UK patent litigation firm opens Dublin office to cater for UPC work
The move by the respected UK firm “consolidates the firm’s role” in the Unified Patent Court | All 14 partners admitted to practise in Ireland.
UK litigation firm Powell Gilbert has announced the launch of a new office in Dublin to support the firm’s work in advising and representing clients before the Unified Patent Court (UPC).
The firm will operate in Ireland as Powell Gilbert (Europe) LLP, with each of the firm’s 14 partners admitted to practice in Ireland. Lawyers authorised to practice in Ireland will be able to represent clients in the UPC, which officially opens today, June 1.
Lawyers from the UK can also represent clients for one year during the transitional period, so long as they have qualifications from a UPC-approved list.
Penny Gilbert, partner at Powell Gilbert, said the Ireland office was the “next logical step” in the firm’s strategy to deliver complex international litigation for clients.
“It enables us to combine our extensive patent litigation and European co-ordination expertise, technical strength and depth of knowledge with the support of local counsel to create the optimal teams for our clients’ European litigation strategies, both within the UPC and across non-UPC countries,” said Gilbert.
“It has always been our intention to participate fully in the UPC, which we believe is of enormous strategic importance to clients.”
The UPC Agreement was signed in February 2013 by 25 EU member states, including the Republic of Ireland. The newly launched UPC creates a single patent jurisdiction across a significant portion of the European market.
An initial 17 EU member states are initially participating, with a further seven countries still to ratify. The Irish Government has confirmed its intention to participate in the UPC and Unitary Patent system and will hold a referendum to ratify the UPC Agreement later this year or in 2024.
“We are looking forward to handling UPC litigation from our Dublin office when the courtrooms open their doors,” said Powell Gilbert partner, Alex Wilson.
“This comes after years of our active involvement in the development of the system—inputting into the rules of the court and advocates’ code of conduct and the training of judges through EPLAW.”
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