Matthew Smith

Matt is a trusted partner to some of the world’s most well-known venture capital, private equity and alternative asset firms on their fundraising, management company, regulatory and strategic matters. In 2025, he served as lead fund formation counsel to dozens of fund sponsors, negotiating fund terms on their behalf in venture capital fundraises accounting for more than 20% of all US venture capital limited partner commitments allocated that year.

Matt also advises many promising emerging managers as they build next-generation investment firms. He spends most of his time partnering with sponsors raising new funds, advising on market trends and fundraising strategy, designing optimized fund documentation, working directly with prospective investors to resolve diligence questions and negotiate terms, and helping ensure that fundraising processes are executed efficiently through technology and automation.

Over the past several years, Matt has been recognized for leading a number of market-defining venture capital and digital asset fund formations – including Andreessen Horowitz’s latest $15 billion fundraise – and has played a central role in developing and implementing innovative fundraising structures unique to those asset classes.

He is described by a client in Chambers and Partners as “responsive, commercial and able to think through creative solutions to complex issues.”

Over the course of his career, Matt has represented investment firms in the formation and fundraising of $100+ billion.

Before joining Cooley, Matt was a partner in the investment funds group at another US-based international law firm, where he led its venture capital funds practice.