Profile
Nicholas D. SanFilippo serves as a first chair trial lawyer representing employers in actions involving restrictive covenants, employment contracts, the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, and tort claims, including defamation, conversion, wrongful discharge, conspiracy, and tortious interference. He advises management on employment issues related to termination, hiring, reduction in force, restrictive covenants, employment agreements, discipline, and handbooks.
Nick represents closely-held businesses facing crises related to ownership disputes or misconduct by board members, officers, or key employees. He develops strategies with the goal of maximizing returns and minimizing losses in situations related to unethical conduct, breach of contract, fraud, embezzlement, theft, or forgery.
Nick’s litigation experience also includes breach of contract, business torts, and commercial disputes in federal and state courts. He has deep experience representing clients in the government contracting, hospitality, financial services, and private equity industries.
In addition to serving as a litigator and employment counselor, Nick represents government contractors in bid protests at the agency level and before the GAO. He also advises government contractors on the FAR and relevant executive orders, including the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order.
Concentrations
- Business divorce litigation
- Employee mobility litigation
- Employment contract litigation
- Business tort litigation
- Title VII
- Americans with Disabilities Act
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act
- Family and Medical Leave Act
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Federal and state statutes
Capabilities
Experience
- Lead trial counsel in an action for liquidated damages based on breach of a hotel franchise agreement.°
- Lead trial counsel in one of the longest trials in the history of Fairfax County, VA – 55 trial days – in a case involving a closely-held automobile dealership group.°
- Lead trial counsel in an action by former board member of private equity portfolio company to recoup the value of management incentive equity agreements.°
- Trial counsel in case involving former employee alleging unpaid stock equity.°
- Trial counsel in class action jury trial regarding the valuation of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.°
- Trial counsel for case involving breach of contract and tortious interference.°
- Retained approximately 50 days before trial to represent a government contractor as lead trial counsel in a commercial vendor dispute for breach of contract. Defendants counterclaimed for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The jury returned a complete verdict in favor of client.°
- Part of a team representing a nonprofit organization with respect to claims that it had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Achieved summary judgment in favor of client.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. SanFilippo prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Legal Intern, U.S. Office of Special Counsel, 2007
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyer in America, Litigation - Labor & Employment, 2025
- Selected, Virginia Access to Justice Commission, “Pro Bono Service Honor Roll,” 2022
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers, “Rising Stars,” 2017-2019
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Virginia Super Lawyers, “Rising Stars,” 2017-2019
- Member, Virginia Bar Association
- Member, Federal Bar Association, Northern Virginia Chapter
- Member, Fairfax Bar Association
Credentials
-
J.D., George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School
- Managing Justice, Moot Court Board
- Associate Editor, Civil Rights Law Journal
- B.S., summa cum laude, St. John Fisher University
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 2009-2010
- Virginia
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit