With a proven track record of winning cases for a broad spectrum of clients, Nina is one of Buchalter’s most valuable associates. Nina is an incredibly accomplished litigator with impressive trial experience. In her work on product liability, premises liability, and personal injury cases, Nina has successfully defended major clients, including major vehicle and RV manufacturers, railroads, amusement park owners, water slide manufacturers, construction equipment makers, retail businesses, movie producers, and many more.

As an associate, Nina played a crucial role in a notable two-month-long jury trial, skillfully defending a major vehicle manufacturer against a requested $103 million jury award. Her team achieved a complete defense verdict after the jury deliberated for only one hour. Recognized for exceptional legal skills, Nina was ranked in the prestigious “Best Lawyers – Ones to Watch” list in the “Product Liability Litigation – Defendants” category in 2022 and 2023.

Not only is Nina a shark in the courtroom, she also excels in appellate work as well. In 2023, the Fourth Appellate District, Division Three of the California Court of Appeal published a favorable decision in an appeal Nina co-wrote (Smalley v. Subaru of America, Inc., No. G059904), upholding a manufacturer’s properly-issued settlement offer pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure section 998. Based on Nina’s work, the manufacturer, in that case, avoided having to pay nearly half a million dollars in attorney’s fees, even though the plaintiff was the prevailing party at trial. This case has set precedent in California, properly holding that CCP Section 998 trumps the ‘prevailing party’ language awarding attorney’s fees under the Song-Beverly Act.

Nina has also second-chaired numerous trials to verdict. Notably, Nina successfully defended several major vehicle manufacturers against Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act claims. Nina has also demonstrated her successful ability to convince judges of her clients’ positions, securing a favorable outcome for a major railroad in a Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) case in a bench trial in Orange County Superior Court. She has been involved in multiple complex business litigation trials with claims of alter ego, breach of fiduciary duty, accounting, conversion, breach of contract, aiding and abetting fraud, and more. Recently, she has crossed over into the intellectual property field, defending manufacturers in patent litigation in multi-million dollar international disputes. She has also expanded her practice to include real estate disputes as well, resolving disputes over land purchases and easements.

In 2023, Ms. Moreno was recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine as a Southern California “Rising Star”. In addition, she was also named to Best Lawyer’s “Ones to Watch” list in 2024.

Bar Admissions

• California