Alan W. Harris Joins PMRW's Dallas Office.

Business Editors/Legal Writers

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 13, 2001

Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe LLP today announced that Alan Harris, formerly a senior partner at Andrews & Kurth L.L.P., is joining its Dallas office as a partner.

Mr. Harris (age 46), who headed Andrews & Kurth's litigation practice in Dallas, has significant litigation experience and has handled several major business and class action suits including, among others, contract disputes, U.C.C., insurance, fraud and business tort claims, oil and gas and computer hardware and software matters.

He will be accompanied by Jules Angelley, a senior litigation associate. Ms. Angelley received both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas, Austin, in 1991 and 1995, respectively.

Mr. Harris commented, "I am delighted to be joining PMRW. I was drawn by the quality of the lawyers in the Dallas office, both as lawyers and as people, and also by the tremendous opportunities for professional growth in a national firm of this stature." Thom Bloodworth, managing partner of PMRW's Dallas office, said of Harris, "We are excited to welcome Alan to the team. His expertise will add significant strength to the firm's litigation practice."

Mr. Bloodworth also noted that Harris' move is simply the latest in the office's steady growth. "I expect this process to continue and strengthen over the next five years. As the only Texas office of a national firm, we are committed to a significant presence in this important sector of the country's economy."

He estimates that within the next five years, there will be upwards of five times the current total, which, including Harris and Angelley, is sixteen.

Mr. Harris received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1980 and his B.A. in 1977 from Colorado College.

PMRW is a business law firm of over 800 lawyers with offices in Chicago, Washington, Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, Tampa, Reston, and Los Angeles. The firm's practice is focused on:

-- Business and Technology, including communications, intellectual property,
information technology, e-commerce, life sciences, corporate and securities,
IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, and other major transactions for companies of
all sizes.

-- One of the largest Real Estate practices in the U.S., covering every aspect
of industrial, commercial and residential property transactions, finance and
securities.

-- Litigation, including a white collar group led by a former Watergate
prosecutor, and national products liability, securities litigation, and
government regulatory practices.

-- A leading Franchise and Distribution practice, with particular emphasis on
international franchise and distribution as well as franchise litigation.

For more information, please visit our web site at www.piperrudnick.com