GovPerryGov. Rick Perry today appointed Caren Burbach of Austin as general counsel for the Office of the Governor effective Jan. 11, 2010.

Burbach is an attorney responsible for special projects with the University of Texas System Office of General Counsel, specializing in intellectual property matters and business law. She is former president, vice president of business affairs, general counsel and secretary for XTRA On-Line Corp., a technology development and marketing company.

She also held several positions at AMADEUS Global Distribution System LLC, a leading technology provider to the travel and tourism industries, where she worked from 1987-1998, including vice president, general counsel and secretary. Burbach is also a Red Cross volunteer case worker, co-founder and past member of the Greater Houston Harvest Board of Directors, and a member of Leadership Houston Class XI. She was selected by the Houston Post and Texas Executive Women as one of 10 Women on the Move, and received the Channel 11 KHOU Spirit of Texas Award. 

Burbach received a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and a law degree from Baylor University School of Law. She is married to Ed Burbach, a partner with Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP. They have two children, Caroline, 13, and Beau, 10.

Burbach replaces David Cabrales as general counsel.