PitchBook 2024 Annual Global League Tables Confirms Gunderson Dettmer as #1 VC Law Firm Globally

For the 11th consecutive year, Gunderson Dettmer has been named the most active VC law firm globally by the 2024 PitchBook Global League Tables. PitchBook attributed 1,375 financings and over $87 billion in invested capital to Gunderson’s work for the most promising startup companies worldwide. This recognition reflects the firm’s central role in the innovation economy and represents more than double the amount raised in 2023, highlighting the healthy growth back to venture capital. 
 
The firm’s continued leadership in this ranking highlights its commitment to providing clear, best-in-class and trusted legal service to clients in the innovation economy.  

Top Law Firm Across 15 Key Categories 

Gunderson Dettmer secured the top spot in 15 key geography, deal type and industry categories. We also earned the #1 ranking in our largest markets -- Silicon Valley/San Francisco, Boston, California and New York. Further, true to our thirty-year focus on technology, we also dominated the Software category, with the majority of deals in AI.  The firm's expertise, industry knowledge, and global presence make it the preferred choice for clients in the innovation economy. 

Year-End Venture Capital Report  

Gunderson Dettmer also released its inaugural year-end venture capital report, which provides a deep look at the financings handled by the firm in 2024. Using proprietary data collected by Gunderson Dettmer on deals finalized within the year, this data focuses on both early and later-stage financings, including transaction amounts, pre-money valuations and deal counts.  

The report also provides insights and analysis on the trends and developments in the venture capital industry in 2024, notably, information on AI investments, late and early-stage trends. 
 
An Enduring Artificial Intelligence  
 
The bullish interest and investment in the AI sector in 2024 is reflected by the fact that AI investments constituted nearly one-third of all deals facilitated by Gunderson Dettmer across every financing stage. This sector also saw some of the largest VC funding rounds of all time and premium valuations at every stage, indicating a high level of risk tolerance and commitment from investors. A closer look at the technology affecting AI valuations is provided in the report.  
 
Late Stage Investments and Exits

Despite economic influences faced by later-stage companies, such as lack of successful exits and market volatility, there were signs of optimism in the second half of 2024. Still, Gunderson represented over 85 exits and over 480 late stage financings last year. Funds increased their pace of capital deployment and many were preparing for a 2025 fundraise. These early signs suggest a potential resurgence in the venture market. 

Thriving Early Stage Investments 

In 2024, where Gunderson Dettmer took the top spot in the PitchBook Global League Tables, early-stage venture deals saw a 27% increase in deal count compared to 2023, marking the first annual rise since 2021. Despite expectations that a tight market would shift leverage to investors and potentially depress valuations and deal sizes, both median valuations and deal sizes for Series A/B deals rose by 22% and 25% respectively.  

About PitchBook 

PitchBook is the premier data provider for the private and public equity markets, serving over 90,000 investment professionals and business leaders. The PitchBook Global League report offers a comprehensive overview of institutional investors and service providers, considering various criteria such as geography, transaction type, and sectors. 

For more information about Gunderson Dettmer and its achievements, please visit our website. 

Gunderson Dettmer is the preeminent international law firm with an exclusive focus on the innovation economy. The firm serves market-leading venture capital and growth equity investors and pioneering companies through inception, growth and maturity, as well as groundbreaking public companies that result from the global venture capital ecosystem. The firm’s clear-cut focus and well-honed technical skill enables an accelerated pace and unmatched efficiency, delivering best-in-class value at each phase of a client’s business.