Jeffrey W. Ferguson is the General Counsel of Carlyle, based in Washington, DC, and joined the firm in 1999. As global General Counsel he serves as head of Carlyle's legal and compliance functions and is a member of the firm's Leadership, Operating, and Risk Committees.
Prior to joining Carlyle he practiced law as an attorney with Latham & Watkins and Vinson & Elkins. He received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1991 and an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Virginia, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa; he is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia and Virginia. On December 5, 2025, Carlyle announced that Mr. Ferguson had decided to retire as General Counsel in 2026, after which he will remain with the firm as a Senior Advisor to support a smooth leadership transition.