Overview
Built for fund managers. Grown in the venture ecosystem.
Fund managers need more than formation counsel. That’s why Venture Best® does more. We help emerging and established managers launch funds, raise capital, execute investments, and build enduring investment platforms.
Our team brings together attorneys across fund formation, tax, securities, employee benefits, and other key disciplines. Clients value our hands-on involvement from partners, lean service model, and ability to deliver sophisticated advice while staying nimble. And because our support extends beyond fund formation, clients can rely on us for guidance on investments, portfolio company matters, financings, exits, and other issues as funds mature and evolve.
By the Numbers
#12
in the US most active VC Legal Advisor
#13
Globally most active VC Legal Advisor
18
Offices
50+
50+ Venture-Focused Attorneys and Professionals
*Rankings based on PitchBook’s 2025 Annual Global League Tables.
Focus Areas
Supporting Fund Managers at Every Stage
Venture Best advises fund managers ranging from first-time sponsors to established investment platforms. Whether you’re structuring a new vehicle, raising capital, deploying investments, managing operational and regulatory issues, or preparing for your next fund, our team provides integrated legal support designed to help achieve your goals. We help clients address complex legal, operational, and strategic issues at every stage of the fund lifecycle.
Form
Build the fund on a strong foundation. We work with sponsors to translate an investment strategy into a structure designed for efficient fundraising, deployment, and long-term operation. From the fund, general partner, and management company to governing documents, economics, and tax considerations, our team helps managers establish an integrated platform that reflects their objectives and is built to evolve.
- Fund and sponsor structuring
- GP and management company formation
- Fund documentation
- Tax planning
Raise
Approach the market with clarity and confidence. We help managers prepare for fundraising by developing clear, compliant offering materials and anticipating the issues that matter most to prospective investors. As commitments take shape, we support investor diligence, negotiate side letters and subscription terms, and help managers navigate securities and investment adviser considerations throughout the raise.
- Fundraising and offering support
- Investor diligence and negotiations
- Securities compliance
- Investment adviser matters
Deploy
Put capital to work with practical, transaction-focused support. Our team advises funds throughout the investment process, from initial structuring and diligence through execution, follow-on financing, and exit. We provide responsive counsel aligned with the fund’s investment thesis, timing, governance requirements, and broader portfolio strategy.
- Portfolio investments
- SPVs and co-investment vehicles
- Follow-on financings
- Acquisition and exit transactions
Operate
Manage the fund and sponsor platform as both continue to evolve. We help managers address the legal, regulatory, governance, and organizational matters that arise throughout the life of a fund. By working closely with fund administrators and other advisers, we provide ongoing counsel that helps managers meet investor obligations, support their teams, and remain focused on executing the fund’s strategy.
- Compliance and governance
- Fund administration support
- Management and incentive structures
- Ongoing sponsor counsel
Grow
Build on the platform you have created. As managers establish a track record and prepare for the next stage, we help structure successor funds, launch complementary investment vehicles, and navigate changes involving leadership, ownership, and economics. We also advise on strategic opportunities that can expand the platform while preserving alignment among the sponsor, team, and investors.
- Successor funds
- New and complementary investment vehicles
- Team transitions
- Strategic transactions
Building or expanding an investment platform?
Whether you are launching a first fund, preparing for a successor vehicle, or navigating the next stage of growth, our team is ready to help.
Experience
Institutional Investors
Our team also counsels institutional and sophisticated investors, including trusts and family offices, on investments in private funds, special purpose vehicles, and other alternative investment structures. We provide practical guidance throughout the investment process, helping clients evaluate and navigate complex private investment opportunities.
Investment Vehicles
Why Choose Venture Best?
Integrated, multidisciplinary counsel
With Venture Best, you get more than just fund formation lawyers. You gain access to the full strength of Michael Best, bringing together attorneys across disciplines to provide coordinated counsel aligned with your business objectives. We also collaborate with our firm’s industry teams to help clients navigate sector-specific regulatory, operational, and market considerations.
Clients choose Venture Best because they receive the sophisticated counsel expected from leading venture-focused practices, delivered through a more agile and relationship-driven model. Our matters are staffed efficiently, with experienced attorneys playing a hands-on role in every engagement. We move quickly, communicate directly, and provide proactive guidance that reflects your priorities and strategy.
Most importantly, our team is invested in your long-term success. We build lasting relationships with our clients and stay engaged long after a fund is formed. As your platform evolves, you have a trusted team that understands your business, helping you tackle emerging issues and capitalize on new opportunities.
Full-Service Platform
Through our broader Michael Best® platform, we support clients in a full range of legal issues throughout the life of a fund and its investments, including:
We advise clients throughout the full corporate lifecycle, from formation and early-stage financing to growth, strategic transactions, and succession planning. Our team provides practical, business-focused counsel tailored to each client’s goals and challenges.
We advise companies, buyers, sellers, management teams, and minority owners through mergers and acquisitions, from evaluating opportunities and structuring deals to due diligence, negotiation, and closing. We combine deep transactional experience with collaborative, business-focused counsel tailored to each client’s strategic goals.
We help businesses, individuals, and organizations navigate complex federal, state, and local tax matters through proactive planning, compliance support, and representation in tax controversies. Our interdisciplinary team focuses on practical, business-minded strategies that maximize tax efficiency, manage risk, and help clients capitalize on opportunities as tax laws evolve.
Fund managers operate in a complex financial and regulatory environment. Our Capital Markets team provides practical guidance on securities, investment adviser matters, lending, derivatives, and other financial transactions, helping you navigate regulatory requirements, raise and deploy capital, and pursue opportunities as your platform evolves.
We partner with employers to navigate complex workplace challenges, providing practical, proactive counsel that helps reduce risk, maintain compliance, and foster productive workplaces. We support clients across employee benefits, employment litigation, immigration, labor-management relations, trade secrets, and workplace compliance, tailoring solutions to each organization’s business goals and evolving regulatory needs.
We help employers navigate complex labor and employment challenges with practical, proactive legal counsel designed to reduce risk, maintain compliance, and strengthen workplace relationships. We advise clients across employee benefits, employment litigation, immigration, labor-management relations, trade secrets, and workplace compliance.
We provide strategic, business-focused representation across complex disputes, high-stakes trials, investigations, and arbitration, with litigation strategies tailored to each client’s goals. Our trial-tested team combines legal experience with practical business insight to protect our clients’ interests, manage risk, and pursue effective resolutions both inside and outside the courtroom.
