Kevin is active in the business and startup communities. Kevin is a mentor for RevTech Ventures, a leading venture fund and accelerator, and co-manages Blossom Street Ventures, a Dallas-based SAAS and software venture capital fund. He is also a part of the Dallas Business Journal Leadership Trust, a network of influential business leaders in Dallas, a board member of Digital Fight Club, and the Chairman of the Board of the Greenville Avenue Area Business Association (which puts on the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dallas).

Kevin is active in promoting a responsible gaming agenda in Texas and is a board member of the Fantasy Sports Gaming Association and is listed in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Gaming Law. 

Kevin was selected to the 2021-2025 Super Lawyers lists and 2014-2018 Super Lawyers Rising Stars lists. He’s been named one of D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas seven times, including most recently in 2025, a Top Latino Lawyer three times, and is a Texas Bar Foundation Fellow, an honor granted to 1/3 of 1% of Texas attorneys.

Kevin is a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, where he earned his BBA in Finance and J.D. with Honors. Prior to law school, Kevin spent seven years in Dallas, working in finance and marketing. Although he began his career working for Fortune 500 companies, an entrepreneurial spirit led Kevin to pursue roles in several startup companies. Later, he started his own business, a test preparation company. Having scored in the top five percent on the GMAT, LSAT, and GRE, Kevin used his test taking expertise to help thousands of students increase their scores and gain admission to graduate school.

Raised in Arlington, Kevin is an avid Dallas sports fan. Although he used to enjoy spending time at the local sporting arenas around town with his wife, Layla, they now spend most of their time pandering to their two children, Ariana and Arman.

Select Representations
  • General Counsel to numerous venture funds and accelerators
  • Has facilitated over 600 Seed stage through C rounds ranging from $250k to $20M
  • Represented defi SOLUTIONS in its $55M equity investment from Bain Capital Ventures and subsequent merger with Sagent Auto for an undisclosed sum
  • Represented Modern Message in its exit to RealPage for an undisclosed sum
  • Represented a California-based AI company in its $40M exit to a private equity firm
  • Represented Olivia AI in its exit to Nubank, Ltd, a publicly traded company
  • Represented a Dallas-based content platform in a $49M exit to a private equity firm
  • Represented a Dallas-based software company in a $12M exit
  • Represents dozens of DFS and Fantasy Sports Companies

Fun Facts:

  • If you need a favor from Kevin, ask him on a day when one of his favorite teams, the Detroit Tigers, Mavericks or Cowboys, win.
  • Can name every World Series Winner since 1970.
  • Kevin’s entrepreneurial spirit began early on when he owned a beer vending machine after college.
  • Was named “best cooker in the world” by Ariana Vela, then age 5.

Education:

  • University of Texas Law School, J.D., Honors
  • University of Texas at Austin, BBA, Finance

Kevin Vela's Recent Blog Posts
Funding & Capital Raising
The Critical Role that Accelerators Play in Venture Financing

Seed capital provided by accelerators must be provided to startups with great care. Here are three ways accelerators can avoid causing long-lasting negative ramifications for startups.


Funding & Capital Raising
The Mechanics of Converting Convertible Notes

Convertible notes are a great tool for venture financing, however, the actual mechanics of converting convertible notes is not a simple task and requires great care.


General Business
Startup Cents: Planning For Your First Year Of Legal Fees

This blog explores what a startup can expect to spend on legal in its first year—typically $15,000–$20,000—including formation, founder and IP agreements, and core contracts.