Nicole Seligman
Encyclopedia
Nicole Seligman is an American
attorney. She is currently Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Sony Corporation, and has received national attention in the United States for her representation of Lieutenant Colonel
Oliver North
during the Iran-Contra hearings and of President
Bill Clinton
during his impeachment
trial.
(SCA) by CEO Howard Stringer
, Seligman became the company's Executive Vice President and General Counsel in September 2001, and became Corporate Executive Officer of the worldwide Sony Corporation in June 2003. When Stringer became Sony Corporation CEO in June 2005, Seligman rose to become General Counsel of that corporation, retaining the same role at SCA.
Before joining Sony, Seligman was a partner at Williams & Connolly
LLP in Washington, D.C. Only shortly after joining the firm, she was assigned to assist partner Brendan Sullivan
in representing Lt. Col. North before Congressional hearing and at his trial. Eleven years later, her more senior partner, David Kendall
, President Clinton's outside counsel, asked for her assistance. She appeared with Clinton when he testified before the grand jury in the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and she spoke on his behalf before the Senate at the impeachment trial
. Her other clients at Williams & Connolly
included large media organizations such as CNN
(in the Operation Tailwind
matter), ABC
, and occasionally the National Enquirer (which was primarily represented by Kendall).
At the beginning of her legal career, Seligman clerked for Justice Thurgood Marshall
on the Supreme Court of the United States
(1984-1985) and for Judge Harry T. Edwards
at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (1983-1984). Earlier, she had worked as associate editorial page editor for Hong Kong's Asian Wall Street Journal (1978-1980).
"It really is striking," Williams & Connolly
's partner Kevin Baine told the Washington Post, "when you look at the things she's done over the years, that she's won the confidence and trust of people of all political stripes and persuasions—from Thurgood Marshall to Oliver North to... [P]resident [Clinton].
She earned a B.A., Magna Cum Laude, from Harvard College
(Radcliffe
) in 1978, and, in 1983, a J.D., Magna Cum Laude, from Harvard Law School
, where she edited the Harvard Law Review
.
She is married to Joel I. Klein, former Chancellor
of the New York City Department of Education
and former U.S. Assistant Attorney General
in charge of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney. She is currently Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Sony Corporation, and has received national attention in the United States for her representation of Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
Oliver North
Oliver North
Oliver Laurence North is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, political commentator, host of War Stories with Oliver North on Fox News Channel, a military historian, and a New York Times best-selling author....
during the Iran-Contra hearings and of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
during his impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
trial.
Career
Recruited to Sony Corporation of AmericaSony Corporation of America
Sony Corporation of America , based in New York, is the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo. It is the umbrella company under which all Sony companies operate in the United States....
(SCA) by CEO Howard Stringer
Howard Stringer
Sir Howard Stringer is a Welsh-born American businessman and the chairman, president and CEO of Sony Corporation.-Personal life:...
, Seligman became the company's Executive Vice President and General Counsel in September 2001, and became Corporate Executive Officer of the worldwide Sony Corporation in June 2003. When Stringer became Sony Corporation CEO in June 2005, Seligman rose to become General Counsel of that corporation, retaining the same role at SCA.
Before joining Sony, Seligman was a partner at Williams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly LLP is a prominent litigation firm based in Washington, D.C. The firm was founded by trial lawyer Edward Bennett Williams, who left the partnership of D.C. firm Hogan & Hartson to launch his own litigation boutique....
LLP in Washington, D.C. Only shortly after joining the firm, she was assigned to assist partner Brendan Sullivan
Brendan Sullivan
Brendan V. Sullivan, Jr. is a senior partner of the law firm Williams & Connolly. Sullivan is probably best known for the role he served, in the late 1980s, as defense counsel for United States Marines Lieutenant-Colonel Oliver North in the wake of the Iran-Contra scandal...
in representing Lt. Col. North before Congressional hearing and at his trial. Eleven years later, her more senior partner, David Kendall
David Kendall
David Evan Kendall is an American attorney who advised President Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal and represented Clinton during the impeachment trial.-Background and Education:Kendall was born in 1944 and grew up in Sheridan, Indiana...
, President Clinton's outside counsel, asked for her assistance. She appeared with Clinton when he testified before the grand jury in the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and she spoke on his behalf before the Senate at the impeachment trial
Impeachment of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton, President of the United States, was impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice on December 19, 1998, but acquitted by the Senate on February 12, 1999. Two other impeachment articles, a second perjury charge and a charge of abuse of...
. Her other clients at Williams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly LLP is a prominent litigation firm based in Washington, D.C. The firm was founded by trial lawyer Edward Bennett Williams, who left the partnership of D.C. firm Hogan & Hartson to launch his own litigation boutique....
included large media organizations such as CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
(in the Operation Tailwind
Operation Tailwind
Operation Tailwind was a covert incursion into southeastern Laos during the Vietnam War, conducted between 11 September and 13 September 1970. The purpose of the operation was to create a diversion for a Royal Lao Army offensive and to exert pressure on the occupation forces of the People's Army...
matter), ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, and occasionally the National Enquirer (which was primarily represented by Kendall).
At the beginning of her legal career, Seligman clerked for Justice Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, serving from October 1967 until October 1991...
on the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
(1984-1985) and for Judge Harry T. Edwards
Harry T. Edwards
Harry Thomas Edwards is a United States federal judge.Born in New York, New York, Judge Edwards received a B.S. from Cornell University in 1962, where he was a member of the Quill and Dagger society. He received a J.D. from University of Michigan Law School in 1965 and practiced law in Chicago for...
at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (1983-1984). Earlier, she had worked as associate editorial page editor for Hong Kong's Asian Wall Street Journal (1978-1980).
"It really is striking," Williams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly LLP is a prominent litigation firm based in Washington, D.C. The firm was founded by trial lawyer Edward Bennett Williams, who left the partnership of D.C. firm Hogan & Hartson to launch his own litigation boutique....
's partner Kevin Baine told the Washington Post, "when you look at the things she's done over the years, that she's won the confidence and trust of people of all political stripes and persuasions—from Thurgood Marshall to Oliver North to... [P]resident [Clinton].
She earned a B.A., Magna Cum Laude, from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
(Radcliffe
Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
) in 1978, and, in 1983, a J.D., Magna Cum Laude, from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, where she edited the Harvard Law Review
Harvard Law Review
The Harvard Law Review is a journal of legal scholarship published by an independent student group at Harvard Law School.-Overview:According to the 2008 Journal Citation Reports, the Review is the most cited law review and has the second-highest impact factor in the category "law" after the...
.
She is married to Joel I. Klein, former Chancellor
New York City School Chancellor
The New York City Schools Chancellor is the leader of the New York City Department of Education, the agency that handles New York City's public schools. The current Chancellor is Dennis M. Walcott, who began his tenure on April 18, 2011 after the resignation of Cathie Black on April 7, 2011...
of the New York City Department of Education
New York City Department of Education
The New York City Department of Education is the branch of municipal government in New York City that manages the city's public school system. It is the largest school system in the United States, with over 1.1 million students taught in more than 1,700 separate schools...
and former U.S. Assistant Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
in charge of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division.