Nicole Lares is Counsel in the Firm's Investment Funds Practice. She advises private equity sponsors on the formation, fundraising and operation of private investment funds, including large-cap and middle-market buyout funds and related vehicles. Nicole has extensive experience advising sponsors on complex fund structures, including cross-border and European platforms, as well as on investor negotiations, side letters and co-investment arrangements. She regularly represents sponsors throughout the full fund life cycle and provides practical, market-informed guidance on fund terms and investor dynamics. Nicole also has significant experience serving as primary day-to-day counsel to sponsors, supporting long-term relationships across multiple fund cycles and coordinating with cross-functional teams on structuring, regulatory and operational matters.
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Work Highlights
Notable experience prior to joining Simpson Thacher includes advising:
- Thoma Bravo in the formation and fundraising of its $32 billion flagship buyout fund, Thoma Bravo Fund XVI*
- Permira across multiple flagship fundraises and ongoing fund matters, acting as senior day-to-day lead across the relationship over the course of her career*
- OpenGate Capital on fund formation, structuring and ongoing operational matters, including the conversion of a Delaware fund structure to a Luxembourg-based platform*
- a venture capital sponsor in connection with the formation and fundraising of its latest flagship family of funds, including parallel and feeder vehicles*
- private equity sponsors in connection with GP-led secondary transactions and fund restructurings*
- investors in connection with multiple GP stakes transactions (buy-side)*
Accolades
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2018 Rising Stars of Law – 40 Under 40
Education
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The George Washington University Law School, 2014 J.D.
Presidential Merit Scholar
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University of Nevada, 2010 B.S.
magna cum laude, University Honors
Admissions
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District of Columbia 2016
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Nevada 2014
Nicole Lares is Counsel in the Firm's Investment Funds Practice. She advises private equity sponsors on the formation, fundraising and operation of private investment funds, including large-cap and middle-market buyout funds and related vehicles. Nicole has extensive experience advising sponsors on complex fund structures, including cross-border and European platforms, as well as on investor negotiations, side letters and co-investment arrangements. She regularly represents sponsors throughout the full fund life cycle and provides practical, market-informed guidance on fund terms and investor dynamics. Nicole also has significant experience serving as primary day-to-day counsel to sponsors, supporting long-term relationships across multiple fund cycles and coordinating with cross-functional teams on structuring, regulatory and operational matters.
Nicole regularly manages multi-office deal teams and works closely with tax, regulatory and transactional colleagues in connection with fund formation and ongoing operations. She advises sponsors on complex structuring and investor-facing matters and plays a central role on her matters across multiple fund cycles.
She maintains an active pro bono practice, including serving as a guardian ad litem and representing clients in education and housing-related matters.
Notable experience prior to joining Simpson Thacher includes advising:
- Thoma Bravo in the formation and fundraising of its $32 billion flagship buyout fund, Thoma Bravo Fund XVI *
- Permira across multiple flagship fundraises and ongoing fund matters, acting as senior day-to-day lead across the relationship over the course of her career *
- OpenGate Capital on fund formation, structuring and ongoing operational matters, including the conversion of a Delaware fund structure to a Luxembourg-based platform *
- a venture capital sponsor in connection with the formation and fundraising of its latest flagship family of funds, including parallel and feeder vehicles *
- private equity sponsors in connection with GP-led secondary transactions and fund restructurings *
- investors in connection with multiple GP stakes transactions (buy-side) *
Nicole received her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School in 2014, where she was a Presidential Merit Scholar, and her B.S., magna cum laude, from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with University Honors in 2010. She is admitted to practice in Washington, D.C. and Nevada.