Dawn Belt serves as Fenwick’s firmwide Managing Partner and as a partner in the Startup & Venture Capital group. Dawn shepherds emerging and high-growth companies through key moments in their lifecycle, from startup formation and venture financings through IPOs, M&A exits, and ongoing public company counsel. Recognized among the nation’s top women leaders in technology law, she supports clients throughout their evolution, providing strategic guidance on business strategy, venture capital financing, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, corporate governance, and SEC compliance.

In-Depth Corporate Counsel and Strategic Advisor
Dawn’s comprehensive corporate practice enables her to build strong, long-lasting relationships with clients as they grow and their businesses evolve. Her wide-ranging experience allows her to serve as a strategic partner to companies throughout their lifecycle:

• For Emerging and Venture-Backed Companies: Dawn advises startups and high-growth companies on company formation, governance structures, equity compensation strategies, and venture financings, from seed rounds through late-stage growth equity. She helps founders establish strong legal foundations and navigate the complexities of building technology companies, providing practical guidance on financing strategies, term negotiations, investor relations, and strategic growth initiatives tailored to each company’s stage and objectives. Her investor-side experience representing major venture capital firms provides her with valuable perspective on both sides of financing transactions.

• For Companies Evaluating Liquidity Events: Dawn advises companies on evaluating and executing exit opportunities, including traditional IPOs, direct listings, de-SPAC transactions, and strategic acquisitions. She has led clients through some of the technology sector’s most significant public offerings and M&A transactions, providing strategic counsel on transaction timing, structure, and execution.

• For Public Companies: Dawn serves as ongoing counsel to public companies on follow-on equity and debt offerings, convertible notes and strategic financings, SEC compliance and public reporting obligations, corporate governance and board advisory matters, stock exchange compliance, strategic M&A transactions, and disclosure strategy and securities law compliance.