Complex & Class Litigation

Artificial Intelligence Law

Technology Law

Internet Law

Business Law

Intellectual Property

Trademark Law

Copyright Law

Cybersquatting Law

Trade Secret Law

Non-Compete Law

Commercial Real Estate

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BRIAN A. HALL

Brian A. Hall is the Managing Partner of Traverse Legal, PLC and based in its Austin, Texas office.  He is a deal attorney, specializing in structuring and closing transactions or handling disputes stemming from transactions.  For almost two decades, he has been a trusted advisor, regularly representing companies, successful entrepreneurs, repeat founders, investors, and high-profile leaders with their IP, technology, and business law needs across numerous industries, including tech, CPG and various services.

He is a recognized innovator in the legal community and thought-leader when it comes to law practice management, alternative fee arrangements and law firm culture, and regularly speaks and authors on the same.  Brian is known for pioneering the fractional, subscription-based, general counsel model, TraverseGC.

Brian has represented companies from start-up to exit, including tech, SAAS, CPG, enterprise Internet and brand owners throughout the world with their Intellectual Property, including IP Portfolio management; Internet Law, including such areas as digital and social media, advertising and promotions, privacy and data matters; and Business Law issues. Brian regularly advises clients on the acquisition of, enforcement of, licensing and monetization of intellectual property, and he has extensive experience with countless multi-million dollar corporate transactions involving an entity’s business-critical IP. He has also led various mergers and acquisitions in numerous industries.

Brian has served as fractional and outside general counsel, as well as in-house counsel in a secondment role, to private, venture backed companies, public companies, venture capital funds and accelerators. Since 2015, he has been General Counsel to Notley Ventures, a social impact company in Austin, Texas.

Brian has also litigated cases across the United States involving trademark, domain name, copyright, software trade secret, online defamation, privacy/personal rights, partnership disputes and commercial issues. Brian’s list of clients also includes professional athletes and celebrities as he regularly advises on sports and entertainment law issues, with a particular focus on endorsements and NIL issues.

Brian is currently an Entrepreneur in Residence at the Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center at The University of Texas at Austin. He is a regular author and speaker on legal topics of particular interest to technology companies given his background as an IT Consultant with the global IT firm Accenture. Brian has provided trademark legal commentary on Fox 7 News (Austin), authored numerous pieces, and presented CLE on a variety of topics. Brian regularly mentors and advises entities at all stages of the startup ecosystem. He is an active member and on the Board of Entrepreneur’s Organization’s Austin chapter, set to be President in 2025. He previously served on the Board of Directors for PeopleFund, a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).  He is a Member of the Law Practice Management Committee of the State Bar of Texas

A graduate of Miami University with a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems and Michigan State University College of Law with a Juris Doctorate, Brian has also completed Executive Education courses at Harvard Business School and obtained a certificate for Law and the Entrepreneur from Northwestern University.

He also is the founder of Traverse Concierge, an offering for successful founders and entrepreneurs, C-level executives, high-profile leaders, athletes, celebrities and influencers that provides curated legal services to help high-net-worth individuals, ultra-high-net-worth-individuals and family offices secure, protect, preserve and maximize their first-time or generational wealth for long-lasting impact.

Brian has been repeatedly recognized having received the highest peer rating for level of professional excellence, AV Preeminent, by Martindale-Hubbell, and he has repeatedly been selected as a Rising Star in Intellectual Property, as rated by SuperLawyers.

REPRESENTATIVE TRANSACTIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Represented majority shareholder in $280M sale of e-commerce seller of custom-made products to private equity.
  • Represented seller company in sale of route-based business to private equity group as part of national roll-up, with continued employment by Seller, earn-out and equity carry.
  • Represented CEO in sale of membership interest in wealth advisory services business, stemming from derivative lawsuit.
  • Represented minority owner in sale of media agency business.
  • Represented online art technology company in sale of business to private equity.
Show More Transactional Experience
  • Represented e-commerce company in sale to private equity, handling all IP.
  • Represented garage door services company in various acquisitions and corporate restructuring.
  • Represented insurance company in asset sale to publicly traded insurance company.
  • Represented data center power and infrastructure company in stock sale to private equity group.
  • Represented online headshop in two separate asset sales, including e-commerce and separate wholesale business units.
  • Represented Chairman and CEO in stock sale of digital design and development company to publicly traded company.
  • Lead IP counsel on sale and royalty transaction for entertainment rights and song catalog of Dean Martin Family Trust.
  • Represented buyer in asset purchase of Austin-based audio-visual company.
  • Represented minority member in sale of pet-food company to private equity backed buyer, including cash at closing, rollover equity and continued services.
  • Represented CEO and minority member in sale of interests in dental provider.
  • Represented seller in disposition of certain assets and subsequent sale of logistics company to private equity-backed buyer, including cash at closing, rolled equity and employment.
  • Represented venture capital company in equity investment into apparel company.
  • Led company rebrand, including acquisition of all necessary IP and phase out of old brand.
  • Served as general counsel to Heisman trophy winning, 1st overall NFL draft pick, for all IP, endorsement and licensing transactions and litigation matters.
  • Led IP Efforts in connection with a $410MM credit facility, including all foreign and domestic trademark, copyright and patent perfection of title and security interest matters.
  • Assisted in $25MM venture capital fund formation, organization and management.
  • Led transaction involving real estate development project (acquisition, financing, joint ventures/partnerships) for iconic Austin property.
  • Handled domain name purchase related to professional sports franchise.
  • Responsible for Intellectual Property due diligence in and closing of $50M acquisition by publicly traded software company client.
  • Served as IP counsel in $60 million dollar credit facility for publicly traded software company in Austin, Texas.
  • Served as outside general and technology counsel, including in-house in a secondment role, for Austin, Texas based WPEngine, Inc. from 2014-2015.
  • Completed IP Audit of national large block retaining wall manufacturing entity.
  • Fractional counsel, including with respect to IP, commercial contracts and commercial disputes to numerous companies.
  • Manage, monitor and enforce the IP portfolios of numerous public and private entities.
REPRESENTATIVE LITIGATION AND ARBITRATION EXPERIENCE
  • C3 Modular, LLC v. Brodie Builders, LLC, Travis County District Court, D-1-GN-23-001796 (represented Defendant and resolved business dispute along with pending minority shareholder dispute in arbitration).
  • Codesmen, LLC v. Social Tech Inc, Travis County District Court, D-1-GN-21-003666 (represented EdTech Company in defense of breach of contract lawsuit).
  • Dow Edwards v. Capital City Press et al., US District Court, M.D. Louisiana, No 2:21-cv-00799 (represented Defendant in copyright infringement lawsuit and resolution of same pretrial).
  • Stockfood America, Inc. v. Dixicigs LLC et al., US District Court, W.D. Texas, No. 1:20-cv-00873-LY (resolved copyright infringement matter on behalf of Defendant leading to voluntary dismissal by Plaintiff).
  • Dreammakers LLC v. Karol Jasik et al., Travis County District Court, D-1-GN-20-004116 (represented Defendant in breach of contract case and mediated leading to the lawsuit being dismissed with prejudice).
Show More Litigation and Arbitration Experience
  • Sensis, Inc. v. The LASIK Vision Institute, LLC et al., US District Court, W.D. Texas, No. 1:20-cv-00001-RP (served as local counsel).
  • Brantley v. Jawahar, Travis County District Court, D-1-GN-20-001413 (represented Defendant in breach of contract case leading to the lawsuit being dismissed).
  • Various partnership, joint venture and other business disputes, including via American Arbitration Association (AAA), mediation and pre-litigation settlement.
  • Joel Bauer and Associates, Inc. v. Sabrina Gibson Hawkins et al., US District Court, C.D. California, No. 2:18-cv-09887-DSF-MRW (represented Defendant WP Engine, Inc. to dismiss DMCA copyright lawsuit).
  • International Olympic Committee et al. v. Frayne et al., US District Court, S.D. Texas, No. 15-cv-3277 (represented the Defendants in a trademark, cybersquatting and Olympic Amateur Sports Act lawsuit where the parties mutually agreed to dismiss the litigation).
  • Dearborn Tree Service, Inc. v. Gray’s Outdoor Services, LLC et al., US District Court, E.D. Michigan, 2:13-CV-12584; November 2015 (obtained six figure settlement on behalf of Plaintiff in a trademark, cybersquatting and trade libel/defamation lawsuit).
  • The Weather Underground, Inc. v. Navigation Catalyst Systems, Inc., US. District Court, E.D. Michigan, 2:09-CV-10756; June 15, 2012 (Obtained a $3.5 million dollar consent judgment in a cybersquatting lawsuit).
MEMBERSHIP & AFFILIATIONS
  • State Bar of Texas, admitted September 2013
  • State Bar of Michigan, admitted November 2007
  • Numerous United States District Courts
  • International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw), Chair, E-Commerce Law Committee
  • International Trademark Association (INTA), Member and Non-Profit Committee Member
  • IT Law Section State Bar of Michigan, Council Member and Former Newsletter Editor
  • Michigan State University College of Law, President, Alumni Association Board of Directors (2013-2014)
  • Entrepreneurial Bar Association (EBA Global), Steering Committee
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Of course I deprecate war, but if it is brought to my door, the bringer will find me at home.”

– President James A. Garfield

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ME

  • I consider myself Midwest Stock with Southwest Spirit.

  • My first legal job was with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Civil Division.

  • My first job out of college was with Accenture doing IT Management Consulting.

  • My dog’s name is Goose.

  • When I’m not working, you can find me reading, fishing, golfing and hanging with my two daughters and wife.

Education

  • J.D., Michigan State University College of Law, Cum Laude – 2007

    Michigan State Law Review, Executive Editor, 2006-2007, Michigan State Law Review, Staff, 2005-2006, Trial Practice Certificate Program, MSU College of Law American Inn of Court, Member, 2006-2007

  • B.S., Miami University, Richard T. Farmer School of Business – 2002

    Management Information Systems Major, Marketing Minor, Business Consulting Concentration

    Phi Kappa Psi National Fraternity

  • Verified Certificate, Law and the Entrepreneur, Northwestern University – 2013 – 2014
  • Harvard Business School, Harvard University, 2018

    Executive Education Program – Inspiring Entrepreneurial Strategy