UK firm EIP has created a new group called EIP Elements with the hire of attorney Darren Smyth from Marks & Clerk.
The new group will focus on the prosecution of chemical patents and Smyth, who specialises in chemistry, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients, will lead the team and become the firm's twelfth partner.
This move follows the October 2011 launch of the firm's litigation practice EIP Legal, which is headed up by another recent hire in Gary Moss. Most of EIP's work remains prosecution-related.
Founded in 2000, EIP has offices in London, Bath, Leeds and Cardiff.