Melville electrosurgical company hires counsel

Melville-based electrosurgical maker Bovie Medical Corp. has hired a new general counsel, the company said Monday.

The executive, Leonard Keen, will manage Bovie's legal and strategic affairs. His appointment took effect March 2.

Keen is a registered patent attorney with a specialty in intellectual property and business law. He previously worked as a lawyer in group and solo practice and was a "business executive, entrepreneur and technologist," a Bovie news release said.

Keen's employment agreement with the company includes an option award of 100,000 shares of common stock, exercisable at the March 2 closing price.

"We are pleased that Mr. Keen has joined Bovie at this time. He is multiskilled and will be involved in areas of the company's business development requiring his legal and technical advice," Andrew Makrides, Bovie's president and chief executive, said in the news release.