ATLANTA (August 9, 2004) — Vinson & Elkins is proud to announce that one of its partners, William L. LaFuze in Houston, is the new chair of the American Bar Association's Section of Intellectual Property Law.

Bill LaFuze, who was elected by his peers last year to lead the 20,000 member IP Section, was sworn in August 7 as chair. He will serve a one year term.

"I am excited at leading the world’s largest association of intellectual property lawyers in shaping intellectual property policy, rules, statutes, and case law, in Congress, and in the courts, during the coming year," says LaFuze. "This is a particularly challenging and important time for the patent system. The National Academy of Science ("NAS") has completed a four year study of the U. S. patent system and has proposed comprehensive and sweeping substantive changes to U.S. patent law. The IPL section will analyze the many changes proposed by NAS and work with Congress to implement those changes which are deemed by IPL to improve the patent system"

A 1973 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, LaFuze has been a lawyer at V&E; for 31 years and a partner since 1980. He also has a master's degree in Applied Science (Systems Engineering) from Southern Methodist University. He specializes in electronics, oilfield equipment and computer-related litigation, representing companies in patent infringement and trade secret litigation. He also has represented software developers, original equipment manufacturers, value-added resellers, and financial institutions in counseling, contract preparation, and litigation involving the purchase and sale of computer software and hardware.

LaFuze is currently a member of the Patent Public Advisory Committee of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, to which he was appointed by Secretary of Commerce Don Evans. He is also past president of the American Intellectual Property Law Association. A complete biography on LaFuze can be found at http://www.velaw.com.

"Bill is clearly one of the best intellectual property lawyers in America," says Vinson & Elkins Managing Partner Joseph C. Dilg. "It's an honor to Bill and to V&E; that Bill's colleagues have chosen him to lead their profession during the upcoming year."

For more information, feel free to contact Bill LaFuze at (713) 758-2595 or via email at blafuze@velaw.com. You may also contact Darrin Schlegel, V&E;'s Media Specialist in Houston, at (713) 758-2171 or via email at dschlegel@velaw.com.