Prior to joining SoftBank, Brian was a Partner in the Palo Alto and San Francisco offices of DLA Piper, focused on M&A. Before that, Brian was with Cooley LLP, and worked in the London and Tokyo office of Shearman & Sterling for more than a decade. He graduated from the University of Chicago, where he earned general honors in the college, and the New York University School of Law.
Insights 05
01 –
You’ve built your career on cross-border and venture-focused M&A. What started you down that path?
I worked for a huge insurance company for about a year after college. I realized pretty quickly that I didn’t like that route, so I quit my job and moved to Hawaii. I worked part time and surfed for nine months, and then went to NYU for law school. After school, I knew that I wanted to travel, and my wife and I both loved Japan, so I looked for international law firms that focused on cross-border transactions. That took me first to London and then to Japan, where I lived for seven years. When we eventually decided to move back to the Bay Area, I shifted my attention to venture-focused transactions. My role at SoftBank Investment Advisers has allowed me to combine both cross-border and venture-focused experience.
I got thrown into the deep end and just got comfortable with an unpredictable environment and a lot of things coming out of left field. That’s about the best training I could have for my role with the Vision Fund.
02 –
What prepared you for your current role?
The first transaction I ever did was a South African gold mining company acquiring a Ghanaian gold mining company. I was a first-year associate, and I was one of the three core deal team members. This acquisition involved 12 different stock exchange listings in about seven countries. It was super-messy, super-complicated.
I got thrown into the deep end and just got comfortable with an unpredictable environment and a lot of things coming out of left field. That’s about the best training I could have for my role with the Vision Fund.
03 –
What’s different about the Vision Fund?
We get to see most everything that happens in high tech, not just in Silicon Valley, but globally. And with our size and influence, I believe that we really get to know what's happening, to see the leading edge of technology.
04 –
What has impressed you the most about your colleagues?
I think it was the way they all came together to set up the Vision Fund. When we first announced the Fund, everybody thought we were nuts. They thought it wouldn’t happen. There were certainly times where we thought that as well. It was a huge lift, but the team was committed to doing it right and doing it in record time. Together, we pulled it off. That’s something I'll always be proud of.
05 –
How do you know when you’re doing your job well?
In some ways, it's almost feels like minimal impact. When we’re doing our jobs well, we’re not standing in the lane saying no, we’re helping to facilitate the things that the Fund was designed to do. Our business objectives are grand, and a bit risky. We want to be a good partner in helping navigate those risks in a way that’s responsible but constructive. I think we do that when we’re just part of the process every step of the way, providing guidance that supports the long-term success of what we’re all here to do.
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