John C. Yates

John C. Yates is a co-founding partner of the Atlanta/Southeast office of the Gunderson Dettmer law firm. John is one of the pioneers of the technology law field and has been practicing in this area for over 40 years.  His practice focuses on the legal representation of leading technology and tech-enabled companies, including venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, and public offerings. 

He serves on the editorial board of leading technology publications, and his articles have been cited in numerous publications, including by the U.S. Supreme Court in Kodak vs. Image Technical Services. He is a co-author of articles published in The Law and Business of Computer Software and The Handbook of Business Management. John is frequently quoted in business publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and the Atlanta Business Chronicle. John has also been recognized in a Harvard Business School case study ("Ockham Technologies: Living on the Razor's Edge") as a leading lawyer representing fast-growth companies. 

John has co-founded and is a member of the Board of Directors of leading technology organizations, including the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) and Technology Executives Roundtable (TER).  He has also co-chaired the Technology Council of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. 

He serves on various Boards of the Woodruff Arts Center, Carter Center, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Atlanta Master Chorale, and CURE Childhood Cancer.  He is the Past Chairman and President of the Atlanta Rotary Club. 

As a public speaker, John has delivered more than 250 speeches during his career. He has spoken at annual technology and computer law seminars sponsored by the Practicing Law Institute, Georgia Bar Association, North Carolina Bar Foundation, Minnesota Computer Law Institute, and American Bar Association's Section of Science and Technology.  

He has received the Ann Cramer Lifetime Achievement Award by the Atlanta Business Chronicle (2023), Georgia Technology Lifetime Achievement Award by the Technology Association of Georgia (2023), Charles S. Rhyne Award for Professional Achievement by Duke University School of Law (2020), IMLAY Leadership Award by Technology Executives Roundtable (2019), Charles Yates Award by Woodruff Arts Center (2017), and was inducted in the Hall of Fame at the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art (formerly known as the Computer Museum of America)(2025).

John is currently co-authoring a book, The Art of Digital Business Friendship, and delivered a TEDx talk on this topic in June 2022. He has been a columnist for various online technology and legal publications and has been selected as a "Georgia Super Lawyer" in the fields of Business/Corporate (Technology). 

John received his B.A., magna cum laude, in 1978 from Duke University, where he was an Angier B. Duke Scholar, and J.D. in 1981 from Duke University. He serves as a Senior Member on the Board of Visitors of the Duke University Law School where he is also a guest lecturer and as a Trustee Emeritus on the Furman University Board of Trustees. He is a member of Board of Trustees of The Duke Endowment.  

John and his wife, Ellen, have one son, Paul and live in Atlanta.