Nicole Hardee is an industrious litigator with more than 25 years of experience representing clients in all stages of complex business disputes.
Nicole defends clients in a wide range of litigation, including environmental, toxic tort, joint venture, trade secrets, commercial litigation, corporate law and product liability matters. She represents national chemical manufacturers, multinational chemical companies and leading product manufacturers.
Clients value Nicole’s ability to anticipate their needs at every stage of a matter, offering strategic counsel grounded in a deep understanding of detail and context. She brings a big-picture perspective and tirelessly advocates for her clients under all circumstances.
Before joining Lightfoot, Nicole spent more than 20 years as counsel at a boutique commercial litigation law firm, focusing on commercial litigation, product liability, corporate law, legislative analysis and monitoring, and administrative and regulatory law. In 2021, the firm was acquired by a midsize contract and litigation firm based in the Southeast.
Nicole has experience defending clients in complex business disputes, including trying cases to verdict. Her prior representative matters include securing a six-figure jury verdict for a media client in a case involving fraud, conversion and international interference with contractual relations; defeating product liability claims brought against a NYSE-listed $13 billion, multi-industry manufacturer through a summary judgment motion; and obtaining summary judgment for a global manufacturer on 22 individual personal injury claims with individual fact analyses consolidated into a single product liability action.
Nicole was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation in 2024 and 2025, and she is a member of the Birmingham Bar Association. Outside of the courtroom, Nicole can be found spending time with her husband and cheering on their two teenagers in their various sporting activities.
