Andy Smetana

Andy has built a reputation for guiding companies through pivotal transactions at every stage of growth from significant growth equity rounds backed by institutional investors to successful exits through sales to Fortune 500 acquirers and private equity platforms. As a former general counsel for a technology company, he brings an operator’s perspective to deal execution, helping clients navigate the strategic, governance and commercial considerations that drive successful outcomes. Andy has led numerous sell-side and buy-side M&A transactions, including cross-border acquisitions valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. Andy also represents institutional investors, including LiveOak Venture Partners, and advises companies and underwriters in connection with IPOs, follow-on public offerings and PIPE transactions. Select representative clients include AllClear ID, Applied Optoelectronics (NASDAQ:AAOI), Artivion (NYSE: AORT), Bloomfire, ForeFlight, LF Bioenergy, Lumenci, Molecular Imprints, 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.

Prior to joining Pillsbury, Andy was the managing partner in the Austin office of another international law firm.

• Represented Artivion (NYSE: AORT) in its acquisition of Germany-based JOTEC AG for $225 million.
• Represented LiveOak Venture Partners in various early-stage 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
  • Represented One Drop in its sale to Dexcom and its sale of other assets to One Health Biosensing. 

  • Represented Sweet River Honey in the sale of its honey and bee-keeping 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
  • Represented Applied Optoelectronics (Nasdaq:AAOI) in connection with its public offerings, corporate governance and public reporting requirements.
  • 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 Exact Target.
• Representative VC and PE Financings Experience
  • Represented TestFit in its Series A financing led by Parkway Venture Capital and Prologis.
  • Represented SiteOwl in its Series Seed financing led by Next Coast Ventures.
  • 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 One Drop in its Series A Preferred Stock financing led by RRE Ventures and its Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock financings, which were both led by Bayer.
  • 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.
  • Represented GTL Americas in its $70 million initial financing led by a South Korean business conglomerate.
  • Represented ForeFlight in its investment from Sumeru Equity Partners.

• Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. for Technology and Telecoms – Transactions (2018).
• Served as general counsel for a data center startup, joining pre-funding and pre-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)