Chris Brown is a business lawyer focused on the representation of growth companies and their investors, with a particular concentration on companies operating at the nexus of technology and financial services. His practice encompasses corporate and securities law matters, technology transactions, and the business law aspects of financial regulatory issues. He writes and speaks widely about the legal issues facing fintech and other technology companies, and on legal ethics.

Before joining the firm, Chris served most recently as General Counsel of Self Financial, Inc., a leading developer of consumer credit building and savings products. He also served as General Counsel of NetSpend Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTSP), a leading prepaid debit card program manager, and Microware Systems Corporation (Nasdaq: MWAR), a leading developer of embedded systems software, both of which companies he counseled through successful IPOs and a wide array of strategic transactions.

Before joining NetSpend, Chris was a partner in the Austin office of Baker Botts LLP, where he headed the corporate practice, representing a wide variety of public and private companies and institutional investors in corporate and securities matters, including venture financings, mergers & acquisitions, IPOs, technology transactions, and general corporate matters. For several years he served as Chair of the Venture Capital Committee of the State Bar of Texas Business Law Section.

Chris began his legal career as counsel to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, where his work included two Supreme Court confirmations, a variety of intellectual property, antitrust and administrative legislative initiatives, and work with government whistleblowers.

Chris received his law degree with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law (1991), and a bachelors degree in political economy from Tulane University (magna cum laude with departmental honors, 1987).

Chris is also a critically acclaimed author whose books have been shortlisted for major awards, and an active urban ecology advocate, serving as a co-founder of Austin’s Colorado River Conservancy and a board member of Ecology Action of Texas.

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