Attorney
Niki Cunningham,
Partner
Prior to establishing WTJ Law, Niki was a partner at McCormick Barstow LLP in the litigation practice group. During her career, Niki has represented clients, both plaintiffs and defendants, in all phases of litigation up to and including jury and court trials through the appellate process. She regularly represents clients in business and commercial litigation matters, including breach of contract, fraud, shareholder rights disputes, unfair competition, trade secret litigation, business torts, employment litigation, real estate disputes, and inverse condemnation. Niki also has extensive experience in all areas of probate litigation, including will and trust contests, breach of fiduciary duty claims, Probate Code 850 Petitions, elder abuse litigation, and conservatorships. She has also represented hospitals, professionals in administrative matters with hospitals, and professionals in business disputes within medical practices.
Outside of work, Niki enjoys spending time with her husband and kids, reading, cooking, and training for half and full marathons.
Experience
Niki specializes in civil litigation, emphasizing commercial litigation, fraud, unfair competition, employment litigation, healthcare law, water litigation, and business torts, as well as probate, estate, and trust litigation.
Honors & Awards
Niki is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated with Martindale-Hubbell. She was selected for inclusion in the Northern California Rising Stars list (2015 – 2021) and the Super Lawyers list (2022; 2023) for her primary area of practice in Business Litigation. In 2011, Niki was named the ABOTA Trial Advocate of the Year at McGeorge School of Law. She also received the ALI-ABA Scholarship & Leadership Award for her graduating class.
Community Involvement
Niki has served as an Adjunct Professor at her alma mater, McGeorge School of Law. She has also served as an Adjunct Professor at San Joaquin College of Law, where she taught Civil Pre-Trial Litigation. Over the years, Niki has been involved with Fresno Regional Foundation’s Next Generation Philanthropy program and the Fresno State Mock Trial team as their coach.
Credentials
- University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2011 with great distinction, Traynor Honor Society, Order of the Coif, Order of Barristers
- California State University, Fresno, Bachelor of Science, Criminology, Law Enforcement, 2008, President’s List, 2006-2008
- Niki is admitted to practice before all California State Courts and the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Northern Districts of California.
Publications
“Who Really Owns Your Rolodex?” Association of Defense Counsel Comment Magazine. Volume 30, No. 2, Summer 2015.
Professional Associations
Niki is a member of the State Bar of California, the Fresno County Bar Association, and the San Joaquin Valley Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL). She also served on the Board of Directors for the Fresno County Bar Association and is the former President of the Fresno County Young Lawyers Association.