The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin & Chicago Lawyer have named three College of Law alumnae as inaugural Salute! Women in Law Award honorees. Although the publications were hoping to celebrate the honorees at their annual Women in Law Conference in December, the pandemic hampered those plans. Instead, a special commemorative edition of Chicago Lawyer magazine was published, wherein each of the honorees was profiled. The profiles of our College of Law alumnae have been republished below - congratulations to Monique "Nikki" Bhargava '08, Precious S. Jacobs-Perry '09, and Nicole Wrigley '02.
Monique (“Nikki”) Bhargava is a partner in Loeb & Loeb’s Advanced Media & Technology practice. Armed with practical and business-minded solutions, Nikki works with clients to achieve their goals while managing legal risks. She regularly advises brands, advertising agencies, media and technology companies in all aspects of their business, including marketing and product claims, digital media, sponsorships, content and IP licensing. She also focuses on the convergence of advertising and emerging technology, helping clients navigate unique issues in new media, mobile marketing, social media, adtech and user-generated content.
In addition, Nikki assists clients in identifying and managing privacy and data security risks. She works with clients to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of U.S. privacy laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, as well as global data protection laws (including GDPR). Nikki regularly helps clients comply with complex privacy regulation and develop data use and protection strategies by evaluating and optimizing practices around data collection, use, and monetization, developing data policies, conducting privacy assessments, and drafting/negotiating data privacy related agreements.
Widely recognized as a thought leader in her field, Nikki is a frequent speaker at industry and bar association conferences and has published a number of articles on advertising and privacy topics. Outside of the office, Nikki has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Law, where she has taught advertising and promotions law. She is committed to pro bono service and volunteers for the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic and Lawyers for the Creative Arts and serves on the Board of Directors of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services. She is also an active member of several national and local organizations focused on the development and advancement of diverse talent in the legal profession, including serving as VP of Affiliate Relations on the South Asian Bar Association of North America.
Precious S. Jacobs-Perry is a partner in the Litigation Department of Jenner & Block LLP. Precious primarily represents clients in class action, complex commercial and bankruptcy litigation matters. Precious also counsels clients on a variety of legal issues related to data privacy.
Precious has significant experience in a variety of forums, including in state and federal courts across the country in cases involving complex contractual disputes in a variety of industries, including energy, education, insurance, retail, construction services, and financial services.
Precious has assisted in obtaining significant victories for clients and has served as an integral member of key litigation teams that have been able to successfully defend or settle several complex matters over the years, including successfully defending against multi-million dollar class actions filed in state and federal courts in Illinois. She also counsels clients on a number of data privacy related issues, specifically in the use of physical security measures to protect highly confidential and proprietary information. In addition to her diverse litigation and counseling experience, Precious maintains an active pro bono practice. She has assisted her pro bono clients with respect to defending against first-degree murder charges, overturning a void regulation utilized by the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services, and obtaining a settlement against a former employer who violated various human and gender rights laws.
A rising leader in the legal and Chicago community, Precious is currently a fellow in Leadership Greater Chicago. She was selected as a 2018 fellow for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellows Program. She has also received the Chicago Scholars’ 35 Under 35 Award, the National Bar Association’s Young Lawyer’s Division’s Humanitarian Award, the NYU Academic Achievement Program’s Alumni Trailblazer Award and the Family Defense Center’s Major Litigation Award. Precious was also recognized by Crain’s as one of Chicago’s Notable Women Lawyers. Prior to joining Jenner and Block, Precious completed a PILI Fellowship at the Chancery Advice Desk for pro se litigants through the Greater Chicago Legal Clinic.
Precious received her JD, magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law, where she also received two Rickert Awards for Excellence in Advocacy and Service. She also received her Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree, cum laude, from New York University.
Precious serves as a member of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and as a Co-Chair of the firm’s African American Affinity Group and Mother’s Circle. She is also a member of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc.
Nicole Wrigley has litigated some of the largest and most high-profile cases in the country. She represented the plaintiffs in the largest defamation case in U.S. history, the defendant in one of the largest auditor liability cases ever tried, and Fortune 100 companies in multi-billion dollar securities fraud claims.
Her unmatched experience in these “bet the company” cases led Benchmark Litigation to select Nicole as part of its “Under 40 Hot List” for Commercial Litigation in 2017.
Nicole’s litigation and trial practice is diverse, ranging from nine-figure business disputes to multibillion-dollar class actions to complex MDL proceedings, where she has served as national and coordinating counsel for industry-leading companies. Her subject matter expertise is likewise diverse. She has represented individuals and companies in litigation involving product liability, breach of contract, tortious interference, securities fraud, defamation and disparagement, negligence, professional liability and mass tort, and CERCLA.
The results that Nicole and her teams achieved in these cases and others not only served the best interest of her client but, on several occasions, also changed the law with precedent-setting decisions. Regardless of the stakes involved, in cases large and small, Nicole approaches litigation as a zealous and respectful advocate. Her clients have described her as “a creative and aggressive, but practical advocate” and as having “an outstanding work ethic.” She has been described by opposing counsel as having a “great presence in front of a jury.”
Nicole’s clients also seek out her expertise outside of litigation. She has counseled clients in a variety of industries on interacting with the media and crisis management. She advises companies and individuals regarding their interactions with federal regulators and responding to government inquiries, and Nicole is often sought out by her clients to assist with the development of internal strategies and procedures to avoid litigation.
An Illinois native, Nicole is committed to giving back to her community. Her pro bono practice has included class actions for prisoners in the Illinois Department of Corrections system, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, and Chicago public school teachers. She has also represented individuals on a pro bono basis in immigration, custody, and divorce proceedings.
Nicole previously served on the Associate Board for the American Cancer Society and as a director for Seven Generations Ahead, a sustainability organization.