Nichole Hayden
Partner
301 S. College Street
23rd Floor
Charlotte, NC 28202
23rd Floor
Charlotte, NC 28202
nichole.hayden@nelsonmullins.com
Charlotte partner Nichole Hayden is a registered patent attorney and focuses on helping clients obtain patents to protect their inventions and helping clients obtain trademarks to protect their brand. Nichole manages global intellectual property portfolios, provides advice and IP-related opinions, and assists in mergers and acquisitions related to intellectual property.
Charlotte partner Nichole Hayden is a registered patent attorney and focuses on helping clients obtain patents to protect their inventions and helping clients obtain trademarks to protect their brand. Nichole manages global intellectual property portfolios, provides advice and IP-related opinions, and assists in mergers and acquisitions related to intellectual property.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Former General Counsel to software development company in the gaming industry; gaming licensing, regulatory compliance, advice, and opinions.
- Counseling and strategic planning for patent and trademark portfolios, taking into account business and compliance needs of the company
- Opinions regarding patentability of inventions, non-infringement of third party patents, and invalidity of third party patents
- Advising, negotiating, and drafting licensing, supply, and development agreements related to patents, trademarks, copyrights, technology, and software
Representative Matters
- Nichole’s patent practice has spanned varying industries:
- Nutritional Products
- Seed Treatments and Transgenic Plants
- Paper and Film Packaging
- Electronic Gaming
- Software
- Trademark portfolio work for clients in the financial sector, the software gaming industry, retail clothing, navigational products, and many other industries.
Previous Professional Experience
- General Counsel for privately owned software development company in the gaming industry
- Gaming licensing, regulatory compliance, advice, and opinions
- Advised and managed corporate, compliance, litigation and intellectual property matters
- Advised, negotiated, and drafted customer and vendor contracts, license and supply agreements
- Managed numerous outside counsel
Education
-
Drake University Law School,
JD,
highest honors
(2004)
- Order of the Coif
- Finalist, Supreme Court Moot Court Competition
- Davis, Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts Award for Excellence in Advocacy
- Drake Law Review
- Intellectual Property Law Society
- Wofford College, BS, Chemistry, magna cum laude (2001)
Admissions
- South Carolina
- North Carolina
- U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
Practice Areas
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Former General Counsel to software development company in the gaming industry; gaming licensing, regulatory compliance, advice, and opinions.
- Counseling and strategic planning for patent and trademark portfolios, taking into account business and compliance needs of the company
- Opinions regarding patentability of inventions, non-infringement of third party patents, and invalidity of third party patents
- Advising, negotiating, and drafting licensing, supply, and development agreements related to patents, trademarks, copyrights, technology, and software
Representative Matters
- Nichole’s patent practice has spanned varying industries:
- Nutritional Products
- Seed Treatments and Transgenic Plants
- Paper and Film Packaging
- Electronic Gaming
- Software
- Trademark portfolio work for clients in the financial sector, the software gaming industry, retail clothing, navigational products, and many other industries.
Previous Professional Experience
- General Counsel for privately owned software development company in the gaming industry
- Gaming licensing, regulatory compliance, advice, and opinions
- Advised and managed corporate, compliance, litigation and intellectual property matters
- Advised, negotiated, and drafted customer and vendor contracts, license and supply agreements
- Managed numerous outside counsel
Media
Recognitions
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- Greenville Business Magazine Legal Elite of the Upstate, Intellectual Property and Innovation (2020)
Professional Activities
- Leadership Greenville Class 36
- South Carolina Bar
- American Bar Association
- Greenville County Bar Association
- Carolina Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law Association
- Board of Counselors, Drake University School of Law (2017–present)
Charlotte partner Nichole Hayden is a registered patent attorney and focuses on helping clients obtain patents to protect their inventions and helping clients obtain trademarks to protect their brand. Nichole manages global intellectual property portfolios, provides advice and IP-related opinions, and assists in mergers and acquisitions related to intellectual property.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Experience
- Former General Counsel to software development company in the gaming industry; gaming licensing, regulatory compliance, advice, and opinions.
- Counseling and strategic planning for patent and trademark portfolios, taking into account business and compliance needs of the company
- Opinions regarding patentability of inventions, non-infringement of third party patents, and invalidity of third party patents
- Advising, negotiating, and drafting licensing, supply, and development agreements related to patents, trademarks, copyrights, technology, and software
Representative Matters
- Nichole’s patent practice has spanned varying industries:
- Nutritional Products
- Seed Treatments and Transgenic Plants
- Paper and Film Packaging
- Electronic Gaming
- Software
- Trademark portfolio work for clients in the financial sector, the software gaming industry, retail clothing, navigational products, and many other industries.
Previous Professional Experience
- General Counsel for privately owned software development company in the gaming industry
- Gaming licensing, regulatory compliance, advice, and opinions
- Advised and managed corporate, compliance, litigation and intellectual property matters
- Advised, negotiated, and drafted customer and vendor contracts, license and supply agreements
- Managed numerous outside counsel
Education
-
Drake University Law School,
JD,
highest honors
(2004)
- Order of the Coif
- Finalist, Supreme Court Moot Court Competition
- Davis, Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts Award for Excellence in Advocacy
- Drake Law Review
- Intellectual Property Law Society
- Wofford College, BS, Chemistry, magna cum laude (2001)
Admissions
- South Carolina
- North Carolina
- U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
Practice Areas
- Cloud Computing, Licensing, & Transactions
- General Counsel Services
- Patent Counseling and Procurement
- Trademarks & Copyrights
- Intellectual Property
Industries
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- Greenville Business Magazine Legal Elite of the Upstate, Intellectual Property and Innovation (2020)
- Leadership Greenville Class 36
- South Carolina Bar
- American Bar Association
- Greenville County Bar Association
- Carolina Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law Association
- Board of Counselors, Drake University School of Law (2017–present)
Highlights from the Firm’s Insights
NMRS Attorneys Published in Florida Bar Journal on CCNA Procurements
November/December 2025
“Prime Equity” and the NIL Era: Shedeur Sanders’ Contract Ushers...
September 3, 2025
Old North State Report – October 27, 2025
October 28, 2025
