Right now, the firm is taking only 3,000 sf, but that is expected to grow as its high-tech client roster beefs up, Dennis Cassell, a Haynes and Boone partner, tells GlobeSt.com. "It's a small office," he says, "but we're just getting started. It's our first step out into the 'Technology Corridor.'"

The law firm is hoping that the operation will take off like its Richardson high-tech office, which has just signed for 30,000 sf in a new 150,000-sf office structure being built in the Telecom Corridor. "We would expect, based on Richardson, that it will be something that grows fairly quickly," he predicts. "We believe the market's here and we ought to be able to take advantage of that market."

Cassell says more attorneys will be added at the Reserve at Bull Creek office, 7501 Capital off Texas Highway, once the staff fully settles into the new quarters. The office presently has six attorneys skilled in a full range of high-tech legal services such as intellectual property, venture capital funding, initial public offerings, mergers, acquisitions and domestic and international strategic alliances.

Haynes and Boone will maintain its presence Downtown at One American Center, which is conveniently located to court houses and the capital complex. "We see no slowdown in other areas of our practice, including trial, administrative-law, environmental and general corporate and finance work," says Wade Porter, administrative partner in Haynes and Boone's Austin office. "Having the best of both worlds makes it more convenient for our clients and more effective for us."

The Loop 360 office's interior will mirror the laid-back approach--from interior design to dress--that has practically become a trademark for the high-tech industry. Designed by Austin-based House Reh Burwell Architects, the colorful, functional interior will feature open-office workstations with laptops and two conference rooms to appeal to the 20-something high-tech entrepreneur. Architect John Knowles says this is the first project he's worked on in which attorneys have wanted to mimic their clients' offices. The objective, explains Cassell, is to create an environment that is "less formal, less intimidating... in which we can roll up our sleeves and get things done."

Haynes and Boone has had an Austin office since 1987 and now boasts an attorney roster of about 40 to service clients in the state capital. The firm's Austin clients include Dell Computer, Trilogy Software, pcOrder.com, ClearCommerce, 3M, Xetel, Origin, National Instruments and Silicon Laboratories. Haynes and Boone employs more than 400 attorneys in its offices, also located in Ft. Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Washington, DC and Mexico City.

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