Mayor – Erica L. Nikolic, Esq.

Her legal career is marked by significant, complex assignments with prestigious firms such as Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates, among others. She has completed substantive discovery in international regulatory investigations, assisted a court-appointed trustee in the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, and analyzed corporate documents for mergers and acquisitions. She was hired as an independent contractor at Bingham McCutchen LLP, where she helped draft memoranda of law used to prepare witnesses in a copyright infringement litigation case that resulted in a $306 million award for the client.

Her foundational experience in the legal profession also includes serving as a Law Clerk for The Honorable Denny Chin in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Beyond her extensive private legal practice, Mayor Nikolic made a mark in the world of global governance and policy. She worked as a teaching assistant with the Duke Global Governance Policy Program in Geneva, Switzerland. There, she also completed course work in Global Health, International Humanitarian Law, International Migration Law, and Human Rights. At the United Nations as well as the UNAIDS Malawi Country Office, she focused on Human Rights and Gender issues in addition to the implementation of a declaration by traditional leaders that would protect girls from gender-based violence and child marriage. She worked for NGOs such as Medair where she drafted their first child protection policy, related tools, and training materials and worked at the WHO/UNAIDS Headquarters where she completed an analysis of the People Living with HIV Stigma and Discrimination Index across 27 countries. Having lived abroad, in several countries, she speaks fluent French and has achieved basic proficiency in Spanish, Italian, and Serbian.

Prior to her appointment as mayor, she served as Vice Mayor/Council President of Oakwood Village. On Council, she chaired the Environmental Committee and worked on city budgets as a member of the Finance Committee. Her duties included leading city council meetings, facilitating communication, and collaborating closely with the late Mayor Gottschalk to implement policies and initiatives aimed at improving community services, infrastructure, and economic development. She also served as a liaison between city government and community organizations, representing the city’s interests and advocating for residents’ needs.

Mayor Nikolic’s deep roots in Oakwood Village, combined with her astute ability to draft legislation as well as her professional experience as a litigation strategist and her international work in human rights, public health, and governance, makes her a competent and committed leader. She is dedicated to fostering community engagement and addressing the concerns of the city’s residents and stakeholders.

“I am here to serve the community”

-Mayor Erica Nikolic Esq. (Admitted in NY)