Ambassador Crystal Nix-Hines (Ret.)

Partner, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

Crystal Nix-Hines is a Partner in the Los Angeles Office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan where she focuses on complex litigation, including shareholder derivative actions, contractual and unfair business practice disputes and intellectual property litigation. Since returning to the firm in 2017 after her tenure in Paris as U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO, Ambassador Nix-Hines has also spearheaded the firm’s Crisis Law & Strategy Group, which helps companies with crisis management, as well as longer-term strategic issues including diversity and inclusion, compliance and corporate governance issues. She initially joined the firm in 2008 as Of Counsel and began her career as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justices Thurgood Marshall and Sandra Day O’Connor, and to William Norris of the Ninth Circuit.

During her ambassadorial tenure, Ambassador Nix-Hines established a proactive, entrepreneurial and constructive mandate for the U.S. Mission that highlighted American leadership and improved organizational governance and effectiveness. She successfully led United States’ efforts in Paris to secure reelection to UNESCO’s Executive Board – the key decision-making body – as well as launched a series of innovative initiatives, including two global public-private partnerships.
Ambassador Nix-Hines earned a B.A. from Princeton University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she graduated with honors and served as Supervising Editor of the Harvard Law Review.

During her nine-year tenure as a Trustee of Princeton University, she served on its Executive and Nominating Committees, and chaired its Student Life Committee. Along with other Trustees, she oversaw the University’s then $21 billion endowment, as well as a Capital Campaign that raised over $1.88 billion.