Los Angeles, CA. Nixon Peabody LLP is pleased to announce the appointment of Sonia Nayak to managing partner of the AmLaw 100 firm’s Los Angeles office.
As strategic partners to the thriving business center, attorneys in the Los Angeles office provide a full range of real estate, finance, corporate, intellectual property, litigation, and transactional legal services that help clients build city infrastructure, improve healthcare, and advance technology. Nixon Peabody’s Los Angeles–based attorneys and colleagues also have deep knowledge and extensive experience in the fashion, art, entertainment, and esports and gaming industries.
“Sonia is a well-admired leader and has been a dedicated firm citizen since joining Nixon Peabody,” said Stephen D. Zubiago, CEO and managing partner of Nixon Peabody. “Sonia’s deep relationships throughout the city and beyond, her passion for community building, and her fresh perspectives will help navigate our firm through continued growth in Southern California.”
In addition to her role leading the Los Angeles office, Sonia will maintain her practice in Nixon Peabody’s Community Development Finance group, where she focuses on real estate development and financing. Sonia has extensive experience with commercial lending, tax credit finance, and affordable housing. Much of her work is centered on leveraging real estate financing tools to make private capital available for much-needed community development projects, including healthcare facilities, charter schools, and low-income and affordable housing.
“Los Angeles is a unique city that thrives on innovation, the strength of its diversity, and a culture rooted in impactful engagement,” said Sonia Nayak. “I’m honored to lead our dynamic team of attorneys and professional colleagues as we navigate through the next phase of the pandemic and beyond. We will continue to innovate new ways to move our clients’ businesses forward and make significant impacts on the communities we serve.”
Sonia succeeds Justin X. Thompson as Los Angeles office managing partner, who held the role for four years. Justin will continue his busy practice as a real estate partner while acting as a steward to the broader regional business community through his impactful work with Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), among other organizations. In his role as office managing partner, Justin forged key strategic relationships with numerous partners, including Homeboy Industries and PATH. He also founded the office’s homelessness initiative, which has sought to increase awareness and identify and implement solutions for the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles.
Sonia, who has been recognized by Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the region’s Most Influential Women Lawyers, previously served in a variety of firm leadership roles, including partner chair of the Asian and Middle Eastern American Resource Group and the New Markets Tax Credits team. She attended the McGeorge School of Law at University of the Pacific and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Irvine.