Andrews & Kurth Acquires Austin High-Tech Law Firm: Cavazos, Morin, Langenkamp & Ferraro L.L.P. Reinforces A & K Austin Presence

AUSTIN, Texas -- Andrews & Kurth L.L.P. announced today the acquisition of the Austin-based law firm of Cavazos, Morin, Langenkamp & Ferraro L.L.P. in a move that reinforces the strategic growth objectives for A&K in the Austin market. With its recently announced merger with Mayor, Day, Caldwell & Keeton L.L.P., Andrews & Kurth will now have a group of lawyers in Austin capable of providing clients with a much broader set of legal services. The 16 lawyers in Austin have practices focusing on technology transactions, corporate and securities, intellectual property, administrative law, electric deregulation, municipal law and litigation.

Joining the firm in the Austin office will be Ed Cavazos, partner, Gavino Morin, of counsel, and Tim Langenkamp, associate. Ernest Ferraro, partner, will join the firm's New York office. Kin Gill, associate, previously with the Houston office of Andrews & Kurth, also joins the Austin office.

"Cavazos, Morin, Langenkamp and Ferraro is an innovative boutique law firm with a national practice focused on representing technology companies. Their strengths include advising entrepreneurs on structuring and financing start-up ventures and helping executives structure complex transactions once their companies are off the ground. We are pleased they have decided to join our A&K team," says Bob Jewell, partner and member of the Andrews & Kurth management committee.

Cavazos and Ferraro will continue to focus their practice on advising clients with regard to a wide variety of issues including key strategic transactions, technology licensing and general corporate affairs. Their existing client base includes software, hardware and Internet companies, as well as clients involved in the media and entertainment sectors.

"Andrews & Kurth is taking aggressive steps in Austin, and we are excited to be a part of it. When combined with A&K's existing practice groups, the Austin technology practice represents a compelling alternative for high-tech clients of all sizes," says Cavazos. "They are a nationally recognized law firm that will have more than 350 lawyers following the recently announced merger. Joining them allows us to offer our current and future clients a full-service firm, practicing in virtually every area of civil law."

Cavazos is a recognized authority on Internet and high-tech legal issues. Prior to CML&F, he served as senior vice president of legal and business affairs of Interliant, Inc. Today, his practice involves advising clients with regard to a wide variety of issues including key strategic transactions, technology licensing, and general corporate affairs.

Along with CML&F partner Gavino Morin, he co-authored Cyberspace and the Law: Your Rights and Duties in the On-Line World (MIT Press, 1994), which, as one of the first books to address Internet legal issues, received the Association of American Publishers "Best New Professional and Scholarly Book -- Computer Science Award" in 1994. A frequent speaker at legal and industry conferences, Cavazos is one of the most prolific commentators on high-technology legal issues; he has authored numerous articles for law reviews and other national publications on the intersection of technology and the law. He is a member of the Council of the State Bar of Texas's Intellectual Property Law Section and a member of the board of directors of bridges.org, an international non-profit organization addressing the digital divide.

Cavazos is currently an adjunct professor at The University of Texas School of Law, where he will once again teach Internet Business, in the spring of 2002.

Prior to taking a position with Interliant in 1997, Cavazos was an attorney with Andrews & Kurth’s Houston office. He received his B.A. from The University of Texas and his J. D. from the University of Texas School of Law.

Ferraro has wide-ranging experience representing companies on intellectual property and corporate matters. Prior to CML&F, he was in-house counsel for Interliant, where he handled technology licensing, mergers and acquisitions, securities law and other related matters. Before joining Interliant, Ferraro practiced with a New York-based technology law firm, where he handled the Internet and technology needs for such clients as Universal Music Group, Sony Online and Ziff Davis.

Ferraro holds a B. S. in finance from Villanova University School of Commerce and Finance, with a concentration in computer science. He received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. Prior to attending law school, Ferraro was with the investment bank of Salomon Bros., Inc.

Morin's practice focuses on representing start-up technology companies and governmental entities. Morin's experience covers a broad area of law, including litigation, governmental and regulatory affairs and general business matters. During his legal career he has also represented clients involved in government contracting and assisted government entities in public financing matters. He also has extensive experience in protecting clients' intellectual property interests when in court and while in negotiations structuring transactions on their behalf.

Prior to CML&F, Morin served as general counsel of a division of the Wornick Company, a leading defense contractor. Morin also advised and represented domestic and international high technology clients including internet service providers, independent software vendors, and application service providers. Morin also served as the presiding judge for the Municipal Court of the City of San Juan, Texas.

In addition to co-authoring Cyberspace and the Law: Your Rights and Duties in the On-Line World, he has written numerous articles on technology and the law. Morin received his B.S. degree in computer science from Pan American University. He received his J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law.

Langenkamp is engaged in a corporate securities, general business, and intellectual property law practice, focusing on early-stage and emerging growth companies. He advises clients on a wide range of matters including the formation, organization, and governance of start-up companies as well as the process of financing those entities through private placements of debt and equity. Langenkamp also works with clients to help structure and negotiate commercial transactions such as strategic technology partnerships, private label and co-branding agreements, software development contracts, and outsourcing deals. Langenkamp also advises clients on developing and implementing strategies for the protection of intellectual property assets.

Prior to CML&F, Langenkamp was in-house counsel for Interliant. He holds a B.B.A. in accounting from The University of St. Thomas and his J.D. from The University of Houston Law Center. He is currently pursuing an LL.M. in intellectual property at The Institute for Intellectual Property and Information Law at the University of Houston Law Center.

Gill is an experienced corporate and securities lawyer who has represented public and private technology companies and investment banking firms in public offerings and private placements of equity and debt; mergers, acquisitions and dispositions; and venture capital investments. He has particular experience in the energy, consolidation and technology-related industries.

He received a B.Accy and an M.B.A. from the University of Mississippi and his J.D. from The University of Houston Law Center.

Andrews & Kurth L.L.P. was founded in Houston in 1902 and will have 350 lawyers in offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, London, New York, The Woodlands and Washington, D.C., following the proposed merger with Mayor, Day, Caldwell & Keeton announced in June 2001. The firm's practice areas include bankruptcy, business transactions, energy, environmental, corporate and securities, labor and employment, litigation, intellectual property, public law, project finance, real estate, structured finance, asset securitization, technology and tax law for U.S. and international clients.