LAW firm Thomson Snell and Passmore, based in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells, has launched a new department to specialise in electronic commerce and intellectual property.

The new unit is part of the firm's commercial group and employs specialists Peter Radula-Scott, Kamal Aggarwal, Mark Kober-Smith and Henar Dyson.

Mr Radula-Scott said: "Despite the dotcom bubble bursting, we firmly believe that our clients, as with all businesses, will need to look at these crucial areas if they wish to compete and grow in an increasingly technological world."