A longtime resident of Georgetown, Texas, William Bryan Farney attended Southwestern University in the late 1970s and early 1980s to secure a bachelor of science in physics. He subsequently attended the University of Texas (UT), where he earned both a master of science in engineering with a focus on structural dynamics and a juris doctor. William Bryan Farney earned his law degree with honors after sitting on the UT Board of Advocates and serving as the executive editor of the American Journal of Criminal Law.

As an attorney, he served as a managing partner Dechert LLP before assuming his current position as founder and shareholder with the intellectual property litigation firm Farney P.C. He has counseled other investors on issues that range from patent licensing to monetization strategies. His own investments include the founding of a startup generic pharmaceutical business, and the acquisition of a furniture manufacturer and retail stores.