Aaron Gard

Biography

Aaron is the Executive Director of the Institute for Innovation at the UNC School of Law.  The Institute’s mission is to: (1) teach students the skills and habits of effective lawyering for organizational clients; (2) provide sound legal counsel to early-stage business and entrepreneurs; (3) serve North Carolina’s innovation economy across a range of communities and constituencies; and (4) offer programs and resources to North Carolina’s entrepreneurial community.

A native North Carolinian, Aaron is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and Texas.  He began his legal career in the Houston office of Jones Day, a premier international law firm.  After 5 years with Jones Day, Aaron returned to North Carolina to continue his transactional practice with Wyrick Robbins and later at Credit Suisse in the Research Triangle.  His legal practice has focused on corporate formation and governance, commercial contracts and strategic transactions, including extensive private equity and M&A related activity and leading complex contractual matters.

After practicing law for twenty years, Aaron was named Executive Director of the Institute for Innovation at the UNC School of Law.  In his current role, he continues to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the state.  His entrepreneurial spirit encouraged him to start a publishing company and affiliated nonprofit, Lessons For Life Through Sports, dedicated to encouraging children to read books and reduce screen time, all while promoting sports’ positive attributes. Aaron was a 4-year letterman on UNC’s Varsity Men’s Soccer team.

Aaron is a member of the UNC Innovation Council and Board of Advisors for UNC Rural.

Education

• BA in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• JD from the Washington College of Law at American University