OUR ATTORNEYS

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Robert B. Rice

Rob is an attorney with significant experience in regulatory compliance, corporate governance, transactional, contract and real estate matters. His practice has included many years of experience handling both contested and uncontested administrative law cases before state and federal agencies in Texas and other states. His background includes extensive in-house experience with two telecommunications companies and a natural gas company where he advised and counseled management in corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, business and commercial law, creditors’ rights and commercial collections; regulatory management and compliance, employment law issues, and real estate and commercial transactions. Rob also has strong skills in drafting sales, service, supply, construction, and technology contracts, Master Service Agreements, employment agreements, leases, Intellectual Property licensing agreements, non-disclosure agreements, company policies and procedures.

Practice Areas

• Administrative Law
• Military Law & Representation
• Business Law & Litigation
• Corporate and Commercial Law
• Contracts & Contact Litigation
• Creditor Rights
• Government Law
• Internet Law & Litigation
• Communications and Cable T.V. Law & Regulation
• Energy Law
• Public Utility Law
• State & Federal Regulatory Issues
• Real Estate & Real Property Litigation
• Condemnation Litigation
• Healthcare Law and Litigation
• Divorce Law
• Elder Law
• Estate Planning
• Family Law
• Military Divorces
• Probate Matters
• Community & Separate Property Litigation
• Representation of High Net Worth Divorce Cases
• Adoption & Termination of Parental Rights
• Grandparent Visitation Rights
• Child Custody Modification & Litigation
• Enforcement Orders
• Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements
• Separation Agreements

Bar Admissions

• Texas 1982
• Vermont 1981 (inactive)
• Massachusetts 1977 (inactive)
• Federal District Courts

Experience

• Windstream Communications, Austin, TX
  Director, Regulatory Counsel, July 2006–October 2008
• Valor Telecommunications, Austin, TX
  Deputy General Counsel and Regulatory Directory, July 2000-July 2006
• Public Agency Representation Section, Office of the Attorney General of Texas, Austin, Texas, December 1998–May 2000
• Public Utility Commission of Texas, Austin, Texas
  Assistant General Counsel, November 1995–November 1998
• Texas Department of Transportation, Austin, Texas
  Legal Supervisor and Assistant Director, December 1993–November 1995
• Law Office of Robert B. Rice, Austin, TX
  Attorney, July 1992-December 1993
• Law Office of Robert A. Webb, Austin, Texas
  Attorney, September 1990-July 1992
• Southern Union Company, Austin, Texas
  Assistant Vice President and General Attorney, September 1981–August 1990
• Vermont Legal Aid, Rutland, Vermont
  Staff Attorney, August 1980-August 1981
• Incumbent Local Exchange Telecom company (ILEC) acquisition of six Internet Service Providers in Texas and Arkansas over period of four years. From due diligence thru all closing documents and regulatory approvals where needed.
• Incumbent Local Exchange Telecom company (ILEC) acquisition of three competitive local exchange carriers (CLEC) and two small ILECs. From due diligence thru definitive sales agreements to closing documents and all regulatory approvals
• Negotiating and drafting Master Service Agreements and sales agreements for telecom services; drafting of contracts for the acquisition or fiber and other telecom infrastructure
• Served as lead counsel for telecom company during an intense and critical investigation that was initiated by the PUC of the company’s service quality. Project included negotiating with the enforcement staff and local officials on allowing time to implement a five-year improvement plan that enhanced telecom infrastructure, saving the company nearly $1M in potential penalties.
• As an Assistant Attorney General in 1999-2000, provided representation to state agencies, hospitals, and universities as consumers of electric, natural gas, and telecommunication services. Assisted in Public Utility Commission rulemakings for the implementation of HB 1777, SB 560, and SB7. Provided advice to client agencies on taking advantage of competition in telecom and electric markets. Advised client agencies on positioning themselves in telecom and electric markets. Handled regulatory and legal updates for client agencies through telecom user meetings. Served as legal counsel on the TEXAN 2000 network, which included long distance and data network for state entities and political subdivisions.

Education

• Franklin Pierce Law Center, Concord, New Hampshire
  Juris Doctor, graduated in the Top 10% of the class
• Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
  B.A., Major in Government

Professional Associations and Other Information

• State Bar of Texas - Administrative & Public Law, Corporate Counsel,
• Public Utility Law and Military Law Sections
• Austin Bar Association – Administrative Law Section
• American Corporate Counsel Association
• U.S. Army Reserve, Colonel, retired February 2007 – final assignment as Chief, International & Operational Law, U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Atlanta, GA.