Nick Ruge is a trial and appellate partner in Kirkland's Chicago office who represents companies in complex commercial cases and bet-the-company litigation. Nick’s practice focuses on False Claims Act cases, contract disputes, antitrust and class actions, and his clients include some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and life science companies.
Nick has deep experience winning cases at every stage of litigation, as both plaintiff and defendant. As plaintiff, Nick recently argued and won summary judgment on liability for a minority member of a closely held corporation on claims of breach of contract and fiduciary duties related to mishandling of LLC assets in a $1 billion+ real estate empire. Earlier this year, Nick helped Allergan (AbbVie) to defeat a massive False Claims Act case at summary judgment, where the relator alleged a nationwide, 15-year scheme to defraud the government through alleged kickbacks and off-label promotion.
Before joining the Firm, Nick served as a law clerk to the Honorable Harry T. Edwards of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.