EIP, the international high-value patents firm, has announced changes to its leadership. From 1 April 2023 current Head of EIP Litigation, Gary Moss, will move to become Chairman of EIP. Litigation partners Andrew Sharples and Robert Lundie Smithwill become co-heads of the UK Litigation team. Gary, a leading IP lawyer with over 30 years’ experience, joined EIP in 2011 to establish its Litigation practice. Over the past 12 years he has established EIP’s reputation for complex patent litigation. Moss and his team have built EIP’s Litigation practice to a market leading position with recognition in legal directories and awards. In 2022, the team won Managing IP European Patent Contentious (Patent & Trademark Attorney Firms) firm of the year for the first time following its recognition as UK Patent Contentious (PATMA) firm of the year for four years in a row from 2018 to 2021. The Litigation team’s reputation was cemented by its landmark victory in the Supreme Court in 2020 for its clients Unwired Planet and Conversant Wireless, which has had significant implications worldwide for licensing of intellectual property in the area of telecoms. The success of the team has been built upon the collaboration of litigators and patent attorneys so as to ensure that the cases which the firm handles received first rate input both legally and technically. Moss’s move to Chairman is a natural progression in the growth of the firm which will see him help guide EIP through its next phase of development while continuing to be involved in case strategy and high-level case work for clients. A key aspect of his role as Chairman will be working on strategic matters for EIP as well as talent development for the firm’s next generation of leaders. EIP CEO Magnus Hallin comments: "These changes mark a natural evolution for EIP with Andrew and Robert ably supported by the rest of the Litigation team continuing to build on their existing reputation. I am delighted Gary has agreed to become EIP’s Chairman and bring his vast experience to benefit the wider firm while still being on hand to give advice and support to the Litigation team and key clients as required. I believe this is a really positive development in EIP’s continued growth and ethos of developing in-house talent.” Sharples and Lundie Smith, supported by fellow UK Litigation partners Kathleen Fox Murphy and Tom Brazier, will continue to manage client relationships and lead the team on day-to day management and development. They have already worked with EIP’s key Litigation clients and will work closely with Moss and clients to ensure continuity of service. As well as having a long-standing working relationship, Sharples and Lundie Smith have been with EIP since the foundation of the Litigation group, working closely with Moss to develop this practice. Sharples and Moss have worked together for 15 years, initially at McDermott Will & Emery before moving to EIP and building the Litigation team. Lundie Smith has worked with Sharples and Moss for over 12 years having all worked together at McDermott Will & Emery before Lundie Smith joined them at EIP in 2012. Kathleen Fox Murphy previously worked with Moss when they were both at Taylor Wessing, while Tom Brazier joined EIP in 2018 from a Magic Circle firm. Sharples is a dual-qualified solicitor and patent attorney who specialises in life sciences and is an expert on the complexities of FRAND. He was one of the leads on the Supreme Court success for Unwired Planet and Conversant Wireless which dealt with the issue of FRAND in the context of Standard-Essential Patents (SEPs) in the telecommunications sector and is recognised for his patent expertise with rankings in IAM Patent 1000, IP Stars, JUVE Patent UK, and Legal 500. Lundie Smith is a solicitor and has been a partner at EIP since 2014. He has taken the lead in many of EIP’s technical trials including as a part of enforcement actions against Apple, Huawei, and ZTE. Robert is recognised for his patent expertise with rankings in IAM Patent 1000, IP Stars, and Legal 500. Gary Moss said: "I am thrilled that EIP has asked me to take on the role of Chairman and really excited at what this role will involve. EIP is a very different firm from the one I joined in 2011 – it is now present in four countries and has nearly 200 employees. Helping to guide the firm going forward is a challenge I am greatly looking forward to. I am confident that with the quality of people we have right across EIP we will continue to be a real force in the field of patents. I look forward to being part of that.”