Red Hot Law Group and Long Aldridge & NormanAnnounce Strategic Fusion.

Business Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 2000

Technology Companies Now Have Access to Business and Legal Counsel

Better Suited To Their Needs Than Ever Before

Three leading technology organizations, Red Hot Law Group and Long Aldridge & Norman, together with Red Hot Technology Accelerator, today announced a new strategic relationship, or fusion, that melds the strengths of each for the benefit of their collective clients.

The fusion of the three firms delivers the appropriate business and legal counsel to clients at every stage of their development, from technology start-ups to large, established companies.

The services and expertise that the firms collectively provide will help technology clients commercialize and enhance the value of their intellectual property, successfully reach key milestones in their growth, and ultimately increase the value of their companies.

"This fusion marks the first such strategic relationship on the East Coast, though this model of cooperation is long established in Silicon Valley," said Alan McKeon, chief firestarter of Red Hot Technology Accelerator. "As a blending of 'cultural DNA' from three top firms expert in serving technology clients, we are creating the ideal single-source advisor for legal, business and strategic counsel."

"We are delighted that with this strategic fusion, technology clients now have truly the best of both worlds," said Evelyn Ashley, founder and managing partner of Red Hot Law Group. "We combine the agility and focus of a small firm with the breadth of offerings and resources of a large firm, plus the real-world business experience of a technology accelerator. That means our clients receive the business and legal counsel that is exactly appropriate for them."

Jeff Haidet, president of Long Aldridge & Norman, added, "The fusion means that clients of all three firms now have access to our combined network of relationships, the most extensive on the East Coast."

In addition to sharing expertise and services with Red Hot Law Group and Red Hot Technology Accelerator, Long Aldridge & Norman has made a substantial investment in Red Hot Technology Accelerator, solidifying its commitment to emerging growth companies.

While each firm will maintain its independence as separate legal entities, clients of each firm will have access to the specialized knowledge, expertise and resources of the other firms. Red Hot Law Group provides legal and business counsel to high-growth technology companies--from start-up to IPO. Long Aldridge & Norman offers expertise on mergers and acquisitions, public finance, securities, strategic partnering, key employee compensation and other areas of law critical to established companies. Red Hot Technology Accelerator identifies and guides selected start-ups through the process of reaching critical early milestones and prepares them to obtain venture financing or strategic partnerships. Together, the three firms provide clients the breadth of a legal generalist, the depth of the appropriate specialist for each specific task, and the perspective of seasoned business advisors.

For further information, visit Red Hot Law Group at www.redhotlaw.com and Long, Aldridge & Norman at www.lanlaw.com.

About Red Hot Law Group

Founded by Evelyn Ashley in March 1998, Red Hot Law Group of Ashley LLC is the boutique law firm of choice to the brightest stars in information technology, providing pragmatic legal and general business counseling to technology businesses in various stages of development, growth, and operation.

About Red Hot Technology Accelerator

Red Hot Technology Accelerator LLC was established in January 1999 and has developed a proprietary program to provide technology businesses with business strategy and mentoring assistance (as well as physical space for certain companies) to accelerate sound business ideas to the next fundable milestone. The Accelerator is designed to identify and promote companies that have a high probability of success in the quickest time. To date, Red Hot Technology Accelerator has successfully "graduated" three companies from its program and has greatly expanded its scope through the addition of an outstanding group of experienced business mentors.

About Long Aldridge & Norman

Based in Atlanta, Long Aldridge & Norman is an entrepreneurial, first-generation law firm dedicated to providing effective and efficient services for its clients. With 170 lawyers in its Atlanta and Washington offices, Long Aldridge & Norman is an established presence predicated upon fashioning creative, common sense solutions to the needs of its business clients.