Brian Beard retired as a partner from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in March 2017. Brian joined the firm in 2002 from the Austin office of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP, which he co-founded in 1997.

During his tenure at the firm, Brian practiced corporate and securities law with a focus on the representation of start-up and emerging growth companies, issuers and underwriters involved in public offerings, and companies involved in merger and acquisition transactions. Brian helped build one of the leading technology practices in Texas, assisting emerging growth companies raise billions of dollars in private and public offerings. He also handled several billion dollars in mergers and acquisitions transactions and represented leading venture capital firms in Texas and throughout the country.