Investment Law Group of Davis Gillett Mottern & Sims LLC

We are a boutique law firm focused on delivering unmatched value for investment managers and entrepreneurs. We strive to provide first-class legal services and advice that adds value.

Our team leverages the substantial experience of our partners as attorneys, investors, and business owners to provide practical insight to our clients.

Focused. Thoughtful. Diligent.

We have substantial expertise in the formation and operation of hedge funds and other private fund structures and work with investment managers across a wide variety of liquid and illiquid strategies.

We also advise entrepreneurs and business owners through engagements tailor-made to help companies as they grow and evolve.

Let us go to work for you and you’ll find our attorneys to be a valuable addition to your team, whatever your legal needs.

We invite you to look around this site to learn more about who we are.

Meet our team

Gilbert H. Davis, Partner

Phone: (770) 481-7205

Mr. Davis began his legal career in the Atlanta office of Alston & Bird LLP in 1984 and organized the firm’s first hedge fund client in 1985. He continues to represent the organizer of that fund today, as well as the managers of private funds ranging in size from several hundred thousand dollars to several billion. Mr. Davis is a member of the Georgia, New York and District of Columbia Bars, the American Bar Association Securities and Tax Sections and LLCs, Partnerships and Unincorporated Entities and Private Fund Committees, New York State Bar Association Securities Regulation Committee and the Private Investment Funds Subcommittee, State Bar of Georgia Securities Legislation Subcommittee, and International Bar Association Financial Services Section and Investment Funds Committee.

Mr. Davis received his undergraduate degree double majoring in History and Economics from Yale University (B.A., 1981) and law degree from the New York University School of Law (J.D., 1984).

Brent S. Gillett, Partner

Phone: (404) 607-6940

Mr. Gillett provides legal representation to investment managers to hedge funds, funds-of-funds, venture capital and private equity funds, real estate funds, and funds trading other liquid and illiquid assets. He has extensive experience in all aspects of the fund formation process, investment advisor registration and compliance, and the process to negotiate with investors and raise capital.

Mr. Gillett previously practiced law at Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP in the firm’s investment management practice group. Prior to working as an attorney, Mr. Gillett worked as an equity analyst for Marquis Capital Management. He received his Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt School of Law in 1995 and his Bachelor of Arts from Duke University in 1991. Mr Gillett was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1995.

Robert R. Joseph, Partner

Phone: (678) 592-4849

Rob Joseph is a Partner in ILG’s Corporate Practice Group with extensive experience in venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and general business contracting and licensing for technology-related companies. In this capacity, he works with a team of attorneys that represent start-up and development stage companies, established businesses and venture capital and private equity investors. He has represented buyers, sellers, investors and issuers in numerous transactions ranging from small and mid-sized companies to well over $100,000,000.

Rob routinely advises corporate clients with a range of matters that span the life of a company from formation and raising seed money through growth financings and exit events. He also represents companies and investors as outside general counsel, handling all legal issues including employment, licensing, reseller agreements, vendor and customer contracts, intellectual property and dispute resolution. Rob’s clients trust him to give honest, practical and multi-level advice, and to be an all-around trusted counselor.

Previously, Rob worked at Hill, Kertscher and Wharton, LLP from 2005 – 2017; Morris, Manning and Martin, LLP from 2000 – 2005; and Hunton and Williams, LLP from 1998 – 2000. He began his career as a law clerk to Judge Wilber D. Owens, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia from 1996 – 1998.

Jerry L. Sims, Partner

Phone: (770) 335-4140

Mr. Sims has more than 30 years of experience in business litigation, workouts, creditor’s rights, and business and asset acquisitions involving bankrupt and financially troubled entities. Mr. Sims represents clients in federal, state and bankruptcy courts and in arbitration matters. He has handled the defense and prosecution of a wide range of business and financial disputes involving carried interest, partnership formations and breakups, securities, commodities, software suitability, construction, real estate, and class-action litigation. Mr. Sims has also represented appellants, appellees and amicus curiae parties in numerous appeals in federal and state courts.

Mr. Sims previously practiced law at Sims Moss Kline & Davis and Holland & Knight. He received his law degree from Columbia University School of Law in 1970 and his Bachelor of Science in mathematics from University of Mississippi. Mr. Sims was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1971. He is also admitted in New York and the District of Columbia.

William M. Winter, Partner

Phone: (404) 607-6943

Bill Winter is a corporate lawyer. Mr. Winter advises tech and tech-enabled companies on how to increase revenue, buy and sell companies, and operate efficiently.

Mr. Winter guides business leaders through technology transactions, mergers and acquisitions, finance, and tax matters. Mr. Winter offers an extremely practical perspective gained while serving as in-house General Counsel and an executive leader for a global software company (4 years) and a healthcare technology company (5 years). Whether negotiating software license agreements, distribution agreements, or purchase agreements, Mr. Winter is known for effectively balancing business needs with legal considerations to create practical solutions that increase a company’s value.

Examples of Mr. Winter’s work include automating “Master Service Agreements” to enable quick turnaround, creating successful SaaS and PaaS sales programs, negotiating key software license and distribution agreements, securing equity financing, structuring global operations, and successfully leading domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Winter also advises on key tax, privacy and data protection, and insurance matters necessary for successfully operating a business.

Mr. Winter has been involved in the Atlanta tech community since 1999 and has been a featured speaker on topics including video gaming in Atlanta, fund structures for tech, insurance, and global investments, and privacy and data security considerations for healthcare technology.

Address: 545 Dutch Valley Road NE, Suite A, Atlanta, GA 30324, USA

Address: 140 Broadway, 46th Floor, New York, NY 10005, USA

Phone: +1 404 607 6940