![](https://www.wbklaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/WBK_Brett_Johnson.jpg)
Brett helps companies break down complex legal issues so that they can focus on the success of their businesses. Brett focuses on the technology, communications, and energy sectors and represents a wide range of companies and investors in financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, project development, technology and commercial transactions, and corporate governance.
Before joining Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP, Brett served as in-house counsel for VMware, Inc., one of the largest software companies in the world. His experience at VMware gave him a more thorough understanding of how businesses operate and what they care about. This experience helps him provide his clients with counsel that is grounded in common sense that looks beyond just the legal issues facing an organization. He advises communication companies and investors on financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and technology transactions. His energy clients include investor-owned electric utilities, power marketers, large commercial and industrial consumers, energy investors, and project developers.
Brett also represents emerging and growing companies across a wide range of industries, including software, Internet of Things, cybersecurity, communications technology, retail, and “as-a-service” offerings.
Representative Engagements
Mergers and Acquisitions; Private Equity
- Represented a NYSE-listed company in connection with an asset divestiture valued at approximately $650,000,000
- Represented a NYSE-listed company in connection with its acquisition of a technology company valued at approximately $375,000,000
- Represented a network developer in a private equity joint venture for rural broadband with an initial capital commitment of $175,000,000
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with a joint venture for rural broadband with an initial capital commitment of $150,000,000
- Represented the stockholders of an infrastructure company with the sale of their business for approximately $145,000,000
- Represented a NYSE-listed company in connection with its acquisition of a technology company valued at approximately $50,000,000
- Represented a NYSE-listed company in connection with its acquisition of a technology company valued at approximately $20,000,000
- Represented a NYSE-listed company in connection with its acquisition of a technology company valued at approximately $19,000,000
Venture Capital
- Represented several emerging companies raise approximately $500,000 to $40,000,000 in convertible note, Series A, Series B, and seed offerings
- Represented a Colorado-based natural foods grocery company raise approximately $80,000,000 in three separate EB-5 offerings
Energy
- Represented a developer in connection with the development and sale of an approximately $80,000,000 waste heat recovery facility
- Represented a NYSE-listed company in connection with its acquisition of a repowered 80 MW wind farm valued at approximately $18,000,000
- Represented a NYSE-listed company in connection with its acquisition of a 29 MW wind project valued at approximately $17,000,000
- Represented a Fortune 50 technology company in connection with the development of a $16,000,000 solar array
- Represented a NASDAQ-listed, investor-owned utility in a unique long-term electric service arrangement with its largest industrial company
Honors
- Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2021-2025)