Nicolas W. Thompson, P.C.

Partner Litigation

Houston +1 713 836 3623

Washington, D.C. +1 202 389 5969

Nicolas W. Thompson, P.C.

Overview

Nicolas (Nick) Thompson is a partner in the Government, Regulatory and Internal Investigations Practice Group in the Houston and Washington, D.C., offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Nick has extensive experience representing clients in matters involving the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and other government agencies. He has been recognized as a “Next Generation Partner” by The Legal 500 U.S. for his work in corporate investigations and white-collar defense matters.

Nick represents businesses in virtually every major industry, including the healthcare, energy and finance sectors. He regularly advises clients on legal and compliance issues arising under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other corporate criminal laws, such as antitrust and securities laws.

Nick conducts internal investigations around the world, including in Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and North America. He speaks fluent Spanish and French and often conducts investigations in those languages.

As an experienced civil litigator, Nick defends clients in civil litigation and associated investigations that often run parallel with the criminal matters he handles. He is particularly skilled in civil litigation involving the False Claims Act.

He maintains an active pro bono practice, focusing on advocating for school children with special needs to receive the educational assistance to which they are entitled.

A graduate of Yale Law School, Nick was a Notes Editor on the Yale Law Journal and served as a law clerk to Judge Steven Colloton of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Before law school, Nick worked as a consultant at Bain & Company in the United States and France advising business leaders.

Anti-Corruption

  • Leads internal investigations across Latin America, Asia and Europe into allegations of bribery of foreign public officials and counsels client leaders on resolutions.
  • Represented a leading pharmaceutical company in negotiating a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission stemming from allegations of widespread FCPA violations.
  • Assisted multiple clients in receiving declinations from the U.S. Department of Justice.

False Claims Act

  • Defends clients accused of False Claims Act violations and frequently assists clients in responding to Civil Investigative Demands issued by the U.S. Department of Justice to evaluate whether a violation of the False Claims Act has occurred.

Healthcare Fraud

  • Defended a healthcare executive facing allegations of violating the Anti-Kickback Statute. The U.S. Department of Justice declined to prosecute.
  • Assists healthcare companies in investigating and resolving alleged violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, often in parallel with alleged violations of the False Claims Act.

Antitrust

  • Conducted multiple internal investigations into allegations of criminal and civil antitrust violations brought by European and Latin American regulators.
  • Defended a Japanese automotive executive accused of U.S. criminal antitrust violations. The U.S. Department of Justice declined to prosecute.*
  • Represented clients in the technology and industrial sectors accused of civil anticompetitive practices.*

Financial Services and Securities

  • Investigates cross-border tax evasion-related allegations on behalf of a major financial institution and coordinates responses to U.S. and foreign regulatory agencies.
  • Defended a hedge fund executive against charges of insider trading in a jury trial in the Southern District of New York.*

Environmental

  • Investigated and resolved allegations of environmental violations on behalf of the portfolio company of a private equity sponsor.

Data Privacy

  • Assisted clients in responding to data breaches and advised them on associated legal and strategic considerations.

*Matters prior to joining Kirkland

Law ClerkHonorable Steven M. CollotonUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit2009–2010

Yetter Coleman LLP

Sidley Austin LLP

Bain & Company

More

Thought Leadership

Publications

Co-Author, “Environmental and energy industry monitorships in the United States,” Global Investigations Review, The Guide to Monitorships (Fifth Edition), 2026

Co-Author, “Environmental and energy industry monitorships in the United States,” Global Investigations Review, The Guide to Monitorships (Fourth Edition), 2024

Co-Author, “Environmental and Energy Industry Monitorships,” Global Investigations Review, The Guide to Monitorships (Third Edition), 2022

Co-Author, “Energy and the Environment,” Global Investigations Review, The Guide to Monitorships (Second Edition), 2020

Co-Author, “Energy and the Environment,” Global Investigations Review, The Guide to Monitorships (First Edition), 2019

Presentations

“Recent Developments in Anti-Corruption Enforcement,” Houston Association of Corporate Counsel, March 2019

“Conducting Internal Investigations,” Houston Association of Corporate Counsel, May 2018

Recognition

The Legal 500 U.S., “Leading Lawyer,” Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense, 2026

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • Texas
  • District of Columbia
  • New York

Courts

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas

Languages

  • French
  • Spanish

Education

  • Yale Law SchoolJ.D.2009

    Notes Editor, Yale Law Journal

    Olin Fellow in Law & Economics

  • Brigham Young UniversityB.A., Economics

    summa cum laude

    2004

    Gordon B. Hinckley Presidential Scholar