Patterson + Sheridan, an intellectual property boutique based in Houston, has beefed up its litigation prowess by hiring two former Big Law litigators in John Barr Jr., who has come aboard from King & Spalding‘s local office, and Jay Yates, hired from Hogan Lovells in Houston.

Todd Patterson, a founder of Patterson + Sheridan, said the lateral hires will help his firm expand its trial strength and add capabilities beyond IP litigation. Yates has concentrated on IP litigation and patent prosecution for a variety of industries, but Barr, in addition to patent litigation, handles business and energy litigation.