In 2010 Gevers acquired the leading patent firm Bird Goën & Co. The two firms will continue to run independently with some synergies in human resources and IT. The acquisition means Gevers now has a huge share of the patent and trade mark prosecution market in the Benelux region. Arien Goën and William Bird joined Gevers as partners of the group. Gevers is run by CEO Dominique Hubarb. Also notable are partner in patents Marie-José Luys and trade mark partner Lidy-Anne Jeswiet. The firm will also count 200 staff across its offices this year, which includes a large team in France. In 2010 the firm hired six associates from a range of industry and legal backgrounds including BAE systems, Exxon, Google and Simont Braun. Last year the firm also launched an initiative to counteract the falling fees of trade mark filings with online service Valipat.