Andy Smetana

Andy has built a reputation for guiding companies through pivotal transactions as the stakes increase, from institutional growth financings and strategic investments to acquisitions, divestitures and exits involving Fortune 500 acquirers and private equity platforms. Before returning to private practice, Andy served as general counsel of an early-stage technology company. That experience shapes a practical approach focused on helping management teams and boards understand what matters, anticipate what comes next and make informed decisions when the stakes are high.

Many of Andy’s client relationships span multiple transactions, stages and companies. He has advised companies through growth investments, strategic relationships and acquisitions, then continued working with their founders and executives on new companies, investment funds and other ventures. Several client relationships have continued for more than a decade as the companies and their needs have evolved.

Andy represents institutional investors, including LiveOak Venture Partners, and advises companies and underwriters in connection with IPOs, follow-on public offerings and PIPE transactions. His public-company work also includes corporate governance, SEC reporting and strategic transaction matters.

Select representative clients include AllClear ID, Applied Optoelectronics (NASDAQ: AAOI), Artivion (NYSE: AORT), Bloomfire, ForeFlight, LF Bioenergy, LiveOak Venture Partners, Lumenci, Molecular Imprints, One Drop, Shield GEO and SiteOwl.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Andy is also deeply committed to giving back to his community. As an active volunteer with CASA of Travis County and a member of its board of directors, he is dedicated to protecting children and advocating for their interests.

Before joining Pillsbury, Andy co-founded and served as managing partner of the Austin office of another international law firm.

• Represented ForeFlight in its growth investment from Sumeru Equity Partners (subsequently sold to Boeing).
• Represented Artivion (NYSE: AORT) in its acquisition of Germany-based JOTEC AG for $225 million.
• Represented LiveOak Venture Partners in investments including Eve Security, Campus IQ, Illuma Labs, Fastn, Perigon, ClosingLock, Backflip, RidersShare, Intrigue (subsequently sold to FireEye), Eventador.io (subsequently sold to Cloudera), LitLingo (subsequently sold to Epiq) and Telestax (subsequently sold to Mavenir).
• Representative Mergers & Acquisitions Experience
  • Advised One Drop through multiple growth financings, a strategic licensing and development agreement with Bayer, and its sale to Dexcom, as well as the sale of other assets to One Health Biosensing.
  • Represented Sweet River Honey in the sale of its honey and beekeeping business to Sweet Harvest Foods, part of Nature Nate’s Honey Co.
  • Represented Beezy in its sale to Appspace.
  • Represented Shield GEO in its sale to private-equity-backed Velocity Global.
  • Represented AllClear ID in its sale to Experian.
  • Represented Molecular Imprints in its sale of certain assets to Japan-based Canon and its subsequent sale of retained assets to Magic Leap.
• Representative Capital Markets Experience
  • Advised Applied Optoelectronics (Nasdaq: AAOI) in connection with public offerings, corporate governance and public reporting requirements as part of a relationship dating to 2013.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its investment in PIPEs.
  • Represented a public oil field service company in connection with multiple PIPEs.
  • Represented a leading investment bank as lead underwriter in the IPO and follow-on public offering completed by Q2 Holdings.
  • Represented Bazaarvoice in its IPO and subsequent follow-on offering.
  • Represented a leading investment bank as lead underwriter in a follow-on public offering completed by ExactTarget.
• Representative Growth Equity, VC and PE Financing Experience
  • Represented TestFit in its Series A financing led by Parkway Venture Capital and Prologis.
  • Represented Vapor IO in its $90 million Series C financing, which included participation from Berkshire Partners and Crown Castle, and Series A financing led by Goldman Sachs.
  • Represented Homeward’s founder and CEO Tim Heyl regarding his personal interests in the company’s Series B financing led by Norwest Venture Partners.
  • Represented RealWork Labs in its Series Seed financing led by LiveOak Ventures.
  • Represented the management team of Bloomfire in its growth equity investment transaction from Primus Capital.
  • Represented LF Bioenergy in its growth equity financing from Cresta Funds.
  • Represented RidersShare in its Series A financing led by LiveOak Ventures.
  • Represented GTL Americas in its $70 million initial financing led by a South Korean business conglomerate.

• Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. for Technology and Telecoms – Transactions (2018).
• Served as general counsel for a data center startup, joining before the company had raised outside capital or generated revenue (2015–2016).
• Austin Bar Association, Technology Section, Co-Chair and Treasurer (2019–2022)
• Texas Bar Association, Member
• California Bar Association, Business Section, Member
• Recent Speaking Engagements
  • “Hot Topics in Private Company Mergers and Acquisitions,” 39th Annual Technology Law Conference (May 21, 2026)
  • “Preparing for M&A or Financing Transactions,” 38th Annual Technology Law Conference (May 8, 2025)
  • “Investor Insights: M&A State of the Market,” TechRise Executive Symposium (March 25, 2025)
  • “Cap Table Best Practices,” Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs of Austin SXSW Panel (March 8, 2025)
  • “Strategic vs. Financial Investors: the Impact on Startups in VC/PE Deals,” IBA 6th Annual Silicon Hills Conference (Feb. 13, 2025)
  • “Key Considerations in Private M&A Deals in Uncertain Market Conditions,” 37th Annual Technology Law Conference (May 23, 2024)
  • “Key Trends in Private Company Mergers and Acquisitions,” 36th Annual Technology Law Conference (May 25, 2023)
  • “Selling Ahead of Availability: Lessons Learned on Funding, Transparency and Corporate Governance from the Theranos Saga and Elizabeth Holmes’ Criminal Conviction,” Texas Life Science Forum (Feb. 24, 2022)
  • “You’ve Signed a Term Sheet for Equity Financing. Now What?,” 26th Annual Texas Minority Counsel Program (Oct. 18, 2018)