Opened in January 1978, our Austin location is a full-service presence with 70 lawyers.

In 2000 alone we added more than 35 patent, trademark, and technology lawyers and scientific advisors in Austin, many of whom joined us from the IP specialty firm of Arnold, White & Durkee, and several of whom have served as senior in-house counsel.

Integrating that in-house experience with our service reflects our commitment to deliver prompt and practical solutions to our clients.

Biotechnology patent prosecution, technology transfer, litigation and financing

Whether your company needs to develop, protect and license a biotechnology patent portfolio, to litigate patent or trade secret issues, or to finance your business, we have the experience to do the job. For patent prosecution and litigation, contact Mark Wilson.

Government relations, bond financing, public-private partnerships and economic incentives

We have significant experience handling legislative matters and rule makings, as well as public-private ventures, such as the building of infrastructure, tax incentives for recruiting companies to the area and land use issues.

We represent issuers and underwriters in all manner of tax-exempt and taxable bond financings, for state agencies, multifamily housing, hospitals, school districts, universities, cities, counties and utility systems. Contact Joy Bode.

Health care, regulatory, business and finance issues related to healthcare (including hospital systems, HMOs, PPOs and physician services)

The healthcare industry is one of the most heavily regulated. We are a leading firm in this field nationwide and second to none in Texas. We publish the definitive guide to Texas Medical Jurisprudence and handle licensing, Medicare, Medicaid, JCAHO and other regulatory issues for health care providers, HMOs, PPOs and suppliers to the industry. Contact Jerry Bell or Yvonne Puig.

Texas Medical Jurisprudence. The Thirteenth Edition of this comprehensive guide to laws dealing with Texas health care providers is available for purchase. Contact Jeff Layne.

Pharmaceutical Litigation. We are widely acclaimed for our excellence in representing entities that design, manufacture and market all types of medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Our legal team assists clients with a wide range of legal issues such as Medicaid, Medicare, patent, regulatory, trademark and various other corporate matters. We also advise and represent individuals and entities involved in all types of litigation tied to pharmaceutical and medical devices. Contact Stephanie Smith or Stacey Martinez.

Information technology, including the internet, multimedia and software for web hosting, privacy policies, ASPs, supply chain management, e-commerce and content licensing

W2W ("whatever to whatever"), we have helped e-tailers, B2B exchanges, ASPs and traditional manufacturing and retailing companies incorporate the internet into their business. We are familiar with the techniques and the newly developing law related to the web. Our trademark and copyright strength adds significant value in this global medium. Contact Richard Groos.

Semiconductor industry (including chip designers and manufacturers, equipment makers and OEMs), ranging from employee raiding and trade secret protection to outsourcing and joint development agreements

The vanguard of Austin's technology revolution was the semiconductor industry. We were instrumental in bringing the industry here, and have worked closely with its designers, fab builders, manufacturers and equipment makers at every step in the spectacular growth of that part of Austin's economy. We moved quickly to prevent unfair employee raiding and protect trade secrets. Our patent lawyers have the industry and technology experience to provide strategic guidance on building and protecting a patent portfolio or to press home claims against those who are infringing your IP. We know the industry's needs for environmental permits, facility management and appropriate employment services. For labor and employment issues contact Brian Greig. For facilities usage, contracts and licensing, contract Jane Smith. For patent prosecution and litigation, contact Dave Bahler.

Litigation

Our litigation and dispute resolution team has been a cornerstone of the firm since 1919, and its breadth has grown increasingly ever since. With more than 400 litigation and dispute resolution lawyers around the world, we handle everything from local litigation to complex international disputes. Consistently rated as one of the top litigation and arbitration firms in the United States, we are one of the world's "Arbitration Elite." We were also named by its peers as one of the top 10 national legal practices for dispute resolution in the Global Counsel 2003-2004 Dispute Resolution Handbook.

With our significant investment in training new trial lawyers and in giving them trial experience, it is no surprise that we aer nationally known for its litigation capabilities. For trade secret litigation, contact: Scott Incerto, Brian Greig or Berry Spears. For commercial litigation, contact Scott Incerto. For product liability, contact Stephanie Smith or Lana Varney.

Product liability, especially in the pharmaceutical area

Our product liability team provides counsel on a broad range of product liability matters.

Focused on proactive advice, our product liability team provides clients with preventative counseling on reducing the risk of product litigation. This includes product liability audits and assistance with risk management programs.

Our lawyers have also been actively involved in resolving these issues for clients, both in the United States and abroad, since the advent of manufacturer's liability in the 1960s. We routinely represent product liability clients in commercial and general litigation and regularly counsel clients across dozens of industries and product lines. The numerous cases handled throughout the country by our litigators have included individual and class action product liability lawsuits. We have provided coast-to-coast representation and management of multi-district litigation (MDLs), including cross-border actions. Contact Stephanie Smith or Lana Varney.

Records management solutions

Our records management solutions group helps prevent record retention issues by developing clear, comprehensive records management policies for businesses around the United States that encompass the unique legal and business challenges inherent in our electronic world.

Our records management group brings two critical assets to the process: our knowledge of the laws mandating the retention of certain categories of documents and our strong litigation experience in both hard copy and electronic evidence discovery. Our records management team will consist of dedicated records management legal practitioners, a Certified Records Manager and lawyers with knowledge specific to your industry. Contact Scott Incerto.

Intellectual property and technology

This area encompasses the identification and protection of all types of IP, including patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets. We are familiar with business method and software patents and complex joint development programs and technical licenses. We have extensive experience and a broad and deep bench for litigation in all areas of IP.

For biotech prosecution and litigation, contact Mark Wilson or Gina Shishima.

For electrical engineering, software and all other prosecution and litigation, contact Dave Bahler.

For trademarks and copyrights, contact Richard Groos or Michael Metteauer.

Bankruptcy and insolvency duty issues relating to solvency questions

In Austin, our bankruptcy team is intertwined with our technology, litigation and corporate teams. We have experience protecting IP assets and creditors' rights. We handle bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy workouts and all types of solvency-related litigation. We represent bankruptcy trustees, committees (official and unofficial), debtors and creditors. Contact Berry Spears.

Appellate

Our Appellate team, with more than 30 lawyers, is acclaimed for handling appeals at all levels in state and federal courts, covering the entire range of substantive civil law. The core of the firm's appellate team is writing briefs and presenting oral arguments in appeals and other proceedings. The firm's appellate lawyers also support trial lawyers by briefing and arguing complex pretrial issues, monitoring trials with a focus on preserving appellate complaints, preparing and objecting to the court's charge, and handling critical motions during and after the trial. Contact Marcy Greer.

Emerging company and public company financing (including venture capital) and general representation

We have long represented start-ups. We know that start-ups need efficient legal services across a wide spectrum of disciplines. Experienced lawyers in the Corporate, Labor and Employment Law, Intellectual Property and Technology, Tax and Environmental areas, just to name a few, have teamed up to meet the needs of Austin's start-ups and those who invest in them.

We have extensive experience in the formation and operation of venture funds, and in their dealings with portfolio companies. We are familiar with the latest techniques in financing, including the use of restricted stock, convertible debt and combinations of senior and subordinate debt.

Corporate and securities

Our corporate team covers SEC compliance (including IPOs and secondary offerings, proxies, mergers and acquisitions, insider trading issues and ongoing disclosure questions), as well as a broad range of corporate law questions. We are recognized as highly knowledgeable about D&O liability issues, and both advise on and litigate them. We handle M&A transactions, tender offers, private placements and all manner of debt financings.

Environmental issues from toxic torts to state and federal permitting

Central Texas has been described as "ground zero" for endangered species in Texas. We are very familiar with land use issues related to endangered species regulations. We handle complex environmental litigation, including toxic wastes. In addition we have extensive experience in federal and state regulations and permits related to air, water and waste management. Contact L. Sey Zimmerman.

Real estate and facilities acquisition, use and disposition

Call it what you will (real estate, development, land use, commercial leasing), it's all about where you live and work. Whether you are dealing with a high-rise office building, a shopping center, an industrial park, or a multi-billion dollar fab, and whether you are a user, developer or lender, we have the legal skill and experience involved with purchasing, selling, constructing, financing, leasing,and managing your projects. Contact Jane Smith.

Labor and employment issues for companies large and small, including handling OSHA, EEOC, and ADA Issues, privacy and other policies, recruitment and severance matters

From start-ups to public companies with factories around the world, our clients count on our experience in this area. We are experienced in traditional labor issues: union organizing and contract negotiation, and in more recent issues, such as sexual harassment claims, discrimination issues, employee privacy, disputes over stock option vesting, employee raiding, and trade secret litigation. Contact Brian Greig or Berry Spears.

Federal and state tax planning and disputes

We handle corporate and partnership tax matters, real estate transactions, estate planning, and all phases of federal tax controversy, including the representation of large corporate taxpayers in audits before the Appeals Office of the I.R.S. We represent large corporate clients and business entities as well as start-up companies, tax-exempt organizations and individuals. Contact Joy Bode or Patrick O'Daniel.

Trademark prosecution and litigation

Many household brands are protected by our trademark lawyers. This national team , based in Austin, handles both domestic and international prosecution and litigation. Contact Richard Groos or Michael Metteauer.

Utilities and energy regulation, including service before the PUC and the TRC

Government regulation of utilities, including the energy sector, is intense. We have many years of experience handling client matters, including rate cases and permit cases, before the Public Utility Commission and the Texas Railroad Commission, as well as dealing with FERC. We are familiar with the production and transmission aspects of these regulated industries. Contact Marc Collier or L. Sey Zimmerman.

Awards

• For the eleventh consecutive year, we were chosen as one of the top 25 corporate legal practices in the nation in 2012 by Corporate Board Member.
• We were named among The Best Places to Work in multiple Texas Business Journals. (Austin, Dallas, Houston & San Antonio Business Journals, 2005-2008).