Press Release
Press Release
Press Contacts: Erik Cummins, Matt Hyams, Taina Rosa, Olivia Thomas
04.28.25
In a move that expands and strengthens Pillsbury’s growing Private Capital and Investment Funds practice and adds important new dimensions to the firm’s market-leading offering to tech investors and startup clients, the firm has welcomed David Holland as a partner in its Washington, DC, office. He joins the firm from Kirkland & Ellis.
Holland brings extensive fund formation and strategic investment experience to Pillsbury, particularly for early-stage venture fund clients, which complements the firm’s outstanding reputation with and long track record of success on behalf of emerging companies and venture capital funds. Notably, the firm was among the top 6 legal advisors worldwide representing companies and investors on VC financings last year.
“Pillsbury operates at the intersection of technology innovation and capital, and we are fielding an increasing number of questions—from investor and company clients alike—about how to effectively deploy or tap non-traditional capital sources,” said Firm Chair David Dekker. “The strategic advice David provides will be immensely valuable to any company immersed in the VC ecosystem, and further enhances our ability to address structuring, fundraising, governance, and other legal needs relevant to funds work.”
Holland serves as a strategic legal and business advisor to venture capital, growth equity and private equity clients—from early stages of building investment firms and guiding fundraisings to later stages of growing into long-standing, successful organizations. He partners with his clients in their business and legal endeavors and in key decisions and ongoing corporate advice, ranging from marketing to potential investors, fundraisings and ongoing strategic advice to upper-tier structuring and succession planning. Holland also partners with clients in spearheading continuation funds, secondary transactions, real estate and debt fundraisings and GP-led restructurings.
“David brings a crucial skill set centered on the intricacies and challenges of launching and structuring venture funds,” said Semma Arzapalo, Investment Funds practice leader. “His deep understanding of the startup environment and the investors that support it enable clients to navigate the nuances of fundraising, striking the critical balance between risk and reward that is especially beneficial to clients in today’s turbulent market.”
Holland joins an Investment Funds practice at Pillsbury that has been involved in a number of high-profile fund matters. Among them, the firm led on California Public Employees’ Retirement System’s (CalPERS) $1 billion commitment to elevating the next generation of emerging managers in the private market and the formation of AlleyCorp’s first venture capital fund closing, with total commitments of more than $250 million.
“I am delighted to join Pillsbury and leverage the firm’s impressive platform to support our clients,” Holland said. “Pillsbury is a true leader in the technology and financial sectors, maintains exceptionally deep relationships within emerging companies and the venture capital community, and has a strong group of funds-focused practitioners—all the ingredients necessary to serve those looking to invest in innovation.”
Pillsbury’s global Investment Funds practice helps investment advisers, funds and institutional investors navigate fund creation, management, and operation. Lawyers across the firm’s U.S. and international offices counsel registered and exempt investment advisers, including private equity, venture capital, hedge fund and mutual fund managers, and benefit plan fiduciaries, in all aspects of their businesses including fund structuring and formation, managed accounts, funds-of-one advisory and sub-advisory arrangements. The firm also assists these clients with related strategic, transactional and regulatory compliance matters.