Andrews & Kurth to Host First Austin Speaking Engagement for Dr. Ted Rappaport -- Wireless Technology Leader

AUSTIN, Texas -- On Monday, April 1, 2002, Andrews & Kurth’s Technology Practice Group is hosting an event that features Dr. Ted Rappaport’s first Austin public speaking engagement. Rappaport, a wireless technology expert from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, will be taking the William and Bettye Nowlin Chair in Engineering at The University of Texas this fall. He is also the is the CEO and chairman of Wireless Valley Communications, Inc. a software company currently based in Blacksburg, Virginia that will be moving to Austin this spring.

Rappaport founded one of the first wireless programs in the country at Virginia Tech more than a decade ago and will begin a similar wireless research program as a part of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering at U.T. “Rappaport’s track record is impressive, having created a consortium of 30 companies to support wireless research while at Virginia Tech. He was recently described as the Michael Jordon of wireless technology and is clearly one of the most important and influential figures in the wireless industry,” says Ed Cavazos, of Andrews & Kurth’s technology practice. “We are pleased to be able to introduce him to the Austin technology business community,” he says.

Andrews & Kurth recently expanded its Austin office in connection with the continued growth of the Firm’s Technology Practice Group. Comprised of more than 30 lawyers, the Group is able to work together with Austin-based technology clients in every aspect of their business – from corporate and securities and labor and employment issues to taxation and intellectual property related matters.

Andrews & Kurth L.L.P., founded in 1902, is based in Houston, has 360 lawyers and offices in Austin, Dallas, Los Angeles, London, New York and Washington D.C. The firm’s practice areas include appellate, 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.