(L-R) Todd Patterson, John Barr and Jay Yates of Patterson + Sheridan

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.

Patterson said adding skilled trial lawyers not only helps the firm's litigation practice, but gives associates more opportunities to assist in the courtroom.

“This commitment is one that should demonstrate to clients and potential future clients that we aren't just a 'prep-and-pros shop,'” Patterson said.

Barr said he's practiced at large firms for about 25 years—he was at Bracewell before he joined King & Spalding in 2015—and eventually decided he wanted to do something more entrepreneurial.

“It was my age more than anything. I hit 50 and started thinking, 'Well, where do we go from here?'” said Barr, who joined Patterson + Sheridan on Aug. 13.

Barr said he was initially thinking of leaving the large firm world for a trial boutique, and approached Patterson about potentially working together if he needed technical support. But after talking for a while, Patterson suggested that Barr consider joining Patterson + Sheridan, because the smaller firm was looking to beef up its trial expertise.

“The firm offers a deep technology bench, which I need to support my IP practice, and the firm has really good business lawyers,” Barr said.

He declined to identify any clients, but said all of his long-standing clients moved with him.

Yates said he left Hogan Lovells, which he joined in 2016, in part because he was running into conflicts issues that he does not anticipate at the 77-lawyer Patterson + Sheridan.

“I'm moving from a huge firm with a small IP presence to a small firm with a huge IP presence,” Yates said.

Yates, who has known Patterson from childhood because they both grew up in the Richmond area near Houston, said he also knew a number of other lawyers at Patterson + Sheridan before he officially joined the boutique on Aug. 1.

In fact, he also has known Barr for a long time, because they both previously worked at Bracewell. Yates said he has brought clients with him to his new firm, including longstanding client Baker Hughes, an oilfield services giant that merged with General Electric Co.'s oil and gas business last year.

When asked for comment about the departures of Yates and Barr, Hogan Lovells and King & Spalding thanked each of their former partners for their service to the firm and wished them well in their future endeavors.

In addition to adding more trial lawyers, Patterson said his firm is also focused on adding lawyers to its new San Diego office, which opened in late 2017. With two offices in California, Patterson + Sheridan has received national media attention for its practice of flying its lawyers from Houston to California each month on a private plane due to cost-effectiveness.