Nikolas G. Spilson

Product Liability Experience

Niko defends national and international product manufacturers in product liability matters. He has successfully drafted multiple motions for summary judgment and motions to dismiss that were granted in full. He also has experience navigating nuanced jurisdictional and procedural issues, such as fraudulent joinder and snap jurisdiction.

Social Media Litigation

Niko gained extensive experience representing social media platforms by helping to lead the team’s efforts through more than a year of discovery. Specifically, he coordinated and helped manage the affirmative discovery workup of 30 potential bellwether case teams in the Social Media Adolescent Addiction / Personal Injury Products Liability multidistrict litigation (MDL) and Judicial Council Coordination Proceedings (JCCP) in California. This work included handling communications with opposing counsel, leading meet-and-confers, drafting deposition outlines, helping to manage the review of hundreds of thousands of documents, and scheduling and managing attorneys taking 150+ depositions nationwide. Niko was also a member of the defensive discovery team and was responsible for collecting and producing to plaintiffs large quantities of user data. Throughout this litigation, Niko demonstrated his ability to help lead large teams, to communicate effectively with co-defendants and opposing counsel, and to ensure cases move forward effectively.

Pro Bono Experience

By being a member of the Faegre Drink Pro Bono Honor Roll every year since joining the firm, Niko demonstrates his commitment to pro bono. He has experience representing pro bono clients in federal criminal appeals to the Seventh Circuit. Most recently, he helped an LGBTQ+ client from Colombia to receive asylum in Chicago.

Prior Experience

Niko joined the firm after spending two years as a summer associate at Faegre Drinker. While in law school, he was very involved in extracurricular activities, including law review, moot court, research assistance and a 1L peer mentor program. Niko also organized a discussion on diversity, equity and inclusion with Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kyra Bolden; presented on the Fourth Amendment to students at a Detroit high school to inform them of their constitutional rights during a police interaction; and helped represent incarcerated clients’ civil rights claims by drafting pleadings, taking depositions, communicating with opposing counsel and drafting appellate briefs for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Personal Interests

Outside the office, Niko enjoys seeking out opportunities to mentor youth as well as young professionals with aspirations of attending law school and joining the practice of law. Niko also loves watching and playing basketball and is a “cat-dad” to Luna and Elios.