Nicole Fournier Gelston, Attorney

Nicole Fournier-Gelston is a partner in the firm whose practice areas include commercial litigation, white-collar criminal defense and appellate litigation. Nicole's top-quality legal skills have played a major role in a number of the firm's litigation and appellate successes.

In addition to regularly appearing in federal and state court, Nicole appears before the state supreme and appellate courts as well as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Indeed, Nicole wrote a brief and argued a matter of first impression before the Connecticut Supreme Court concerning the protections afforded by the attorney-client privilege and helped to secure an exceptionally favorable result for the firm's client.

In 2005, Nicole was awarded the Connecticut Law Tribune's Award for Overall Achievement.  In 2006, she was featured in Quinnipiac Law Magazine for her professional accomplishments.

Nicole served first as Vice-President and then President of the New Haven Young Lawyers section of the New Haven County Bar Association. She has served on various other committees in the New Haven and Connecticut Bar Associations. She is also a member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association.  Nicole routinely participates in judging student oral arguments at her alma mater and is a guest speaker at lectures and seminars throughout the state.

Nicole graduated magna cum laude from Quinnipiac University School of Law and attended University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College, where she majored in both Psychology and Speech Pathology. She received a number of academic awards for her notable performance in law school, including awards for Distinguished Academic Achievement, Outstanding Legal Performance, Academic Excellence and Superior Classroom Performance. She was invited to join the Quinnipiac Law Review, where she served as a Case Note Editor. Her law review paper, titled Proposition 187: California's Substantial State Goal, was chosen for publication.