Nicholas L. Phinney
Nicholas joined CCK as an associate attorney in October 2009. His practice focuses on representing disabled veterans before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Nicholas earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2003. He earned his J.D. from Roger Williams University in 2007. In law school, he won the best brief award in the Esther Clark Moot Court competition, served on the Moot Court Board, served as a student attorney in the Criminal Defense Clinic, and worked as a research assistant for former Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Robert Flanders. He also has experience in workers’ compensation, landlord-tenant, and general litigation matters.Nicholas is a member of the National Organization of Veterans Advocates. He has written numerous articles on veterans’ benefits law that have been published in the Veterans Law Journal and Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly.Nicholas enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and fishing. He is also a fan of classic rock music and plays bass guitar.
Areas of Practice
- Veterans Benefits
- Complex Litigation
- Appellate Litigation
- Personal Injury
Bar Admissions
- Rhode Island, 2007
- Massachusetts, 2007
- U.S. District Court District of Rhode Island, 2008
- U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts, 2009
- U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, 2009
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 2013
Publications
- “What is the Scope of the CAVC’s Equitable Powers”, Veterans Law Journal, Spring 2015
- “How Much Deference is to be Afforded VA in its Interpretation of the Law”, Veterans Law Journal, 2014
- “Ruling promises to help military sexual trauma survivors”, Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly, Spring 2014
- “Equitable Tolling of Filing Deadlines in Veterans Benefits Cases”, Veterans Law Journal, Spring 2014