Brobeck's Austin Business & Technology Team Joins Andrews & Kurth

AUSTIN, Texas -- Andrews & Kurth announced today that Carmelo Gordian, Ronald Skloss and Matthew Lyons of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, have joined Andrews & Kurth as partners in its Austin office. In addition, six other members of the Brobeck team have agreed to join Andrews & Kurth as associates and of counsel. "Carmelo, Ronnie and Matt and their team are among the most highly-regarded business and technology lawyers in the region. This addition is a tremendous boost to our Austin office and the entire firm," said managing partner, Howard Ayers.

Having practiced together for over seven years, Gordian, Skloss and Lyons played a key role in developing the vision of establishing a leading technology-based practice in Texas and expanding their former firm's presence not only in Austin and Dallas, but also nationally through their work for such clients as i2 Technologies, Silicon Laboratories, DuPont Photomasks, Goldman Sachs, Austin Ventures, Sevin Rosen Funds and CenterPoint Ventures. "To date, law firms based in Silicon Valley and Boston have been recognized for their leadership in the technology space," said Gordian. "The time has come for a Texas-based firm to establish itself as one of the nation's leaders. We believe that Andrews & Kurth, with its 100 years of history and established reputation as one of the leading firms in Texas and the Southwest, is that firm."

"The addition of key members of the former Brobeck Business and Technology group will enhance Andrews & Kurth's efforts to create, as a subsection of the firm's corporate and securities practice group, a market-leading business and technology group," said new Andrews & Kurth partner and former chair of Brobeck's firm-wide business and technology practice group, Carmelo Gordian. "Our mutual goal is to establish Andrews & Kurth as the premier Texas-based provider of legal services to emerging and established technology companies, venture capitalists and investment banks."

The former Brobeck team joining Andrews & Kurth has extensive experience in corporate finance and securities law, with an emphasis on venture capital, public offerings, and mergers and acquisitions in the technology and emerging growth sectors. "The team of former Brobeck lawyers will join the 22 lawyers now in our Austin office, and their skill sets will greatly enhance the firm's Austin presence," said Rex VanMiddlesworth, managing partner of the Austin office. "These lawyers joining our firm have played a leading role in Austin's emergence as a major technology center and will significantly strengthen our ability to serve not only the Texas clients, as well as the technology and life sciences sectors nationwide."

Key to the decision by Gordian, Skloss and Lyons to join Andrews & Kurth is the firm's capabilities to serve clients on all levels. Andrews & Kurth is a full service law firm with 26 practice areas and a national and international client base. "Andrews & Kurth has begun to establish a strong technology practice led by Technology Partner Ed Cavazos in Austin and a Texas-leading life sciences practice based in The Woodlands chaired by Jeff Harder," said Gordian. "Joining Andrews & Kurth will allow us to provide market-leading client services in all critical areas and effect a seamless transition for our clients as well as provide us with a platform for growth."

Andrews & Kurth L.L.P., founded in 1902, is headquartered in Houston, has approximately 400 lawyers and additional offices in Austin, Dallas, The Woodlands, Los Angeles, London, New York and Washington D.C. The firm has an international clientele and broad industry experience, particularly in the areas of energy, finance, technology, real estate, tax, litigation, labor, health care and many others.