Steve Nickelsburg

Steve Nickelsburg brings more than two decades of experience handling complex civil disputes, internal investigations, and government enforcement matters across borders. His work spans anticorruption, economic sanctions, anti-money laundering, unfair competition, intellectual property theft, commercial disputes, and claims tied to climate, human rights, and sovereign immunity.

Steve earned a BS in Engineering, magna cum laude, in 1989 from Duke University. He later completed an MS in Engineering in 1993 at Northeastern University. His legal training concluded with a JD in 1998 from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he contributed to Law Review and Order of the Coif.

Steve began his legal career with prestigious judicial clerkships, serving The Honorable J. Harvie Wilkinson III on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and later The Honorable Anthony M. Kennedy at the Supreme Court of the United States. He was admitted as an Attorney-at-Law in Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Steve advises corporations, sovereign entities, multilateral institutions, and individuals facing sensitive disputes with global reach. His guidance includes litigation strategy, transactional risk assessment, compliance planning, and risk mitigation measures. Clients rely on his judgment in matters involving sanctions controls, anticorruption programs, and responses to government scrutiny.

Steve plays a leading role in environmental, social, and governance initiatives, serving as a Co-Chair of the Global ESG Board and contributing to the Global Business and Human Rights Risk team. His work helps organizations anticipate claims, address human rights concerns, and align operations with evolving expectations.

Steve’s practice also covers intellectual property disputes and unfair competition issues across industries, including healthcare, life sciences, chemicals, and industrial sectors. He brings technical insight from his engineering background, allowing him to manage complex evidence, coordinate cross-border teams, and present clear strategies in high-stakes proceedings.

Steve Nickelsburg is known for helping clients navigate risk while protecting long-term interests in challenging legal environments. He combines courtroom experience with strategic counseling to resolve disputes, strengthen compliance frameworks, and support responsible business conduct, offering steady guidance in matters that demand precision, discretion, and global awareness.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Clifford Chance
• Member, District of Columbia Bar Association
• Member, Virginia state Bar

Licensed State

• District of Columbia
• Virginia

Education

• University of Virginia School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Northeastern University
  Master of Science (MS)
• Duke University
  Bachelor of Science (BS)

Awards & Badges