Thomas R. Nelson Partner

Tom’s practice focuses on corporate and securities transactional matters, including equity and debt financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investments, divestitures, joint ventures and strategic partnerships, corporate reorganizations and recapitalizations, private and public securities offerings, and public company reporting obligations. Tom regularly serves as primary outside counsel to companies in various high technology sectors, and works with entrepreneurs from entity inception through seed financings, venture capital financings, strategic partnerships, and eventual liquidity events, including initial public offerings, follow-on and secondary offerings, and mergers and acquisitions. In addition, Tom advises private equity and venture capital firms, investment banks and investment managers on securities offerings, investment partnerships, fund matters and portfolio investments, including PIPES, control investments, buyouts and other transactions. Tom also advises boards of directors and board committees with respect to corporate governance matters, including matters concerning fiduciary duties, conflicts of interest, board reviews and independent investigations. Tom’s transactional work includes financial restructurings, workouts and bankruptcy acquisitions.

He was previously a partner at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, LLP and Patton Boggs, LLP and during his legal career has been based in Austin, Dallas, and Silicon Valley, as well as Brussels and London where he focused on international mergers and acquisitions. Prior to law school, Tom was a certified public accountant at an international accounting firm.

Education

• Southern Methodist University (J.D., 1992)
• University of Texas at Austin (B.B.A., 1987)

Awards

• Texas Super Lawyer, Law & Politics Magazine (Published in Texas Monthly) (2005, 2006)
• Best Lawyers under 40 in Dallas, D Magazine (2002)

Publications and Speeches

• “Sources of Capital – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” Southwest Venture Capital Conference
• “Early Stage Financing for Technology Companies,” Texas Institute for Continuing Legal Education
• “New Money in a Volatile Market,” TechBiz
• “Exit Strategies: IPOs, Mergers & Acquisitions and New Liquidity Strategies,” American Electronics Association Conference
• “Mergers and Acquisitions,” for Tech Ranch radio program, Austin, Texas