J. Matthew (Matt) Lyons is a corporate partner in the Austin office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where his practice focuses on the representation of companies and their investors in the emerging companies ecosystem. For the past 25 years, he has been a leading attorney in the Texas market, advising public and private companies, venture and private equity funds, and entrepreneurs on new entity formation, venture financings, public and private offerings, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, and issues related to corporate governance and executive compensation. Matt’s clients include companies in the technology, life sciences, healthcare, retail and CPG, and media and communications industries.

Prior to joining the firm, Matt was a corporate and securities partner and leader in establishing the emerging companies practice at Shearman & Sterling, where he helped found its Austin office in 2018. He was previously a partner in the Austin offices of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison and Andrews Kurth LLP (now Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP). He began his legal career in the Houston office of Bracewell & Patterson.

Matt has been recognized as leading corporate attorney by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business for his  impressive range of experience representing both public and private companies, where sources remark he is “a consummate professional in everything he does,” “excellent at managing business realities,” and “super-commercial and helpful in a complex deal.”

Matt is a frequent speaker and participant on panels on topics of interest to founders, companies, investors, and the emerging growth community at large.