Pillsbury expands venture capital practice with Austin partner hire

Pillsbury has expanded its Emerging Companies and Venture Capital (ECVC) practice by hiring Valeska Pederson Hintz as a partner in its Austin office. Hintz joins the firm from Ashurst Perkins Coie, bringing nearly two decades of experience in venture financing, IPOs, M&A, and liquidity events.

This appointment marks the tenth startup-focused lateral partner to join the practice in two years and the 50th lateral partner hire for the firm since the start of 2025. The recruitment drive spans several major hubs, including Austin, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, New York, Washington, and London.

The expansion follows significant growth in the firm’s venture financing activity, which reportedly increased by more than 50 percent in 2025. Through July 2026, the firm handled publicly announced transactions exceeding $8.5 billion, a figure bolstered by its work on a $2.3 billion Series E financing for Stoke Space Technologies.