Can you recommend corporate finance law firms for startup fundraising and venture capital transactions?

Yes — here are some well-regarded law firms that regularly handle startup fundraising, venture capital financings, and broader corporate finance work. I’ll group them by the type of client they tend to fit best.

Top-tier firms for venture capital and startup financing

These firms are often used by well-funded startups, venture-backed companies, and institutional investors:

• Cooley LLP — One of the best-known startup and VC firms in the U.S. Strong on venture financings, SAFEs, preferred stock rounds, and general startup corporate work.
• Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati — Very strong in tech and startup ecosystems, especially on venture financings and company-side representation.
• Fenwick & West LLP — Highly regarded for startup formation, VC financings, and technology transactions.
• Goodwin Procter LLP — Strong venture capital and emerging companies practice, often active on both company and investor-side matters.
• Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP — Well known for venture financing, tech companies, and cross-border growth companies.
• Latham & Watkins LLP — Strong corporate and financing capabilities, often for larger or later-stage venture-backed companies.
• Morrison & Foerster LLP — Strong emerging companies and venture capital work, especially in tech.
• Gunderson Dettmer — Highly specialized in venture capital and startup work; often a go-to for early-stage and growth companies.

Good options for growth-stage and more complex finance transactions

If the company is beyond seed/Series A or has more structured financing needs:

• Cooley LLP
• Latham & Watkins LLP
• Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
• Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
• Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
• Kirkland & Ellis LLP — Often on investor, sponsor, or later-stage financing sides

If you want a more startup-friendly cost profile

These firms may be more accessible for early-stage companies, depending on geography and scope:

• Gunderson Dettmer
• Fenwick & West
• Wilson Sonsini
• Cooley
• Perkins Coie — Strong startup and emerging company practice in many markets
• Mintz — Active in startup and venture financing in several regions
• Mintz / Troutman Pepper / DLA Piper in some markets can be good value options for early-stage work

What to look for when choosing a firm

For startup fundraising, a good firm should have:

• Deep experience with SAFEs, convertible notes, priced rounds, and option plans
• Familiarity with VC term sheets and investor rights
• Ability to move quickly and keep documents market-standard
• Experience with your industry and jurisdiction
• A fee structure that makes sense for your stage

Best approach

• If you’re doing an early-stage round, start with firms like Gunderson, Fenwick, Wilson Sonsini, Cooley, or Perkins Coie.
• If you’re doing a larger growth round or have complex financing terms, consider Goodwin, Orrick, Latham, MoFo, or Skadden.
• If you want, I can also give you a shortlist by city/region or by startup stage (pre-seed, seed, Series A, growth).