"The real estate economy has become linked to the boomingtechnology sector in the Mid-Atlantic area," says Joe Conroy,partner-in charge of the Reston office. "With the convergence oftelecommunications and the Internet has come the advent of a newbreed of real estate transactions requiring lawyers who understandthe business of technology."

One new hire agrees. "Cooley Codward's high-tech, dotcom,emerging growth and telecom clients need help with goodold-fashioned bricks and mortar," says Calabrese. "They need officespace, data centers, fiber-optic lines and roof tops for telecomfacilites Every one of these issues has innumerable real estateconsequences and legal implications."

People familiar with the real estate industry don't see the moveaffecting how transactions are done, but it is possible that theremay be more changes about who does the deals. One recruiter saidother technology firms that have been moving into Northern Virginiacould pursue real estate lawyers.