Brian Fonville

Partner | Corporate

brian.fonville@pierferd.com
+44 20 8078 0127 office
London | New York
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About
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About

Brian Fonville is a Partner in Pierson Ferdinand’s Corporate Department and an international corporate lawyer admitted in New York, England and Wales, and the Czech Republic. He advises companies, founders, investors and financial institutions on cross-border M&A, venture capital and emerging-company matters, corporate finance, investment funds, and complex commercial transactions, with particular experience involving the United States, United Kingdom, and Central Europe.

  • Drawing on more than two decades of professional experience in the United States and Europe, Brian brings rare perspective to transactions spanning U.S., English, and continental European legal and business environments. He has advised clients ranging from startups and founder-led businesses to global technology companies, financial institutions, and major investment fund groups.

    Brian has extensive experience in cross-border M&A and corporate finance, including acquisitions in the technology, energy, healthcare and manufacturing sectors, and financing transactions involving syndicated credit facilities. He has also advised private equity and hedge funds on formation, investment, restructuring, and ongoing operations, including fund groups managing over $1 trillion in assets. His technology practice includes advising software companies on venture financings, acquisitions, strategic investments, licensing, commercial agreements, and other complex transactions.

    Earlier in his career, Brian practiced at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York, where his work included significant banking and corporate transactions and advising major investment fund groups. He previously practiced with Kocián Šolc Balaštík in Prague on cross-border corporate and M&A matters and has advised multinational and international clients throughout his career. His experience includes, among other matters, work on the $7.4 billion Chrysler/Cerberus transaction and a $3 billion cross-border energy group restructuring.

    Brian has also taught Contract Law, Commercial Law, and Civil Procedure in the University of London LL.B. programme at Anglo-American University in Prague. Early in his career, he worked at the CEELI Institute and completed internships with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, OECD, Earthjustice, and the Office of Czech President Václav Havel.

    Brian received his J.D. from Stanford Law School and an M.A. in Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies from Stanford University. He is fluent in Czech, French, and Slovak in addition to his native English.

    Outside his legal practice, Brian sings bass in a classical choir in Prague, is a member of the Czech Philharmonic Foundation, and enjoys mountaineering and other outdoor pursuits.

Practices

  • Emerging Companies and Venture Capital

  • Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Commercial Transactions

  • Private Investment Funds

  • Private Equity

  • Banking and Financial Services

  • Technology

Admissions

  • England and Wales

  • New York

  • Czech Republic (European Attorney)

Education

  • Stanford Law School, J.D., 2003

  • Stanford University, M.A., Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies, 2003

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., French, summa cum laude, Highest Honors, 1996

Recognition

  • Stanford University Outstanding Achievement Award, Co-Recipient

  • University of North Carolina Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in French

  • Law Society of England and Wales, Member

  • Oxford and Cambridge Alumni Society Czech Republic, Affiliate Member

  • Czech Philharmonic Foundation, Member

Languages

  • Czech

  • French

  • Slovak

Law Firm Experience

  • Seven Legal

  • Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

  • Kocián Šolc Balaštík

Corporate and Non-Profit Experience

  • JetBrains

  • AVG (now part of Gen Digital, the parent company of Norton and Avast)

  • CEELI Institute

Representative Experience

Emerging Companies and Venture Capital

  • Advised an innovative software company on an oversubscribed venture financing, including preparation and negotiation of articles of association, subscription and shareholders’ agreement, founder service agreements and intellectual property assignments, and coordination of the closing.

  • Advised technology and emerging-growth companies on venture financings using convertible loan notes, advance subscription agreements (ASAs), SAFEs and priced equity rounds.

  • Advised a technology company focused on supply-chain resilience and sustainability in the electric-vehicle battery sector on its financing documentation, including articles of association, subscription and shareholders’ agreements and founder service agreements.

  • Advised founders and startups on formation, founders’ arrangements, operating agreements, employment arrangements and other early-stage corporate matters.

M&A and Strategic Transactions

  • Coordinated the $63 million acquisition of a software company, including due diligence and preparation of share and asset purchase agreements and ancillary documentation incorporating a complex option and share-exchange mechanism.

  • Coordinated the $11 million acquisition of an internet software business, including due diligence and preparation of share and asset purchase agreements.

  • Advised on multimillion-dollar acquisitions in the energy, healthcare and manufacturing sectors, including transactions involving earn-outs, options and other financial incentives.

  • Participated as a member of the banking team in the $7.4 billion sale of Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management.

Investment Funds and Finance

  • Advised private equity and hedge fund groups managing up to $1.4 trillion in assets on fund formation, investment, restructuring, regulatory and ongoing operational matters.

  • Assisted with multiple closings increasing the committed capital of a hybrid private equity/hedge fund from $3.75 billion to $8.45 billion.

  • Prepared fund and investment-vehicle documentation, negotiated side letters and advised on subscription matters for a private equity group managing approximately $6 billion in capital commitments, focusing on funds of funds and secondaries.

  • Advised on acquisition financings involving syndicated credit facilities on deals up to $3.5 billion, including a financing related to the $3.4 billion acquisition of a major retail pharmacy chain.

Technology and Commercial Transactions

  • Advised a software company on a $9.75 million strategic equity investment with call option, together with related licensing and marketing arrangements.

  • Advised a leading software company on bespoke software licences and multimillion-dollar international commercial contracts.

  • Advised technology companies on software development and licensing agreements, professional services agreements, statements of work, strategic partnerships, exclusivity arrangements and other commercial transactions.

Presentations and Teaching Experience

  • “M&A: Pitfalls in Due Diligence,” Adviserly International Legal Network, September 2025

  • “M&A: Key Steps from First Contact to Integration,” Chief of Staff Network, New York, August 2023

  • Adjunct Professor — Contract Law, Commercial Law, and Civil Procedure, University of London LL.B. programme, Anglo-American University, Prague, 2017–2021. Teaching commendation