Nicole C. Hancock
Experience
Nicole is a partner of the firm and is the former chair of the firm's Agribusiness
Industry Team. She specializes in providing legal services to agricultural businesses
that include seed companies, produce companies, agricultural processing companies,
agriculture cooperatives and corporate farming operations. Nicole has experience with
litigation matters, commercial contracts, product liability lawsuits, wine and beer
franchise disputes, trade secret violations, unfair practices claims, consumer
protection and corporate torts. Nicole also represents beer and wine distributors with
local franchise law and regulatory counseling, and growers and agricultural entities
with grower contracts, processing agreements, production contracts, Department of
Agriculture investigations and appeals, PACA claims, and other agricultural lawrelated issues. Nicole's legal know-how and courtroom experience allow her to develop
and implement winning litigation strategies.
Partner
Nicole returned to Stoel Rives after working as corporate counsel for Syngenta Seeds,
Boise, ID
Inc., a global agriculture company. As corporate counsel, Nicole managed all aspects
(208) 387-4231 direct
of the NAFTA vegetable seeds legal department, including counseling on general
(208) 389-9040 fax
business matters, seed law, employment matters, drafting business transactional
agreements, intellectual property in and out licenses, and general corporate legal
counseling. Nicole also managed large complex litigation matters, which included
multimillion-dollar product liability claims. Nicole has dealt with several issues
pertaining to GMO licensing, regulatory compliance, and alleged contamination
nicole.hancock@stoel.com
Education

J.D., 2002, magna cum laude
claims.
Representative Work

Represent producer-handlers in USDA regulatory hearing to determine if federal
Editor-in-Chief, Willamette Law
Review

Interpretation, 1998
2014 Farm Bill.

Bill Jones Distributing v. Hayden Beverage: Successfully obtained injunction and
Admissions
declaratory relief against Hayden Beverage for unlawfully terminating

Idaho
distribution rights to sub-distributor of beer and wine products.

Oregon
Successfully settled matter on behalf of Plaintiff enforcing breach of non-

Washington
competition agreement and third party interference with business relationships

U.S. District Court for the District of
in advance of trial.

City of Eagle v. Premier Industrial: Successfully settled condemnation action on
behalf of private property owner in condemnation eminent domain action filed
by the City of Eagle.

Western Oregon University, B.S.,
American Sign Language English
milk marketing order should be implemented in California as prescribed by the

Willamette University College of Law,
Rule Steel v. Michael Arevalo: Lead trial counsel in Idaho State Court for threeweek jury trial. Obtained unanimous verdict in favor of client, recovering 100% of
Idaho

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit
Nicole C. Hancock
all compensatory damage claims, and recovering on punitive damage claim in financial work out case with claims of breach of
fiduciary duty, fraud, breach of contract, and punitive damages.

Dornich Holdings International v. ConAgra Lamb Weston: Successfully obtained full dismissal with prejudice on behalf of
ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston against plaintiffs' multiple claims for breach of contract and breaches of fiduciary duties arising out
of an option agreement to acquire a South American potato processing entity. The U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho
specifically found that the plaintiffs, the owner of plaintiffs and/or the plaintiffs' counsel were "deceitful" to the Court and
"intended to defraud the court by conceal[ment]." Having found discovery abuses, and the willful deception of the Court, the
multimillion-dollar case was dismissed in its entirety with prejudice.

Aardema, Bettencourt, Golden Valley Dairy et al. v. Northwest Dairy Association: Trial counsel on a three-person trial team for
Northwest Dairy Association in Twin Falls County, Idaho, resulting in a full defense verdict against claims for breach of fiduciary
duty, fraud, and breach of contract with a multimillion-dollar claim over forward milk price contracts against the dairy
cooperative.

Hull Farms v. Reitsma: Successful jury trial recovering damages on an intentional interference claim and establishing easement
rights for agricultural business.

TEC Distributing v. Hayden Beverate: Successfully obtained protective order on behalf of a beer and wine distributor in
protecting franchise distribution rights and defined statutory protection afforded franchisees in Idaho.

Borders Melon Co. v. Dulcinea Farms, Inc.: Successfully resolved litigation during federal court trial in McAllen, Texas, for large
produce company defending against claims under the Perishables and Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and breach of
contract against grower.

Counsels growers and agricultural entities on state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to the packaging, sales, and
delivery of goods, including proper labeling of products, proper chemical or pesticide use on crops or lands, and other
agricultural regulatory matters.

Represents growers and other agricultural entities in various state and federal Department of Agriculture investigations and
administrative audits.

Represents agricultural entities and growers with various types of agriculture contracts, including production agreements, sales
contracts, requirement contracts, and purchase contracts.

Performance Chevrolet v. Market Scan: Successfully represented Performance Chevrolet in contract appeal to the Ninth Circuit
Court of Appeals, including recovery of all fees and costs and full collection of resulting award.

Represented large agricultural company in numerous grower and production contracts, product sales contracts (for dealer,
broker, and direct sales), and licensing agreements.

Balla v. Idaho Department of Corrections: Successfully represented civil rights class action matter in preserving injunction that
protected inmates from overcrowded conditions.

Performance Chevrolet v. Market Scan: Obtained unanimous jury verdict in federal court commercial contract dispute
regarding the performance of a computer software program, resulting in plaintiff recovering its contract damages, attorney's
fees, and costs.
Nicole C. Hancock
Professional Honors and Activities

Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Conference of the United States Court, 2015-2018

Named one of Idaho's Leaders in the Law by Idaho Business Review, 2014

Selected as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" (Idaho) by Chambers USA (currently: Litigation: General
Commercial), 2011-2015

Listed in Mountain States Super Lawyers® (Business Litigation), 2011-2015

Listed in Top 50 Mountain States Women Lawyers, Super Lawyers®, 2015

Listed among Rising StarsSM by Mountain States Super Lawyers®, 2010

Recipient, Idaho Business Review's Idaho Women of the Year Award, 2008

Steering Committee, Idaho Academy of Leadership for Lawyers (IALL), Idaho State Bar, 2014

Advisory Board, Women in Agribusiness Summit, New Orleans, Louisiana, Oct. 2014

Member, American Agricultural Law Association, 2008-present

Member, American Seed Trade Association, 2009-present

Member, Idaho Eastern Oregon Seed Association, 2009-present

Member, International Association of Defense Counsel, 2010-present

Member, Boise Inns of Court, 2005-2006, 2011-present

Advisory Board, Women in Agribusiness Summit, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Oct. 2013

Executive Leadership Team, American Heart Association Go Red for Women, 2012

Women in Agribusiness Summit, New Orleans, Louisiana, Sept. 2012

Inaugural class, Idaho Academy of Leadership for Lawyers, 2011-2012

Agribusiness Seminar, Harvard Business School Executive Education, Jan. 2011

IADC Trial Academy, Stanford University, 2010

Graduate, Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce-Leadership Boise, 2006-2008
Presentations

Presenter, "Litigation in Agribusiness," Pacific Seed Association Annual Convention, San Diego, California, Jan. 2013.

"From Field to Farm (and Stable): The Food Safety and Modernization Act," Food Safety and Modernization Act Webinar, Part I,
Jan. 2012

"Intellectual Property Strategies for Seed Protection," Idaho Eastern Oregon Seed Association Annual Meeting, McCall, Idaho,
June 2011

Panelist, "Protecting Your Intellectual Property in Seed Genetics," American Agricultural Law Association Symposium, Sept. 20 09
Nicole C. Hancock

Panelist, "Litigation Holds and Record Retention Obligations," International Association of Defense Counsel, Corporate Counsel
College, Apr. 2008

Multiple corporate trainings on antitrust matters, harassment in the workplace and intellectual property protection, 2007-2008

"HIPAA: Recognizing Health Law Issues that May Hit Your Practice Area," Idaho State Bar Annual Meeting, 2006
Publications

Quoted in "Pacific Seed Association's Annual Convention Addresses Vital Industry Issues," Seed Today, Jan. 8, 2013

"Are We There Yet?!? A Statistical View of Equality for Women in Idaho," The Advocate, Idaho State Bar, Jan. 2013

"Crisis Litigation: How to Protect Your Company's Public Image," Idaho Business Review, July 17, 2006

"Employers Be Wary of False Claims by Workers Who Quit," Idaho Business Review, Jan. 3, 2005

"Amending the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for Electronic Discovery Issues," The Advocate, 2004

"Reasonable Accommodations for Deaf Applicants and Employers in Idaho," Idaho Employment Law Letter, July 2004

"New Criteria for Exemptions from Overtime Pay Due Soon," Idaho Business Review, June 7, 2004

"Holiday Parties Can Expose Employers to Liability," Idaho Employment Law Letter, Dec. 2004

"Employer's Responsibility to Provide Voting Leave," Idaho Employment Law Letter, Oct. 2004
Civic Activities

Idaho Women Lawyers, President, 2011-present; Vice President, 2009-2011; Board of Directors, 2008-2009

Fourth District Bar Law Day Committee, Member, 2005-2011; Chair, 2006

United Way of Treasure Valley, Investment Advisory Committee, 2003