent engagements include the successful representation of landowners, real estate development companies and leading shopping centers in high-stakes disputes.

Out of the box and into the ring

Nicole offers an out-of-the-box approach to finding creative solutions that achieve her clients' goals in the most efficient, effective manner possible. Part of what differentiates Nicole is her ability to find legal "wedge issues" that can take a weak hand and turn it into a strong one for her clients. She finds holes in the other side's argument and then flips the situation to go on offense. Her main focus is to obtain a business resolution, which in these types of disputes is often the best objective. She takes the time to understand the motives of the opposing side and then develops litigation strategies for her clients so they can decide how hard to fight.

While she has been successful at winning high-profile, high-value complex commercial disputes on behalf of some of the nation's leading developers, property owners and investors, Nicole seeks the best solution for her clients — which often means avoiding litigation. Her ability to advise on both proactive and reactive approaches makes Nicole an asset in the real estate and construction industries.

Outside the courtroom, Nicole is committed to advancing and retaining women attorneys through mentoring, external networking, internal relationship building and career development programs through her work with the Katten Women's Leadership Forum. Nicole is a national committee member of Katten's WLF and has been since 2007. She is also a member of the WLF National Mentoring Panel.

Nicole was a Division 1 scholar athlete while earning her Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University. While earning her doctorate of law degree from The George Washington University Law School, Nicole interned for the Honorable Pauline Newman of the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

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Practice Focus

  • Complex business litigation
  • Commercial real estate, land use, construction, environmental and leasing disputes
  • Construction litigation
  • Partnership and joint venture actions
  • Commercial brokerage disputes and noncompete litigation

Representative Experience

  • Represented homeowners association of a luxury DC condominium building in a construction defect case against the general contractor, which resulted in a favorable settlement for the association.
  • Represented two DC-based investors in a co-working company in a dispute with one of their co-investors; during discovery in the litigation, discovered that the former CEO had been spoliating/destroying significant amounts of evidence highly relevant to the litigation. Together with a computer forensic expert, performed an intensive investigation and, after a seven-day trial, the court found that the former CEO had intentionally spoliated relevant evidence.
  • Represented national real estate developer relating to its mixed-use development project in Tysons Corner in litigation by its general contractor, which resulted in a favorable settlement for the developer.
  • Represented large real estate developer that owns landmark property in downtown Washington, DC in land use dispute with competing real estate developer owning adjacent property.
  • Represented major downtown Washington, DC building owner committed to modernizing and redeveloping its building in litigation against several tenants determined to halt the redevelopment efforts. Advised other DC building owners facing similar tenant challenges prior to litigation being filed.
  • Represented national real estate developer in construction arbitration in North Carolina against its general contractor. Obtained $14 million judgment.
  • Represented individual in several intra-family disputes involving real estate and trust and estate litigations over a $50 million estate.
  • Represented national real estate developer in construction litigation with state agency over the redevelopment of several state buildings. Successfully defended client in more than $11 million in claims and obtained discovery sanctions award of $90,000 against the state.
  • Represented waterfront land owners in years-long land use and environmental dispute involving the Critical Area regulations in the Chesapeake Bay region. Obtained successful result before the Maryland Court of Appeals.

News

Practices
Industries
Education
  • The George Washington University Law School, JD
  • Stanford University, BA
Bar Admissions
  • Maryland
  • District of Columbia
Court Admissions
  • US District Court, District of Maryland
  • US Supreme Court
  • US District Court, District of Columbia
  • US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
Community Involvements
  • American Bar Association
  • Bar Association of the District of Columbia
  • Coalition of Women's Initiatives in the Law, Washington, DC Chapter Board of Directors; former Washington, DC Chapter Co-President; former Washington, DC Chapter Vice President; former delegate, National Board
  • Maryland State Bar Association
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Avvo
    Top-Rated Lawyer, 2019–2023
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Commercial Litigation, 2020–2025
    Litigation - Construction, 2025
  • Chambers USA
    Construction, 2024
  • Super Lawyers
    Washington, DC, 2023–2024
  • The Legal 500 United States
    Recommended Attorney, 2016
Award Methodologies