Nicolas is an experienced litigator with first-chair federal court trial experience who has handled a wide range of matters throughout the United States as national counsel, and focuses his practice on commercial litigation, insurance fraud, and product liability matters.

A significant portion of his practice is devoted to representing insurers seeking to void human-life wagering contracts, also referred to as stranger-originated life insurance (STOLI) policies. Nicolas has played a key role in obtaining several important victories for insurers across the country in their quest to eliminate unlawful STOLI policies. Additionally, when insurance companies pay illegal STOLI death benefits to investors, Nicolas represents the insureds’ families to recover those proceeds for the family.

Prior to joining the firm, Nicolas was an associate with a Philadelphia-based multinational law firm. There, he represented major pharmaceutical, electronic cigarette, cosmetic, and multinational conglomerate companies in products liability, mass torts, and complex class action suits. He served as national counsel on large multi-district litigations, including the National Opioid Litigation where he represented Purdue Pharma. Nicolas has represented product manufacturers against consumer protection actions brought by Attorney Generals, and major institutions in commercial real estate finance and investment matters.

Nicolas earned his B.A., cum laude, from the Catholic University of America and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Villanova Charles Widger School of Law. He served as a law clerk for the Honorable Rolando Olvera in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Nicolas has been published by the Villanova Law Review, the Sports Lawyers Journal, the Kansas Law Review, and Thomson Reuters.

News

31 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 11, 2024

Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of attorneys are named Super Lawyers; only 2.5 percent of attorneys are listed as Rising Stars.

Publications

Life Insurance Wagering Contracts And Identity Fraud: A Deadly Combination [JIFA]

February 21, 2024

Nicolas Novy contributed an article to the Journal of Insurance Fraud in America discussing wagering contracts and the types of schemes employing these contracts.

Education

  • Villanova University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2014
  • Catholic University of America, B.A., cum laude, 2011

Awards & Honors

Pennsylvania Super Lawyers "Rising Star" 2024. This award is conferred by Super Lawyers. A description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Honorable Rolando Olvera in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Philadelphia Bar Association

Pennsylvania Bar Association