About John
John Dado is the head of the fund formation practice group. His practice is focused on the formation and operation of private equity firms, including venture capital funds, buy-out funds, fund of funds and investment advisory businesses. He has been involved on behalf of the sponsor in the formation of hundreds of venture capital or buy-out funds in his career, ranging in size from multibillion-dollar buy-out partnerships to very small early-stage venture capital firms.
John has experience in the formation, governance and investing activities of investment partnerships, including securities law matters, partnership agreement terms and conditions, investor relations and relevant tax and accounting considerations. His practice includes structuring and design of the general partner and management company enterprises operating and managing such buy-out and venture capital funds.
John regularly counsels teams of investment professionals with respect to their internal affairs relating to the formation and operation of venture capital or buy-out funds, and he has significant experience with respect to the departure of senior investment professionals from such firms. His practice also encompasses the representation of various types of private equity funds in private financing transactions.
He is a regular speaker at private equity industry conferences and symposia.
Education
University of California at Los Angeles School of Law
JD, 1990, Order of the Coif
University of California, Berkeley
BA, 1984, Business Administration, High honors
Rankings & accolades
Chambers USA: Venture Capital: Fund Formation – Nationwide (2020 – 2023)
Chambers USA: Venture Capital: Fund Formation – California (2020 – 2023)
The Best Lawyers in America (2006-2019)
The Legal 500 US: Leading Lawyer in Private Equity Funds (including Venture Capital) (2023)
The Legal 500 US: Investment Fund Formation and Management: Private Equity Funds (2015 – 2022)