Overview

Mackenzie Drutowski is an ESG & Impact partner in Kirkland’s Washington, D.C., office where she provides sophisticated counsel to private equity firms and public and private companies on the dynamic and rapidly evolving legal landscape of ESG, sustainability and impact investing. With a deep understanding of emerging regulations, investor priorities and voluntary frameworks, she helps clients navigate complex compliance challenges while identifying strategic opportunities to drive long-term value.

Mackenzie’s practice spans a broad range of ESG-related matters, including fund formation — particularly energy transition and emerging manager-focused funds — and M&A transactions, where she advises on ESG due diligence and contract negotiations. She also advises on corporate ESG strategies, guiding clients in the development and enhancement of policies, disclosures and initiatives.

Mackenzie also advises on social enterprise matters, including public benefit business certifications and related governance and transaction considerations.

Beyond her client work, Mackenzie is recognized as a thought leader in ESG and sustainability law. She is a frequent speaker at industry and legal conferences, including events hosted by the American Bar Association, Women in Climate Investing and Finance, KAYO and New Private Markets, where she shares insights on regulatory developments, investor trends and best practices for ESG integration.

Mackenzie’s ESG & Impact practice is grounded in her extensive corporate experience, having spent five years advising on complex domestic and cross-border M&A transactions as part of Kirkland’s Corporate Practice Group. Her multidisciplinary experience allows her to provide clients with comprehensive, forward-thinking guidance in an increasingly complex regulatory and business environment.

Representative Clients

Berkshire Partners, The Carlyle Group, EIG Partners, GTCR, Oaktree Capital Management, Ohmium, Patient Square Capital, Starwood Capital Partners, TA Associates, TPG, Waud Capital and 26North.

More

Thought Leadership

Publications

Author, “ESG in the U.S.: demonstrating value is key in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape,” Prequin, January 29, 2024

Author, “SEC Adopts Amendments to Expand the Scope of the Names Rule,” Kirkland Alert, October 3, 2023

Author, “SEC Proposes Enhanced Disclosure by Certain Advisers on ESG Investment Practices,” Kirkland Alert, June 3, 2023

Author, “Misalignment Management in Joint Ventures: Drafting JV Agreements to Prevent, De-escalate, and Resolve Disputes,” Harvard Negotiation Journal, 2022

Seminars

Moderator, “ESG Under the Second Trump Administration – What Lies Ahead for 2025 and Beyond,” Private Funds ESG Summit, February 13, 2025

Speaker, “Developing an Impact Contract Toolkit,” New Private Markets Impact & Transition Summit North America, November 13, 2024

Moderator, “Sustainability Drivers in Fundraising,” KAYO 2024 Women’s Private Funds Summit, October 9, 2024

Speaker, “Responsible Investing Round Table,” Waud Capital Partners Compliance Symposium, October 1, 2024

Moderator, “Navigating the ESG Maze,” KAYO 2024 Women’s Infrastructure Summit, April 9–10, 2024

Moderator, “Global Perspectives on Sustainability in U.S. Private Equity,” PEI Responsible Investment Forum, February 20, 2024

Speaker, “Is ESG still a Four-Letter Word – Advising for Change,” Builders’ Vision, October 23–24, 2023

Speaker, “Everything Everywhere All At Once: Updating Your Transactional Toolkit for Managing Expanding Environmental Risks,” BA SEER Fall Conference, October 12–13, 2023

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2022District of Columbia
  • 2016Illinois

Education

  • Northwestern Pritzker School of LawJ.D.2016

    Senior Editor, Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business

  • The George Washington UniversityB.A., International Affairs2010

    Elliott School Undergraduate Research Scholar 

    International and Domestic Politics Women’s Leadership Program