Brian D. Pettis
Practice Areas
Experience
- Capital Markets
- Family Office
- Investment Funds
- Mergers, Acquisitions, & Divestitures
- Private Equity
- Real Estate Financing
- Technology
Biography
Brian Pettis is a corporate, securities, and private investment funds attorney, licensed in both California and Texas. Brian advises public and private companies, investors, issuers, sponsors, and underwriters in connection with mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, startups, and private investment funds. He also has experience as outside general counsel for small companies and family offices, and in the migration of companies from California to Texas. Brian’s clients span many industries, including technology and real estate, and many locations throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Prior to Jackson Walker, Brian served in the United States Air Force as an Airborne Cryptologic Linguist and was a police detective and field training officer for the San Jose Police Department. While attending law school, Brian was a research assistant to Professor Eric Goldman and a student associate in the Entrepreneurs’ Law Clinic.
Education
B.S., cum laude, Bellevue University
J.D., summa cum laude, Santa Clara University School of Law
- Mabie Outstanding Graduate
- Order of the Coif
- High-Tech Law Certificate with Honors – Corporate Specialization
- Veterans Law Society, Senior Board Member
- SCU Law and Business Society, Vice President
Bar Admissions
California
Texas
- Represented an issuer on an IPO valued at US$1.86 billion
- Assisted in the private equity fundraise of US$4 billion among Cayman and Lux parallel entities
- Represented a private equity firm on the US$225 million sale in friendly tender offer of interests in Lux entities held in Cayman LP fund
- Represented a private equity firm on marketing and sales in Canada and Europe
- Represented a family office on investments in venture capital, private funds, and startups by way of traditional equity, SAFES, convertible notes, and warrants
- Advised clients on entity formations and amending and restating governing documents and other transactional agreements
- Represented companies totaling more than US$4 billion in migration from CA to TX
- Represented a technology startup on issuance of founders shares to new equity holders
- Represented a technology startup on EULAs in gig economy space for consumers and service providers
- Represented a private equity firm on SEC inquiry of investment activity
- Assisted in the acquisition of real estate assets
- Assisted in employment and separation agreements
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Woodward/White Inc.), Corporate Law, 2025
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2024
- “40 Under 40”, San Antonio Business Journal, 2023
- “Best S.A. Lawyers,” San Antonio Scene, 2022-2024
- Bonds & Government Finance
- Business & Corporate
- Securities & Corporate Finance
- “Rising Star Lawyers” List – Corporate/Business, San Antonio Scene, 2022
- St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church, Board Member and Volunteer, 2011-2019
August 23, 2024
Newsletters
JW Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter – August 2024
View Jackson Walker’s August 2024 Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
August 15, 2024
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
April 15, 2024
Newsletters
JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – April 2024
View Jackson Walker’s April 2024 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
March 21, 2024
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates 2024 Texas Rising Stars
Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes only 5% of Texas attorneys who either are 40 years of age or younger or have been in practice for 10 years or less as “Rising Stars.”
December 4, 2023
Newsletters
JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – December 2023
View Jackson Walker’s December 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
November 10, 2023
Podcasts
Veterans Roderick Faulk and Brian Pettis on Lessons Learned from the US Air Force
JW Fast Takes Podcast | ~9 minutes
In this episode, Roderick Faulk and Brian Pettis discuss their military service and the profound impact their service has had on shaping their legal careers.
September 18, 2023
Attorney News
‘Scene in S.A.’ Recognizes Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 “Best S.A. Lawyers” List
Jackson Walker congratulates the 44 practicing attorneys in the San Antonio office who were included in Scene in S.A.’s 2023 “Best S.A. Lawyers” list. In its 19th year, the “Best S.A. Lawyers” list presents attorneys across 80 distinct practice areas who were nominated by fellow licensed, practicing attorneys of Bexar County.
August 24, 2023
Newsletters
JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – August 2023
View Jackson Walker’s August 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
August 17, 2023
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
Practice Experience
- Represented an issuer on an IPO valued at US$1.86 billion
- Assisted in the private equity fundraise of US$4 billion among Cayman and Lux parallel entities
- Represented a private equity firm on the US$225 million sale in friendly tender offer of interests in Lux entities held in Cayman LP fund
- Represented a private equity firm on marketing and sales in Canada and Europe
- Represented a family office on investments in venture capital, private funds, and startups by way of traditional equity, SAFES, convertible notes, and warrants
- Advised clients on entity formations and amending and restating governing documents and other transactional agreements
- Represented companies totaling more than US$4 billion in migration from CA to TX
- Represented a technology startup on issuance of founders shares to new equity holders
- Represented a technology startup on EULAs in gig economy space for consumers and service providers
- Represented a private equity firm on SEC inquiry of investment activity
- Assisted in the acquisition of real estate assets
- Assisted in employment and separation agreements
Recognition & Accolades
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Woodward/White Inc.), Corporate Law, 2025
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2024
- “40 Under 40”, San Antonio Business Journal, 2023
- “Best S.A. Lawyers,” San Antonio Scene, 2022-2024
- Bonds & Government Finance
- Business & Corporate
- Securities & Corporate Finance
- “Rising Star Lawyers” List – Corporate/Business, San Antonio Scene, 2022
Community Involvement
- St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church, Board Member and Volunteer, 2011-2019