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. He has extensive experience representing clients in matters involving the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and other government agencies.

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.

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Thought Leadership

Publications

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

Co-Author with Mark Filip and Brigham Cannon, “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

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