Ilan S. Nissan

Ilan Nissan is the firm’s Head of Private Equity and M&A and is based in New York City and Miami. He advises many of the world’s most sophisticated asset managers, including top-tier private equity and venture capital firms, hedge funds, family offices, and multi-strategy investment platforms. His clients also include Fortune 50 founders and CEOs, prominent media figures, and A-list artists and celebrities in connection with their investing and strategic activities.

With more than 37 years of experience, Ilan is widely regarded as one of the nation’s preeminent advisors in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and technology-driven investing. Clients frequently turn to him not only for execution, but for judgment—often seeking his guidance on matters where other firms are already engaged.

Ilan serves as a trusted member of his clients’ inner circle and often acts as their unofficial general counsel. His practice is distinguished by an ability to help decision-makers cut through complexity, identify the real sources of risk and leverage, and arrive at clear, pragmatic solutions in high-stakes situations. Sitting at the intersection of capital, operators, and ideas, Ilan frequently catalyzes relationships that shape transactions well beyond a single deal.

He is particularly known for:

• Bringing clarity to complex legal and business challenges;
• Delivering advice calibrated to clients’ specific strategic, economic, and reputational sensitivities; and
• Leading diverse, elite teams of professionals to resolve the most demanding matters.

Mergers & Acquisitions / Private Equity. Advises leading private equity and investment firms on complex mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, divestitures, securities offerings, and strategic investments.

Strategic Counseling. Provides senior-level advice on critical business and legal matters, including acquisitions, liquidity strategies, high-stakes litigation, governmental investigations, and complex regulatory issues. Ilan has substantial international experience involving cross-border acquisitions, investments, and joint ventures.

Growth Equity, Venture Capital & Technology. Represents growth equity and venture capital funds, family offices, and founders, with a concentration on software, internet, and technology businesses. Since the earliest stages of institutional investment in artificial intelligence and machine learning, Ilan has advised investors and operators navigating both the technical and strategic implications of the space.

Fund Formation & Sponsor Advisory. Advises on the formation and restructuring of private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, co-investment vehicles, pledge funds, and secondary transactions. He is frequently consulted by senior sponsors on internal economics, governance, carry structures, compensation, and sensitive inter-partner negotiations.

Executive Compensation. Represents investors and management teams in structuring executive employment arrangements and incentive programs, including equity-based compensation, bonus plans, and long-term incentive structures.

Film, Media & Entertainment. Represents media personalities and A-list artists in their investment and business activities. Ilan is also personally active in the film industry, most recently serving as a producer of the Israeli television series Red Alert, released on October 7, 2025, which documents the lived experiences of survivors of the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel. His involvement reflects a broader commitment to projects at the intersection of culture, impact, and storytelling.

Real Estate. Advises on real estate-related matters, including proptech, infrastructure, and project finance.

Ilan brings a polymathic mindset to his work, informed by active engagement across law, investing, entrepreneurship, technology, culture, and human performance. In addition to his legal practice, he is an entrepreneur and producer, a longtime adjunct professor, and a committed endurance athlete. His interests and activities span artificial intelligence, luxury brand development, film and cultural projects, wellness and performance optimization, and global travel. By moving fluently between these arenas, Ilan is able to recognize patterns that are invisible within any single discipline—an ability that sharpens his judgment and allows him to approach complex problems with unusual clarity, creativity, and strategic foresight.

For over two decades, Ilan has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Columbia University Law School, where he teaches courses focused on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, and transactional strategies.

He serves on the boards of directors and advisory boards of multiple asset managers and operating businesses, including Sbarro Holdings, Inc.

Ilan is moderately proficient in Arabic, French, Hebrew, and Spanish and is proudly from Ramat-Gan, Israel.

Prior to joining the firm, Ilan was Chairman of the Mergers & Acquisitions group at O’Melveny & Myers LLP. He was previously a partner at O’Sullivan Graev & Karabell LLP and began his legal career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, all in New York City.

Ilan is a co-founder of Soirée Miami Beach, a luxury swimwear and resort-wear brand. As an active entrepreneur, he brings an operator’s perspective to his advisory work, offering clients a practical understanding of brand-building, growth, and execution beyond traditional legal frameworks.

Ilan was named Lawyer of the Year for Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity by The Best Lawyers in America in 2021 and is consistently recognized by Best Lawyers, Legal 500 U.S., Super Lawyers, and International Financial Law Review.

Ilan is regularly quoted in The Wall Street Journal and other leading financial publications and is a frequent lecturer and panelist at private equity, venture capital, and hedge fund conferences.