Companies that develop and exploit advanced electronic, biomedical and computer technologies have become a global engine of economic growth. Andrews Kurth is the leading Texas-based provider of legal services in this key market place. Andrews Kurth lawyers know technology and technology companies, and give these clients comprehensive legal service and protection. Our technology clients, in the U.S. and worldwide, encompass a representative range of businesses:

• Semiconductors
• Telecommunications
• Computers and electronics
• Enterprise software
• Life sciences and biotechnology
• Aerospace
• Internet and e-commerce

Close to the source of ideas

We represent technology clients throughout the U.S. and in their ventures abroad. To get closer to the source of ideas, Andrews Kurth opened an office in The Woodlands, Texas in 1993 to focus on the needs of the Research Forest’s emerging technology industry. In the same year, our Austin office opened to serve the rapidly expanding central Texas-based technology community. This office significantly expanded its national technology presence with the addition of Brobeck’s Austin Business & Technology team in February 2003. With the addition of intellectual property lawyers in Austin, Dallas and Washington, DC and the former Arter & Hadden corporate group in Dallas, 2003 became a landmark year for our tech practice. Firmwide, lawyers work in multidisciplinary teams to accommodate our clients’ specialized technology needs. We stay on top of industry standards and breakthroughs to advise clients on the top issues that will affect their business.

Our team includes professionals with degrees in disciplines relevant to their industries (e.g., electrical, chemical and nuclear engineering). Members of our team have worked as senior executives at a pioneering Internet services company and at one of the world’s largest producers of semiconductor products. Our lawyers teach law school courses on technology business issues, corporate governance and regulation, and have advised governmental bodies, including the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, on technology and Internet issues.

We turn startups into businesses

Andrews Kurth has helped startup technology companies become industry leaders, and helps major technology companies stay on top. We use our skill as business advisors to create the framework for our clients to organize, grow and conduct operations, helping them:

• Assist in the raising of seed capital
• Develop corporate governance and employment law guidelines focusing on the needs of tech companies
• Assist with sophisticated financing needs from local and national venture investors, the public securities markets and strategic partners
• Counsel and lead teams focused on merger and acquisition opportunities.

We protect intellectual assets

Our team includes intellectual property and litigation lawyers experienced at helping global technology companies apply for patents, trademarks and enforce their proprietary rights. We are known for our expertise in the semiconductor area. In addition to our traditional strength at intellectual property infringement litigation in the federal courts, we are nationally recognized for dealing with complex issues involving e-commerce and the Internet, such as the copyright issues arising from the transfer of traditional copyrighted works to the Internet, CDs, DVDs and other high-technology communications media.

A technology company’s proprietary trade secrets are often its most valuable asset. We advise clients on trade secret issues, including employee intellectual property and confidentiality agreements, covenants-not-to-compete, employee training programs, document classification and retention policies, and trade secret misappropriation. We also help technology clients establish guidelines covering work for hire agreements and copyright assignments.

We maximize human capital

Technology companies depend on innovators who spur entrepreneurial growth. Our lawyers help clients maximize the potential of their human capital by:

• Ensuring compliance with all federal and state employment laws covering discrimination, harassment, safety, disabilities, wages and hours, and family leave
• Training supervisors to recognize workplace issues and deal with them before they become problems
• Preparing effective contracts, non-compete agreements, compensation and benefit plans, hiring and discipline practices, and manuals that help prevent disputes and claims
• Defending against lawsuits and regulatory actions alleging employment law violations.
  

We build technology alliances

Our lawyers structure, draft and negotiate complex strategic relationships in technology. We have the experience to know what makes some relationships work while others fail, and use it to form alliances that allow our clients to exploit and profit from their technology. We help create:

• Mergers and acquisitions in various combinations of stock, cash and debt, including innovative “roll-up” transactions in which multi-party acquisitions create a new company
• Cooperative research and development agreements, joint ventures and strategic alliances
• Licensing in and licensing out of technology, often across borders
• Research contracts and consulting agreements with outside technical experts, including licensing of startup technology from universities, medical schools and research centers
• Multimedia agreements that license music, books, magazines, videos, photographs and other intellectual assets for electronic and Internet applications
• A wide range of other combinations, including partnership programs, marketing arrangements, referral relationships and developer agreements.

Strategic alliances involve risks as well as rewards. Because Andrews Kurth has handled many of these arrangements we know how to protect our clients. We make sure that any technology relationship conforms to antitrust laws, and respond quickly to inquiries from the Federal Trade Commission or Department of Justice. We safeguard proprietary patent, product and process information against unwanted exposure to joint venture partners. And when deals turn, we know how to litigate contractual disputes and claims of fraud, malfeasance or negligence.

We bridge technology and business

The best indication of the technology industry’s success and maturity is its business evolution. Startup and established technology companies continue to be unique incubators of innovation. Andrews Kurth recognizes that technology companies are unique, and our attention to everyday details helps them stay competitive. We understand technology and know how business works. With straight talk and real world advice, we bring the two together.