Nicholas H.

About Nicholas H.

I am a General Counsel with 17+ years leading enterprise legal strategy for multi-entity investment and operating platforms, including a $1.2B AUM real estate portfolio and global organizations with employees.I partner directly with CEOs, CFOs, boards, and ownership to manage enterprise risk, governance, restructuring initiatives, regulatory compliance, litigation oversight, and capital-sensitive transactions. My work sits at the intersection of legal strategy and financial accountability, where operational complexity, investor expectations, and downside protection must align.I have built and scaled legal functions, managed seven-figure outside counsel budgets, implemented KPI-based performance structures, negotiated seven- to nine-figure commercial agreements, and structured new revenue-adjacent initiatives, including captive insurance entities within asset-heavy platforms.My background spans real assets, energy, investment management, and global operations. I operate most effectively in capital-intensive environments where legal judgment directly impacts enterprise value, cost structure, and long-term durability.I am open to senior in-house leadership roles, including General Counsel, Deputy GC, or Assistant General Counsel, within remote or distributed organizations operating at scale.

Experience

1. General Counsel

   Sylvan Road Capital Llc

   Aug 2024 — Present · Oklahoma City, OK, US

   Serve as General Counsel for a $1.2B AUM real estate investment and operating platform, partnering closely with the CFO and CEO to oversee governance, compliance, litigation, enterprise risk, and legal budget accountability across 50+ entities.• Lead legal strategy for multi-state licensing, regulatory compliance, investor-facing governance matters, and corporate structuring.• Oversee 40+ outside counsel relationships across litigation, employment, M&A, restructuring, regulatory, and real estate matters; managed annual outside counsel spend exceeding $1MM and implemented KPI-based engagement structures and targeted insourcing strategies to reduce cost and improve performance accountability.• Created and structured a captive insurance subsidiary as a new business line, increasing revenue potential while reducing investor exposure and operational risk.• Designed and implemented contract review and prioritization framework that significantly reduced turnaround time, increased transparency, and improved cross-functional coordination.

Education

• West Virginia University College of Law

  Doctor of Law - JD, Law

  2005 — 2008

• West Virginia University

  Bachelor of Arts, Political Science

  2001 — 2004