Nicole Civita

Nicole Civita focuses her practice on helping clients understand the network of laws, regulations, and guidance that frame their food businesses. She emphasizes forward-looking management of legal, enterprise, and reputational risks, as well as careful contracting to support productive relationships. When disputes arise, she helps clients pursue efficient, beneficial resolutions that allow them to keep their focus on food.

Nicole also is a professor with teaching and research interests in food and agricultural law, sustainable food systems, and food ethics. She is a nationally regarded expert in the laws pertaining to food waste, recovery and conservation. As an academic, she works with several innovative institutions of higher education. Nicole is the Sustainable Food Systems Specialization Lead on the faculty of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Masters of the Environment Program, where she trains future leaders to address pressing environmental and social challenges through food. She also serves as an Affiliated Professor with the LL.M. Program in Agricultural and Food Law at the University of Arkansas School of Law and adjunct faculty with the Global Food Ethics and Policy Program at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, where she works on the Choose Food project.

Nicole received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and an LL.M. in Agricultural and Food Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law. She is a member of the California and New York bars. Earlier in her career, Nicole was an Associate at Hogan Lovells LLP where she practiced in the areas of employment, commercial, and intellectual property law.

Nicole and her family live in Colorado’s Front Range, where they marvel at both the Rocky Mountains and innovative sustainable food scene.