Mr. Lichtenauer practices in the areas of civil and commercial litigation.
Education
Mr. Lichtenauer obtained his joint J.D. and M.B.A. degrees magna cum laude (Top 10 of his class) from Northern Illinois University in 2016, where he was a member of the Law Review, was awarded a certificate in Civil Litigation, and graduated a semester early with both degrees.
Mr. Lichtenauer obtained his B.S. degree summa cum laude in Marketing from Northern Illinois University in 2014, graduating with a certificate in Professional Sales. Mr. Lichtenauer competed in and earned 1st Place in the 2014 Northern Illinois University Ethics Case Competition and also placed in the 2013 Target Case Analysis Competition.
Experience
Mr. Lichtenauer has extensive trial experience as lead counsel in dozens of bench and jury trials. He has handled complex disputes from investigation through verdict, including cases involving highly technical digital, medical, and business record evidence. He has also advised on hundreds of internal investigations and administrative proceedings.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Lichtenauer served as the Senior Litigation Counsel, Judge Advocate, for the U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In that role, Mr. Lichtenauer served as lead prosecutor for Fort Carson and trained and advised nine attorneys in trial strategy, legal research, and motion drafting. He served previously as legal advisor for senior officers and directly coordinated and collaborated with legal counsel for joint service, State, and Federal department operations.
Earlier in his military career, Mr. Lichtenauer served as a non-commissioned Infantry Squad Leader in the Army National Guard, where he oversaw combat training for platoon members, ensured readiness and precision team execution in high-stress environments, and was certified as a UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter mechanic.
Bar Memberships
Mr. Lichtenauer is licensed to practice law in Colorado and Illinois. He is proud to have advocated on behalf of children and children’s rights through CASA in Illinois courts.
Phone: (719) 635-8750
Legal Assistant: Erin Korchagin
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Strawberry Fields
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Nate Lenz, Corporate Counsel
Classic Homes
“It was a pleasure working with Nick Ricotta, from start to finish. He asks exactly the right questions, truly listens to the answers, then applies his decades of business law experience and outstanding communication skills, to efficiently reach an equitable outcome. He is unflappable. His counsel consistently brought calm, reason and understanding to an otherwise stressful and unfamiliar process.”
Dr. Farrel K. VanWagenen, MD
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Nick and I couldn’t be happier with the recommendation that brought me to him. He’s a business law attorney with a wealth of experience that has proven invaluable. Nick gets straight to the point, cutting through legal jargon and focusing on what really matters. His practical, no-nonsense approach is refreshing and rare to find. He’s been instrumental in guiding me through several complex situations with ease. Nick is a great asset to have in your corner. I recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, straightforward business attorney."
Jeff Thorp, Business Owner
“Nick Ricotta is world-class. He is efficient. He thinks strategically. He is not afraid to be unconventional, yet he is detailed-oriented. As a result, he constantly wins. In a decade with him, working cases around the world, I have seen he is as bright as they come. He is a courteous, decent human being – not always the trait of lawyers.”
Ken McNeil, Partner
Susman Godfrey LLP
