Perkins Coie Grows Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Practice With Addition of Partner Dan Austin in Texas

Austin is the second new partner to join the firm's ECVC practice in June amid strong client demand.

AUSTIN (June 21, 2022)—Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Dan Austin has joined the firm's Emerging Companies & Venture Capital (ECVC) practice as a partner in the Austin office. Dan is the second new partner to join the ECVC practice in June, following the addition of Patrick Anding in Los Angeles and San Diego.

Dan advises entrepreneurs, investors, and companies on a range of transactional, corporate governance, and other business matters. He negotiates deals, helps clients raise funds, and provides counsel on venture capital financings and mergers and acquisitions. His clients span emerging industries, including fintech, healthcare, digital media, cybersecurity, life sciences, energy, and transportation.

"We are so excited to have Dan join our team as we continue to strategically grow our emerging companies and venture capital capabilities for clients in key growth markets like Austin," said Troy Foster, firmwide co-chair of Perkins Coie's Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice. "Dan's deep roots in Austin's startup and venture community, and the wealth of experience that brings in terms of working with entrepreneurs and growth companies, will be highly beneficial to our clients in Texas and beyond."

Dan joins Perkins Coie from Dickinson Wright PLLC. Prior to that, Dan served as general counsel and an executive officer for a venture capital-backed insurtech company. He was also a founding partner of a boutique law firm that served technology and growth companies.

"Our Austin attorneys offer full-service capabilities for startups, the investors that support them, established tech companies, and global brands. We're excited to welcome Dan and his clients to our fast-growing office," said Andrew Smetana, Perkins Coie's Austin office managing partner. "We continue to build our Austin presence and attract new talent amid robust demand for our legal services backed by our global platform and long experience in key technology centers such as Seattle and Silicon Valley."

Dan earned his J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas Law School, where he was a member of the National Black Law Students Association. He earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia. Dan is a former field artillery officer in the U.S. Army.

From incorporation to exit, Perkins Coie helps clients build great companies. Attorneys in our Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice span the country, supporting the most innovative entrepreneurs and investors in Palo Alto, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, Portland, and New York, as well as in Chicago and Boise. Our ECVC attorneys have managed thousands of venture capital and private equity financings from pre-seed to growth stages. They provide end-to-end legal and business counseling to the leading-edge companies of tomorrow in industries like SaaS, life sciences, healthcare, Web3, and everything in between.