August 18, 2022
Nicholas Centrella,
Managing Partner
Nicholas Centrella is the managing partner of Conrad O’Brien and has close to 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer. Nick has received numerous honors for his work, including praise in Chambers USA 2017 noting that he is “an excellent trial lawyer” and “the first choice for a number of law firms in professional malpractice disputes.” Clients and colleagues alike praise the precision of his work and his clear, compelling oral and written advocacy.
Nick’s civil practice focuses on the representation of AmLaw 100 and small to mid-sized law firms in legal malpractice and other civil actions, organizations in cases involving alleged child abuse, and the defense of major corporations and nonprofit entities in complex commercial, regulatory, civil RICO, personal injury, and products liability disputes. Nick also has experience defending corporations and individuals in federal grand jury investigations and criminal proceedings.
In addition to his practice and his role as managing partner, Nick is a member of the firm’s three-person executive committee that manages and oversees the firm.
Education
University of Pennsylvania, J.D., cum laude
Georgetown University, B.S., magna cum laude
St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, ranked first in his class
Admissions
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Practice Areas & Experience
Professional & Fiduciary Litigation
- Represents law firms in malpractice actions and Dragonetti and abuse of process actions.
- Represents hospitals and medical professionals in malpractice actions and administrative proceedings.
- Represents officers, directors, and companies in suits alleging a breach of a professional standard of care.
- Represented an AmLaw 100 firm sued by a client with respect to its handling of security for payments due under a settlement negotiations.
- Represented two AmLaw 100 law firms in an action alleging that both firms had failed to file a copyright infringement action against a company that had infringed plaintiffs’ design in a sculpture
- Represented an AmLaw 100 law firm in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in a legal malpractice action, in which plaintiffs alleged that our client’s trial attorneys had failed to object to the court’s directive that the concurrence of six of the eight jurors would constitute the trial verdict—which was less than the required seven of eight jurors’ concurrence—after which a jury verdict was rendered against plaintiffs.
- Represented an AmLaw 100 firm sued by a former client, alleging that the law firm failed to perfect an appeal of the dismissal of the client’s multimillion-dollar claim for delay damages on a construction project.
- Represented a major corporation and a regional law firm in a case alleging abuse of process and malicious prosecution arising our of litigation involving franchise loans.
- Represented a regional firm in a case alleging malpractice in the drafting and negotiation of a prenuptial agreement;
- Represented a national firm in a case alleging that a partner participated in the filing of misleading filings with the S.E.C.
- Represented a firm in a case alleging that a lawyer participated in an illegal takeover of a mortgage company.
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Products Liability & Complex Torts
- Represents corporations and individuals in product liability actions.
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Commercial Litigation
- Represented a Fortune 100 company in RICO and malicious prosecution cases arising out of franchise loan defaults.
- Represented parties in numerous RICO actions.
- Represented companies and individuals in civil and criminal anti-trust matters.
- Represents a religious institution in pending litigation involving sexual abuse, employment, construction and personal injury litigation.
- Represented corporate officers in WARN ACT claims.
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White Collar & Internal Investigations
- Represented witnesses in political corruption investigations and prosecutions.
- Represented former officer of Fortune 500 Company in False Claims Act case prosecuted by U.S. Attorney’s office and whistleblowers.
- Represented manufacturer in multiple suits against accountant, bank, and individuals to recover embezzled funds.
- Represented broker in both criminal and S.E.C. proceedings alleging securities fraud.
- Represented pharmacist in criminal prosecution of internet pharmacies.
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Related News
"He is knowledgeable in all areas of the applicable law and a strong written and oral advocate. He is hands-on and makes being responsive a priority."
Chambers USA 2022
"He's a great, hard-working lawyer. He knows how to take complex concepts and state them in a way that is very understandable, which makes him particularly effective."
Chambers USA 2022
"I think Nicholas Centrella is one of the best jury trial lawyers in Philadelphia."
Chambers USA 2021
"Sources describe Nick as 'very determined, persistent and successful.'"
Chambers USA 2020
"Clients note he is 'insightful and thoughtful in his planning and execution on a strategy.'"
Chambers USA
"'An excellent trial lawyer' and 'a very talented and very reliable lawyer.'"
Chambers USA
Life Beyond the Office
Nick and his wife, June, have three sons. Nick has coached his sons at various levels of ice hockey, including a team that reached the Tier II National Championship Tournament. He also currently sits on the board of directors of the hockey club at St. Joseph’s Prep, where two of his sons played high school hockey.
Honors & Affiliations
- Selected as a Leading Lawyer, Chambers USA, The Client's Guide to America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: General Commercial (2011–present) (View methodology. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.)
- Selected as a Philadelphia Inquirer 2019 Influencer of Law Winner for Business Litigation
- Listed as a “Future Star” in Benchmark Litigation, Guide to America's Leading Litigation Attorneys (View methodology. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.)
- Recognized as “50 on the Fast Track” by Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer and Pennsylvania Law Weekly
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Legal Malpractice Law-Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants (2010–present) (View methodology. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.)
- Listed as a Best Lawyers in America Philadelphia “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants (2020, 2023)
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell (View methodology. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.)
- Member, PilotLegis Claims Management Committee
- Legal Lean Sigma – Yellow Belt Certified (click here to learn more about this certification)
- Hearing Committee, Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (2005–2011)
- Federal Criminal Law Committee for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- Criminal Justice Act Panel for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (2001–2004)
- The Justinian Society
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel (former president, 2005–2006)
- American Bar Association—Criminal Justice Section and Standing Committee on Lawyers Professional Liability
- Philadelphia Bar Association—Mid-Size Law Firm Management Committee
- Listed in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2008–present); Pennsylvania Rising Stars (2005–2006) (View methodology. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.)
- Listed on the Top 100: Pennsylvania Lawyers List in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2019-present)
- Listed on the Top 100: Philadelphia Lawyers List in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2018-present)