Mr. Clarkson has extensive experience with private equity and venture capital from both the financial and legal perspectives.

Prior to working with Academy, Mr. Clarkson was with the Capital Markets Group at Wachovia Corporation. While at Wachovia, Mr. Clarkson closed or assisted over $700 million in Capital Markets transactions. Most recently, Mr. Clarkson served in Wachovia’s Global Rates Group concentrating on fixed income and currency derivatives. Prior to that, he worked in Loan Syndications, Equity Private Placements and the Financial Sponsors Group. The Equity Private Placements group at Wachovia specialized in raising growth capital from venture capital groups and other financial institutions for expansion stage companies. During his time in the Financial Sponsor’s group, Mr. Clarkson focused on private equity leveraged buyouts and mezzanine financing. Before working at Wachovia, Mr. Clarkson practiced business law and litigation at Clarkson, Walsh, Rheney and Turner, P.A. Mr. Clarkson received his B.A. from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina graduating Cum Laude in three years. He earned a Master of International Business Studies (M.I.B.S.) from the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, and while there also completed coursework at the Instituto Technológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Guadalajara, Mexico. Mr. Clarkson earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of South Carolina School of Law and is an active member of the South Carolina Bar Association.