UPC appoints a further 21 technically qualified judges
Court announces new appointments several months following initial tranche of new TQJs | Judges will take up part-time and full-time positions and mostly represent Germany, the Netherlands and France.
The Unified Patent Court (UPC) has today announced 21 new technically qualified judges (TQJs) following an extensive recruitment process during spring of this year.
The court confirmed its plan to make judicial appointments last October, when it revealed that 85 judges would be recruited, and would begin duties upon the entry into force of the UPC Agreement.
In all, the earlier announced judges comprised 34 legally qualified and 51 technically qualified judges. They are led by Germany’s Klaus Grabinski, as President of the Court of Appeal; and Florence Butin from France, as President of the Court of First Instance.
Appointment of the new TQJs, effective between July 17 and October 9 this year, follows the decision taken by the UPC Administrative Committee on June 2, 2023.
These new TQJs (detailed below) are in addition to the 51 TQJs announced last October. Three TQJs resigned prior to 31 May 2023 (Roman Maksymiw, DE; Grégoire Desrousseaux, FR; and Kirsikka Etuaho, FI.
Further appointments of TQJs as well as legally qualified judges are expected to take place later this year, to reinforce the court’s capacity, according to the UPC. TQJ candidates will be contacted for interviews in the next few weeks.
The opening of the UPC was originally planned to be April 1, but this was postponed to June 1 after delays and teething problems.
The court and its Unitary Patent creates a single patent jurisdiction in the European market, providing an additional forum for enforcing patents or establishing freedom to operate across EU member states.
Affecting all businesses with operations in Europe, the new court represents a major change to the IP landscape both in Europe and the rest of the world.
Technically qualified judges: list
The majority of the new judges began their roles in July. Along with their region and technical specialism, the new TQJs are (in order of date of appointment):
July 17
Gabriele Alt (DE)—chemistry and pharmaceutics; biotechnology
Graham Ashley (DE/UK)—mechanical engineering
Xavier Dorland-Galliot (FR)—chemistry and pharmaceutics; biotechnology
Guillaume Faget (FR)—electricity and physics
Andreas Gustafsson (SE)—chemistry and pharmaceutics; biotechnology
Anna Hedberg (SE)—chemistry and pharmaceutics; biotechnology
Merja Annikki Heikkinen-Keinänen (FI)—mechanical engineering
Klaus Loibner (AT)—electricity and physics
Kerstin Roselinger (SE)—mechanical engineering
Wiem Samoud (FR)—electricity and physics
Anthony Soledade (FR)—electricity and physics
Marc van der Burg (NL)—mechanical engineering
August 1
Nicolai Geier (DE)—mechanical engineering; physics
Hergen Kapels (DE)—electricity and physics
Beate Schenk (DE)—mechanical engineering
Jürgen Tischler (DE)—electricity and physics
August 7
Jeroen Meewisse (NL)—chemistry and pharmaceutics; mechanical engineering
August 16
Stefanie Philipps (DE)—chemistry and pharmaceutics
September 1
Udo Matter (DE)—electricity and physics
October 1
Alessandra Sani (IT/DE)—electricity and physics
October 9
Erwin Wismeth (DE)—chemistry and pharmaceutics; physics
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