Overview
Nicholas Harper-Smith is a seasoned transactional attorney who advises companies, family offices, and high‑net‑worth individuals on complex business, investment, and operational matters. Nick’s practice encompasses mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital financings, corporate reorganizations, and real estate acquisition and development, as well as the negotiation of sophisticated commercial agreements. He regularly counsels executive leadership on governance, strategic initiatives, and compliance matters, providing practical, solutions‑oriented advice aligned with clients’ business objectives.
Nick has extensive experience serving as de facto general counsel to a large family office, where he managed an internal legal team and acted as a trusted advisor across multiple operating divisions. In that capacity, he played integral roles in billion‑dollar‑plus social impact investment funds and real estate development projects, private company investments, aircraft acquisitions, and family business transactions.
Nick’s work is characterized by a disciplined legal approach, sound commercial judgment, and a deep understanding of the legal issues facing sophisticated private clients and closely held enterprises.
Education
University of Chicago Law School, J.D., 2008
Wheaton College, B.A., Theatre and Dramatic Literature, 2005, summa cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions
Washington
New York
Experience
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Counsel to client in connection with a leading private equity firm’s takeover of a software company in which the client had a significant equity investment.
- Counsel to family-owned manufacturers’ representative business in connection with the sale of the business to its employees.
Equity Investment and Funding
- Counsel to client in connection with $300 million investment in social impact investment fund.
- Counsel to client in connection with $59 million equity investment in software company.
- Counsel to client in connection with $30 million investment in outcomes financing investment fund.
Real Estate Investment
- Counsel to client in connection with forming a syndicate to purchase land and develop and sell multifamily residential properties.
- Counsel to client in connection with buying out the client’s co-investors in certain residential properties.
- Counsel to client in connection with the admission of additional investors in connection with developing multifamily residential properties.
General Corporate and Securities
- Counsel to turnaround civil engineering company in connection with restructuring its operations and managing its investor relationships.
Recognition
- Listed among Rising Stars (Business & Corporate, Real Estate, Securities & Corporate Finance), Washington Super Lawyers®, 2019–2023
- Honoree, The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, 2016
Affiliations
Civic
- Director, Wayfind, 2015–2018
- Director, Summer Search Seattle, 2016–2018
- Director, Seattle Shakespeare Company, 2018–2019