Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, a provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, has hired J. Matthew Lyons as a corporate and securities partner in the Austin office.

Most recently, Lyons was a partner at Shearman & Sterling, where he led the opening of their Austin office in 2018. Lyons has represented public and private companies, venture capital and private equity funds, emerging growth companies, and entrepreneurs in public and private offerings, M&A transactions and divestitures, and issues related to business formation and corporate governance in the technology, life sciences, healthcare, retail and CPG, and media and communications industries.

“Austin is experiencing a new wave of growth that will continue to be driven by innovative technology and life sciences companies and by the sophisticated investors that fund them,” said Doug Clark, managing partner at Wilson Sonsini. “As one of the best-known emerging company attorneys in the region—and someone who has built important relationships for 25-plus years in and around Austin, Texas, and nationally—Matt has an impressive network of clients and relationships with entrepreneurs and investors.”

“Matt’s addition underscores Wilson Sonsini’s growing presence and strong brand in Austin and it evidences the firm’s commitment to Austin’s vibrant and innovative community—home to 5,000-plus technology companies, along with venture capital and private equity firms, accelerators, and other investors,” said Rob Suffoletta, managing partner of Wilson Sonsini’s Austin office. “We are very excited about Austin and how Matt and our expanding team can help companies and investors succeed in what we expect to be a busy and active market, and one with a sustained growth trajectory.” 

“Wilson Sonsini’s remarkable Silicon Valley brand of building and advising successful companies and connecting start-ups to investors is well known in Austin. I look forward to continuing to work with Rob, Scott Craig, and the rest of the team to grow the firm’s presence with a focus on the technology and life sciences clients that are driving the Texas and global economy,” said Lyons. “Wilson Sonsini is aggressively investing in providing innovative, technology-leveraged services to its clients. I’m also very excited about supporting the firm’s efforts to develop resources that will help us remain on the cutting edge for the benefit of clients we represent in Austin and other growing and established markets.”