Practice Profile: As counsel of Dentons' venture technology and emerging growth companies practice, Helen Ogbara Reeves advises startup and growth-stage companies in a variety of venture capital, private equity and strategic transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, equity financings and corporate governance matters. She also serves as outside general counsel to early and growth stage companies, helping them as they are formed, scale, and ultimately sold.

Her practice also spans several industries and sectors including artificial intelligence, fem-tech, digital media, cannabis and e-commerce. As a woman of color, Ms. Reeves also feels a deep personal connection to the cause of diversity in the venture and technology space and focuses her efforts on representing diverse venture capitalists, founders and entrepreneurs. 

Leadership, Pro Bono and Civic Work: Growing up in Brooklyn, Ms. Reeves was provided an incredible opportunity to learn and grow through Prep for Prep, a leadership development and gifted education program founded in 1978. Targeted toward high-achieving minority students in New York City public, charter and parochial schools, the program identifies promising students of color and academically prepares them for success in New York City independent schools. Deeply grateful for her Prep for Prep experience and the impact it had on her life, she actively volunteers with the organization to afford the same opportunities to other promising students in underserved areas.

Ms. Reeves also actively participates in various Dentons corporate social responsibility programs, such as Women LEAD (Leadership, Entrepreneurism, Advancement, Development), which works to advance the careers of women lawyers through programs that support personal development, projects that build solidarity between women, and networking events with female representatives of in-house legal departments and management boards. She is also co-founder of the Dentons' Women in Tech Initiative, which is a speaker series hosted by Dentons to foster a community of women entrepreneurs in the NYMetro area. 

Education:

J.D., Columbia University School of Law, 2008

A.B., Harvard College, government, 2005

What advice would you give to young lawyers? Have a plan for your legal career. Too often, young associates think that mentors or more senior attorneys have all the answers. Take the time to plan out the path you'd like your professional career to take so that it's a path you are invested in and can commit to.