Overview

Pat Nash is a partner in the Restructuring Group of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He represents a variety of clients in complex business reorganizations, troubled company M&A, debt restructurings, and financing matters. He has counseled companies experiencing financial difficulties, purchasers of and investors in distressed companies, and lenders to and creditors of such companies. Pat also has extensive cross-border insolvency experience.

Described as “very commercial, very smart and very practical,” Pat has been listed as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA every year since 2013. In the 2023 edition, sources noted that “he’s a brilliant lawyer,” “he’s an outstanding practitioner – he’s smart and thorough,” and that “Patrick is a strong negotiator.” In other editions, sources noted that “he is a really strong lawyer,” "he has good business judgment and gives practical advice" and “he is knowledgeable on cross-border issues, he cuts to the chase and he's solution-oriented." In other editions, Chambers acknowledged Pat as “extremely creative, very confident and has a fine grasp of how to use restructuring regimes to achieve the results the company is seeking." Chambers noted Pat is “very proactive and straight to the point,” “an excellent lawyer,” “outstanding lawyer with lots of experience and the ability to deal with complexity,” and “highly respected for his expertise in the representation of high-profile companies involved in complex reorganizations and debt restructurings.” Sources describe him as “commercially sophisticated and approachable” and praised him for his “very direct and practical approach.”

Prior editions noted Pat is “very highly regarded” and commended him for his “negotiation skills and ability to juggle a lot of balls in the air and deal with a lot of different matters and issues.” Chambers noted that clients applauded Pat for having a “great presence” in the sector and was described by sources as “very aggressive yet commercial, and won't fight silly points,” “well-rounded and good at everything” and “wonderful to deal with, very smart and very capable.”

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Thought Leadership

Seminars

Presenter for Keynote Speaker: Paul G. Vallas, American Bankruptcy Institute VALCON 2024, March 18–20, 2024, New Orleans, Louisiana.

“Crypto: How 2022 Will Affect The Future Of The Digital Currency Industry,” The Beard Group’s 29th Annual Distressed Investing Conference, November 28, 2022, New York, New York.

“Nothing Up My Sleeve,” American College of Bankruptcy Seventh Circuit Education Committee Seminar, September 27, 2019, Chicago, Illinois. 

“Indicators of Future Distress,” American Bankruptcy Institute VALCON 2018, May 16–18, 2018, Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Uncertainty and Opportunity in Distressed & Restructuring,” Columbia Business School’s 20th Annual Private Equity & Venture Capital Conference, February 28, 2014, New York, New York.

“Turnarounds and Restructuring,” Harvard Business School 20th Annual Venture Capital and Private Equity Conference, February 9, 2014, Boston, Massachusetts.

“Case Study: AMF Bowling, Inc. - Bowling a Strike in the Middle Market,” 9th Annual Wharton Restructuring and Distressed Investing Conference, February 22, 2013, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“The Role of the Hedge Fund in Corporate Restructurings: White Knight or Villain?,” American Bankruptcy Institute 24th Annual Winter Leadership Conference, November 29–December 1, 2012, Tucson, Arizona.

“Lessons Learned: Valuation and Bankruptcy Cases from the Past Year,” American Bankruptcy Institute VALCON 2012, February 22–24, 2012, Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Claims Trading: Effect of CDSs in Bankruptcy and How It Drives Negotiations and Results,” 13th Annual New York City Bankruptcy Conference, May 6, 2011, New York, New York.

Recognition

Pat was listed as a leading lawyer in the 2018–2024 editions of Chambers Global and the 2013–2024 editions of Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

Pat has been recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. for corporate restructuring.

Pat was selected as one of the nation’s “Outstanding Restructuring Lawyers” in 2014 and “Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyers” in 2008 by Turnarounds & Workouts.

Pat was recognized in the 2013–2019 and 2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law.

Memberships & Affiliations

Member of the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities New York

Member of the Board of Directors of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois

Member of the American College of Bankruptcy

Member of INSOL International

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 1996Illinois

Education

  • University of Illinois College of LawJ.D.1996
  • University of Notre DameB.A.1993