Compassionate Counsellors. Competitive Litigators.
Nicole J. Griese

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Practice Areas:
- Criminal Defense
- Family Law
- Social Security Disability
- Civil Litigation
- Personal Injury
Biography
Nicole Griese is a Sioux Falls native and the first in her family to become a lawyer. Nicole was raised with deep-rooted values of hard work and perseverance—her father came from a family of farmers and her mother from a business-oriented background. These influences shaped Nicole’s commitment to strategic critical thinking, compassionate guidance, and zealous advocacy in every case she takes on. To Nicole, the best case is the well-prepared one.
Nicole’s legal journey began at the University of South Dakota, where she earned her bachelor’s degree while interning at the South Dakota State Penitentiary and staying active in Pi Beta Phi. She went on to earn her law degree from Charlotte School of Law. During law school, she served as Editor-in-Chief of the student-run newspaper The CharlotteLaw Docket, was selected as a Student Ambassador, and elected President of the Family Law Society.
Before opening her own law office in 2018, Nicole gained valuable experience working for five different law firms across Minnesota, North Carolina, and South Dakota. Since then, Nicole has built a thriving litigation practice, representing clients across a wide spectrum of legal matters. She has extensive trial experience and has secured felony-level acquittals in both state and federal court. She has also successfully litigated complex custody and divorce cases and recovered six-figure settlements in personal injury claims. Whether in or out of the courtroom, Nicole never backs down from a challenge.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, running, traveling, reading, and watching movies.
Education
- Charlotte School of Law, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Honors: Student Ambassador
- Honors: President of Family Law Society
- Honors: Pro bono distinction
- Law Journal, The CharlotteLaw Docket, Editor-in-Chief
- University of South Dakota
- Honors: South Dakota State Penitentiary, Intern
- Honors: Pi Beta Phi
Bar Admission
- South Dakota, 2016
Representative Cases
- 41CRI19-000232- succeeded on a motion to suppress the evidence, Court held the search was unlawful; state dismissed Possession of Controlled Substance indictment (2020)
- 41CRI19-447- court trial- Not Guilty by Insanity verdict and Acquittal on a class 6 felony (2021)
- 62CIV21-000017- court trial- represented dad that had minimal visitation and Court granted motion; granted dad primary custody (2021)
- 49CIV13-003102- court trial- represented mom and resisted dad’s motion to modify custody; Judge denied dad’s motion and continued primary custody with Nicole’s client (2021)
- 41CRI21-000357- jury trial on class 5 felony- Not Guilty verdict for Nicole’s client- Acquittal (2022)
- 49CIV22-544 - Nicole successfully got client off the sex offender registry (2022)
- 4:22 CR-40071- jury trial in federal court- Nicole’s client was charged with Distribution resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (a 20 year federal mandatory minimum sentence) received a Not Guilty Verdict and Acquittal (2022)
- 41CRI23-000119 - jury trial - Stalking - Not Guilty Acquittal (2023)
- 49CRI23-007368- full dismissal of Rape 2nd degree Indictment (2024)
- 49CIV24-189 ex parte emergency custody granted for 6 week old baby, Nicole’s client (dad) got sole physical and legal (2024)
- 66CIV19-301 ex parte emergency custody granted for Nicole’s client (mom) (2024)
- 49DIV23-000594- contested 3 day divorce trial- favorable outcome for Nicole’s client on primary custody and moving to Iowa (2024)
- 49CRI23-8513- full dismissal of Rape 2nd degree Indictment (2025)
- In the Interest of J.P. - court trial - did not adjudicate client (2025)
Honors
- 30 Under 30 University of South Dakota Alumni Association, 2019
- Sioux Falls Tribute to Women in Leadership, nominee in Community Service, 2019
- SD Young Lawyers Association, Lawyers Assisting Youth to Take Responsibility Award, 2019
- South Dakota Trial Skills, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 2018
Professional Associations
- South Dakota Bar Association
- State Bar Women in law Committee, 2018 to 2024
- Sioux Falls Juvenile Diversion Board, 2019 to 2023
- Solo and Small Firm Committee, 2019 to 2023
- Second Circuit Women in Law, Vice President, 2019 to 2020
- Sioux Council Board Member, 2018 to 2021
- South Dakota Trial Lawyers Board of Governors, 2018 to 2020
Current Employment Position
- Owner & Attorney