EIP has announced two new hires, strengthening its patent prosecution and patent searching capabilities.
Tawnya Ferbiak Somauroo is a Registered U.S. Patent Attorney and joins the London office as associate where she will specialise in software, telecoms and mechanical devices. She joins from a specialist IP Law firm in Colorado, U.S. (Ollila Law Group). Before entering the legal profession, Tawnya worked for eight years as an aerospace engineer for the University of Colorado at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), where she developed flight software for five NASA space missions.
Shubhra Padiyar joins the EIP Search team as patent searcher and is based in London. She joins having spent three years working in the intellectual property departments of two leading knowledge outsourcing companies – Unitedlex and Evalueserve. Shubhra is a patent searching specialist focusing on validity, infringement and freedom to operate searches, portfolio analysis, landscape studies, patentability searches, assignee monitoring and citation analysis.
Partner Jerome Spaargaren commented: “I am delighted to announce more hires this year following our two new team members that joined in January. Both Tawnya and Shubhra bring considerable experience and will further strengthen the capabilities of our patent prosecution and patent searching teams.”
EIP has once again been ranked as one of the leading intellectual property firms by the Chambers & Partners 2015 guide.
Chambers said EIP was “A dynamic and expanding practice… particularly celebrated for electronics, telecoms and complex litigation support.”
Partners Jerome Spaargaren and Heather McCann received individual recommendations for the fourth and fifth years running, respectively. Gary Moss, head of EIP Legal, was mentioned as a notable practitioner for the third year in a row.
The Chambers & Partners rankings are based upon market research and feedback received from clients. To read what the researchers said about EIP, click here.
EIP has retained its Tier 1 ranking in the Legal 500.
The 2014 edition of the highly-respected guide places EIP among the top 10 firms of patent attorneys in the UK, and the number one firm in Bath, Cardiff and Leeds.
Researchers described EIP as “second-to-none” and singled out four individuals – Jerome Spaargaren, Heather McCann, Adam Flint, and Darren Smyth - as highly recommended.
To see the researcher’s comments about EIP, click here.
EIP has moved into a new office in Bath to accomodate further planned expansion in the city.
EIP relocated to new premises at Westpoint, in James Street West. The move follows a period of rapid growth and success for the firm internationally, as well as in Bath. The firm’s workforce in Bath numbers 12, having almost doubled in the last 12 months.
The move represents yet another major development for EIP, which opened its first office in Bath, in Circus Mews, in 2007. The Westpoint base has more than twice the capacity previously available in Circus Mews and allows the firm to continue its recruitment programme in Bath.
This year has been hugely successful for EIP. The firm received a Top Tier ranking in the 2013 edition of the highly respected Legal 500 guide, and won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. In May EIP became the first UK Intellectual Property Law firm to open a US law office when it opened a base in San Diego, California. Its sixth office, in Düsseldorf, Germany, will open this month, where the focus will be on IP litigation services.
Partner Matt Lawman said: “Moving to Westpoint is another exciting development for EIP. We had outgrown our previous office in Bath and the new premises will allow us to continue to grow by recruiting the best candidates. In the last year two trainee attorneys have joined from local universities, and two support staff started earlier this month. We benefit hugely from the talent located here in Bath and across the South West, and this move reinforces our commitment to the area.“
EIP has announced the appointment of John Williams to the role of Chief Executive Officer.
John will take on overall responsibility for EIP’s day to day operations, reporting to the executive board.
John has held the position of Non-Executive Director since 2009. During the last four years EIP has changed its structure from a Limited Company to a Limited Liability Partnership, has more than doubled in size in terms of personnel, opened its third and fourth UK offices in Cardiff and Leeds, and now operates in multiple jurisdictions, having opened an office in the US in May 2013. EIP is set to open an office in Düsseldorf, Germany, in December 2013, which will focus on patent litigation and will mean EIP has offices in the three most important jurisdictions in the world for patent litigation.
Partner Jerome Spaargaren said: “The firm’s continued growth constantly presents new and exciting challenges. Greater size and reach brings with it ever increasing management issues. The partners are delighted that John agreed to take on this new role as Chief Executive Officer. John has played a significant part in the growth and success of EIP over the last few years and he will play an even greater role in its development.”
CEO John Williams said: “I am very pleased to take on this role. EIP is a great firm and I look forward to working with the partners and managers to sustain the excellent progress made over the last few years.”