Key Takeaways
- • Fenwick & West LLP hired David Horne as a corporate partner in its Boston office, effective August 27, 2025, recruiting him from rival firm Gunderson Dettmer.
- • Horne brings more than a decade of experience advising high-growth companies and venture capital investors on corporate strategy, including venture financings, M&A transactions, and public offerings.
- • The move represents competitive talent migration within the venture capital legal market between two prominent firms serving the innovation economy, with Gunderson Dettmer and Fenwick being primary counsel to early-stage and growth-stage companies.
- • Horne's expertise spans the full lifecycle of founder and investor legal needs, from complex transaction structures to strategic milestone planning.
Summary
Fenwick & West LLP announced the hiring of David Horne as a corporate partner in its Boston office on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Horne joined from Gunderson Dettmer, one of the market's leading venture capital-focused law firms. According to Fenwick's announcement, Horne brings over a decade of professional experience advising high-growth companies and venture capital investors on core corporate legal matters.
Horne's practice encompasses a broad range of transaction types essential to the venture ecosystem, including venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, and public company offerings. His background reflects deep expertise in guiding founders and early-stage enterprises through complex legal and strategic challenges. The hire strengthens Fenwick's corporate practice in Boston, a major hub for venture capital activity and emerging company law.
The lateral move underscores ongoing competition between elite venture capital law practices for experienced partner-level talent. Both Fenwick and Gunderson Dettmer position themselves as preeminent counsel to innovation-economy companies, with particular strength in representing venture capital funds and their portfolio companies. This recruitment reflects the continued demand for specialized venture and emerging company legal expertise as institutional investors and founders navigate complex corporate transactions and financing structures.
Horne's practice encompasses a broad range of transaction types essential to the venture ecosystem, including venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, and public company offerings. His background reflects deep expertise in guiding founders and early-stage enterprises through complex legal and strategic challenges. The hire strengthens Fenwick's corporate practice in Boston, a major hub for venture capital activity and emerging company law.
The lateral move underscores ongoing competition between elite venture capital law practices for experienced partner-level talent. Both Fenwick and Gunderson Dettmer position themselves as preeminent counsel to innovation-economy companies, with particular strength in representing venture capital funds and their portfolio companies. This recruitment reflects the continued demand for specialized venture and emerging company legal expertise as institutional investors and founders navigate complex corporate transactions and financing structures.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.