Professor Ilan Nissan

Ilan Nissan

  • Lecturer in Law
Education

JD, Boston University School of Law, 1988 (magna cum laude)
BS, State University of New York at Albany, 1985 (magna cum laude)

Ilan Nissan is the Head of Private Equity/M&A at Goodwin Procter LLP and is based in New York City and Miami. Mr. Nissan’s clients include the most sophisticated and well-known asset managers in the world including top-tier private equity and venture capital funds, hedge funds, family offices and multi-strategy investors. Mr. Nissan also represents a number of "A" list celebrities in their investing and related activities.

Mr. Nissan’s skills include:

  • Analyzing/simplifying complex situations and focusing clients on the key matters
  • Providing advice uniquely tailored to the client’s particular legal and business sensitivities
  • Delivering the best of the firm’s resources to effectively resolve the most difficult matters

Experience

Mr. Nissan's expertise and experience encompasses the following areas:

Mergers and Acquisitions/Private Equity. Mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, sales and divestitures, securities offerings and strategic investments.

Strategic Advice. Senior counseling concerning strategic business/legal issues (including advice on acquisitions, high stakes litigation, and liquidity strategies), execution of business plans, complex regulatory concerns and other strategic matters. Mr. Nissan also has substantial international experience including cross-border acquisitions, investments and joint ventures all over the world. 

Growth Equity and Venture Capital. Representation of growth and venture capital funds and family offices in connection with investments in businesses in various industries with a concentration on software, internet and technology generally.

Fund Formation. Formation and restructuring of private equity, venture capital and hedge funds, co-investment vehicles and pledge funds – including all varieties of “secondaries” transactions. Advising on internal carry, compensation and governance arrangements among fund sponsors and investment professionals.

Executive Compensation. Representation of investors and management groups in all aspects of compensation arrangements, including executive employment and consulting agreements, stock option plans, restricted stock plans, bonus plans and other management incentive arrangements.

Mr. Nissan is also very active in real estate including "proptech", infrastructure and project finance.

Related Activities

Since 2003, Mr. Nissan has been a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia University Law School, where he teaches a course focusing on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital and legal transactional strategies. Mr. Nissan is originally from Ramat Gan, Israel and speaks three languages.

Professional Experience

Previously, Mr. Nissan was Chair of the Mergers & Acquisitions group at O’Melveny & Myers. Mr. Nissan also was a partner at O’Sullivan Graev & Karabell LLP and began his career with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, each in New York City.

Recognition & Awards

Mr. Nissan has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America Best Lawyers for his work in Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law 2022-2023.

Mr. Nissan was named Lawyer of the Year for Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law in New York by The Best Lawyers in America 2021. He is also regularly recognized as a leading lawyer in his fields of expertise by Legal 500 U.S., Super Lawyers, International Financial Law Review and Best Lawyers in America.

Publications

Mr. Nissan is regularly quoted in The Wall Street Journal and other financial and popular press. He is also a frequent lecturer and panelist at private equity, venture capital and hedge fund conferences.

Admissions

Mr. Nissan is admitted to practice in New York.