Rising Star: Nicole Washington

Partner Nicole Washington was recognized as a 'Rising Star' by New York Law Journal as part of the 2021 New York Legal Awards.

Practice Profile: Nicole Washington represents domestic and international sponsors on forming, marketing and operating private investment funds, including buyout funds, secondary funds, direct lending funds, special situations funds, growth funds, mezzanine funds, opportunistic funds, real estate funds, infrastructure funds and other private investment vehicles, as well as on structuring, regulatory and compliance issues. She also works with sponsors on internal management and succession planning, strategic investments, co-investment arrangements, joint ventures, and other investment management matters.

She has represented some of the largest and most diversified asset managers, as well as numerous small and middle-market managers.

Leadership, Pro Bono and Civic Work:

Board Member, Peace Players International

Kirkland & Ellis: Member, Global and New York Recruiting Committees; co-chair and member, Transactional Associate Review Committee; member, Women’s Leadership Initiative; member, Diversity Committee; member, Billing & Collection Committee

Founding board member, Women in Alternatives

Board member, Just the Beginning

Advisory board member, Asian University of Women

Prior Experience:

Partner, Kirkland & Ellis, 2015-present

Practice area associate, Sullivan & Cromwell, 2014-2015

Associate, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, 2008-2014

Education:

J.D., Harvard Law School, 2008

B.A., Columbia University, 2003

What advice would you give to young lawyers? Never be the first one to tell yourself “no”. Telling yourself no prevents you from getting started at all, and I think we all would be surprised how many times we would have succeeded had we not held ourselves back from pursuing opportunities or following our instincts out of fear of failure or rejection.