Austin

Opened in January 1978, Fulbright & Jaworski's Austin location is a full-service presence with more than 85 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 practice reflects our commitment to deliver prompt and practical solutions to our clients.

Particular strengths in Austin include key economic sectors:

• Biotechnology and Technology Transfer
• Government Relations
• Bond Financing
• Public-Private Partnerships and Economic Incentives
• Healthcare
• Information Technology
• Semiconductor Industry
• Real Estate and Development

As well as particular practice areas including:

• Litigation
• Product Liability
• Records Management
• Intellectual Property and Technology
• Bankruptcy and Insolvency
• Appellate
• Emerging Companies
• Venture Capital
• Corporate and Securities
• Environmental
• Facility Management
• Labor and Employment
• Tax
• Trademarks
• Utilities and Energy Regulation
• Real Estate and Development

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: Steve Highlander, David Parker or Mark Wilson. For corporate and finance issues, contact Walter Bissex or Brian Fenske.

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. Find out more from Jerry Converse and Pike Powers.

Fulbright represents 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 practices)

The healthcare industry is one of the most heavily regulated. Fulbright is 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: Patsy Nichols and 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: John Boehm.

Pharmaceutical Litigation.Fulbright is 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: Terry Tottenham and Stephanie Smith.

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: George Henderson.

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 practices. For labor and employment issues contact Brian Greig. For facilities usage, contracts and licensing, contract Jerry Converse, George Henderson or Brian Fenske. For patent prosecution and litigation, contact Dave Bahler and Chris Benson.

Litigation

Fulbright's litigation and dispute resolution practice 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, Fulbright handles 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." Fulbright was also named by its peers as one of the top 10 national law firms for dispute resolution in the Global Counsel 2003-2004 Dispute Resolution Handbook.

With Fulbright's significant investment in training new trial lawyers and in giving them trial experience, it is no surprise that Fulbright is nationally known for its litigation capabilities. For trade secret litigation, contact: Mary Dietz, Scott Incerto, Brian Greig, or Butch Hayes. For commercial litigation, contact: Mary Dietz or Scott Incerto. For product liability, contact Stephanie Smith, Terry Tottenham or Lana Varney.

Product liability, especially in the pharmaceutical area

Fulbright's product liability practice group provides counsel on a broad range of product liability matters.

Focused on proactive advice, our product liability practice group 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 Fulbright 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, Terry Tottenham or Lana Varney.

Records Management Solutions

Fulbright’s 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.

Fulbright’s 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 Steve Highlander, David Parker or Mark Wilson.

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

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

Bankruptcy and insolvency duty issues relating to solvency questions

In Austin, our bankruptcy practice is intertwined with our technology, litigation and corporate practices. 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: George Henderson or Berry Spears.

Appellate

Fulbright & Jaworski's Appellate Practice Group, 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 practice 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 (includingventure capital) and general representation

Fulbright has 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. Contact: Brian Fenske  or Walter Bissex.

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. Contact: Brian Fenske  or Walter Bissex.

Corporate and Securities

Fulbright's corporate practice 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. Contact: Brian Fenske  or Walter Bissex .

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 for toxic wastes. In addition we have extensive experience in federal and state regulations and permits related to air, water and waste management. Contact: Pat Finn Braddock.

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: Jerry Converse or 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 and Butch Hayes.

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 and Patrick O'Daniel.

Trademark prosecution and litigation

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

Utilities and Energy Regulation, including practice before the PUC and the TRC

Government regulation of utilities, including the energy sector, is intense. We have many years of experiencing 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.

Awards

• For the sixth year, Corporate Board Member named Fulbright one of the top 20 law firms in the nation. Read more . . .
• Fulbright’s Austin location was named among the Top Five Places to Work in Central Texas. Austin Business Journal, October 2004