Nicole Washington

Partner at Kirkland & Ellis

Panelist

Nicole Washington is a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where she is a key member of the Firm’s Investment Funds Group. Nicole regularly represents domestic and international sponsors on forming, marketing and operating private investment funds, including buyout, secondary, direct lending, special situations, growth, mezzanine, opportunistic, real estate, infrastructure and other private investment vehicles, as well as on structuring, regulatory and compliance issues. Nicole advises private investment funds on a range of complex business transactions in the secondary market, including structured secondaries, fund recapitalizations and restructurings, and other GP-led transactions. She also advises some of the world’s most sophisticated private fund sponsors on internal management and succession planning, strategic investments, co-investment arrangements, joint ventures, and other investment management matters.

Nicole’s experience includes representing some of the largest and most diversified asset managers, as well as numerous small and middle-market managers on the formation of private investment funds ranging from several hundred million to multibillion dollars. In addition, Nicole has significant experience advising emerging managers in establishing asset management firms and raising first-time funds.

Nicole is “very experienced and a fantastic attorney” according to Chambers USA where she was ranked as a leading attorney and called out for “her strong practice advising on fund formation matters, including early-stage fundraises.” Nicole was also named to Crain’s New York list of Notable Woman in Law and Savoy 2022 Most Influential Black Lawyers. In 2021 she was profiled as one of Law360's Fund Formation MVPs, one of the most coveted awards that recognizes leading lawyers for their involvement in record-breaking deals and complex global matters. In 2021 she was also recognized as a 'Rising Star' by New York Law Journal as part of the 2021 New York Legal Awards and recognized as a ‘Next Generation Lawyer’ by The Legal 500 US. In 2020, Nicole was named by Law360 to the Fund Formation “Rising Stars” list, an annual ranking that recognizes outstanding legal talent under 40 years old. Nicole was also recognized for her commitment to advancing the empowerment of women in law in Corporate Counsel where she was named as an honoree in the “Collaborative Leadership” category as part of the Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards 2020. Nicole was recognized by The Council of Urban Professionals (CUP) as one of the 2021 “Catalysts in Law.” Honorees were recognized for achieving extraordinary professional success while making significant and impactful contributions to their community through volunteerism, philanthropy, board service and mentorship.

Nicole serves as co-chair of Kirkland’s Transactional Associate Review Committee, Billings and Collections Committee and New York Recruiting Committee; and is a member of Kirkland’s Committees on Diversity and Inclusion and Firmwide Recruiting. She serves on the Board of Directors of PeacePlayers International, Just the Beginning, and New Alternatives for Children; is on the Board of Trustees of Bennett College and the Museum of the City of New York; is a member of the Advisory Board of Asian University for Women; and is a founding member of the Board of Directors of Women in Secondaries.