As corporate counsel for Alamo Group, Brian Buescher ’17 manages legal affairs and ensures compliance across the company’s diverse operations. Headquartered in Seguin, Texas, the publicly traded company specializes in designing and manufacturing heavy equipment for agriculture, infrastructure maintenance, and industrial applications.
Expanding their corporate footprint over time through a series of mergers and acquisitions, Alamo Group’s products include mowing equipment, street sweepers, vacuum trucks, snow removal machines, and agricultural attachments.
“I never would have guessed I would find myself in this unique situation,” Buescher said. “I am proud to be using the transactional skills I learned at STCL Houston as part of the legal team of an impressive $2.4 billion public corporation headquartered in a wonderful, small Texas town, not that far from where I was born. I am enjoying my career, and I have an excellent quality of life.”
Born in San Antonio to a doctor and a teacher, Buescher originally thought he wanted to follow his father’s footsteps and become a physician. He studied biology and soon realized that path was not what would sustain him. His passions were politics and government. As he was graduating from St. Edward’s University with a degree in political science, he began applying to law schools.
With a desire to stay in Texas, Buescher chose to attend STCL Houston. “Deciding to study how business and law intersected was the best decision I made about my legal education,” Buescher said. “I learned valuable skills in the Transactional Certificate Program, particularly the concepts and language used in leveraged buyouts and corporate acquisitions. I also learned how to understand the wide-ranging aspects of a business, including its operations and leadership. Completing my MBA at Texas A&M as part of the dual-degree program with SCTL Houston was key in sharpening my business and finance skills.”
After working three years as an associate at a medium sized law firm in Houston and specializing in trusts, corporate matters, and real estate transactions, Buescher and his wife decided to make a change. They moved closer to family and focused on living life at a different pace in San Antonio, while growing their careers. Their family includes two cats and a dog, and nearby live music venues bring them joy.
“I knew early in law school I did not want a Big Law career,” said Buescher. “I wanted to work with mentors who could help me dig in and learn about all the areas of a business so I could provide the best legal advice to a company. Advising the business decision-makers about what to do going forward and helping them understand the legal and business risks involved is a big part of being in-house counsel.”
Buescher credits much of his career success to the coursework required for the Transactional Certificate Program. He also credits Professors David East, John Worley, and Val Ricks and the various adjuncts as instrumental in his education.
“They provided me with the essential building blocks of transactional practice,” he said. “I also learned how to be persuasive, not adversarial. I gained a deep appreciation for the importance of clear and concise communication, and how that impacts business risks.”
Understanding how to draft a contract on day one in the real world was possible for Buescher because he had the experience of drafting one for class.
“I understood the language and business goals involved in transactions, especially with regard to mergers and acquisitions,” he said. “My knowledge of transactional practice was not purely academic. I left school with a strong command of the tools I use regularly. I like knowing I am part of the school’s legacy of creating lawyers out of ordinary people — lawyers who are ready and well trained to practice.”
