Congress 2024: The UPC and its impact

Audience

All

Programme & Speakers

Wednesday 9th October

• 8:30 - Registration and Refreshments
• 9:15 - Opening by CIPA President

  Speakers

  

  Matt Dixon, CIPA President

  Matt Dixon, CIPA President

  Matt has been a member of CIPA Council for over 15 years. During this time, he has focused particularly on business practice and regulatory issues, especially consulting vigorously with IPREG on the issues of client accounts and anti-money laundering regulation with the ultimate aim of achieving clarity and simplicity for members. He has been a regular speaker to CIPA new entrants on commercial matters. In his own business career, he has been a partner at Dehns in both Munich and London, a director and founder of the London office of IP21 and a partner, London office head and head of the engineering group at HGF. He now has a role of counsel at Cranach, a brand-new patent attorney firm based primarily in Aberdeen.  In 2023, Matt served as the Vice President of CIPA and assumed the role of President in 2024.
• 9:20 - Session 1
• 9:50 - Practical experiences of using the UPC – Insights of users of the UPC in the first year

  Speakers

  

  Tilman Müller-Stoy, Bardehle Pagenberg

  Tilman Müller-Stoy, Bardehle Pagenberg

  Tilman Müller-Stoy, a renowned German patent litigator, secured the first inter partes preliminary injunction under the Unitary Patent for clients 10x Genomics and Harvard, establishing himself as a pioneer in the European Unified Patent Court. With over two decades of IP experience, he’s led hundreds of multinational patent disputes, specialising in high-profile cases across various sectors such as telecommunications, IT, automotive, and life sciences. As a trained commercial mediator, he also guides clients through IP-related alternative dispute resolution processes globally.

  

  Rachel Fetches, HGF

  Rachel Fetches, HGF

  Rachel, an IP/Patent Litigation Partner, specializes in contentious intellectual property matters spanning diverse sectors like life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and telecommunications. With extensive experience in UK Patents Court and High Court litigation, she also leads HGF’s UPC team, strategizing pan-European IP litigation for patents and trademarks.

  

  Jimmy Nicholls, J A Kemp

  Jimmy Nicholls, J A Kemp

  Jimmy, a seasoned European Patent Attorney and Litigator, specializes in biotechnology and life sciences patents globally. With expertise in immunology, genetic engineering, and biosensors, he serves a diverse clientele, including biotech companies and university spin-outs. His background in genetics and protein biochemistry enriches his ability to draft and prosecute patents across multiple jurisdictions, managing extensive patent portfolios with precision.

  

  Chris Thornham, Taylor Wessing

  Chris Thornham, Taylor Wessing

  Chris is an award-winning lawyer specialising in patents and technical disputes. He works with clients across the life sciences, engineering, and telecoms sectors.
  He advises clients on freedom to operate, product launch, patent litigation, and licensing strategies including FRAND licence disputes.
  He’s acted in over 20 English patent trials and appeals, as well as numerous arbitration cases.

  Chris advises on strategy and the coordination of multi-jurisdictional patent advice and litigation. He helps clients win infringement/validity disputes and to navigate through the remedies and relief available including interim and final injunctions, financial compensation claims, destruction of infringing products, modification of products, court declarations, publicity orders and costs awards.
  Chris has a strong background in natural sciences and multi-jurisdictional patent disputes. Before practising law, Chris graduated with a degree in natural sciences, specialising in experimental physics. In his early career, he also gained experience working in Washington DC and California.
  He speaks and writes regularly on patent issues.

  

  Daniel Wise, Carpmaels & Ransford LLP

  Daniel Wise, Carpmaels & Ransford LLP

  Daniel specialises in biologics and pharmaceuticals, focusing on EPO opposition proceedings with extensive experience in both attack and defence, including high-profile cases like AbbVie v. Janssen and Amgen v. Sanofi. He also handles original drafting, prosecution, opinions, and freedom to operate analyses, adeptly navigating pan-European litigation. With a passion for aiding clients in bringing innovative medicines to market, Daniel boasts comprehensive knowledge of supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) and has contributed to key cases at the Court of Justice of the European Union.

• 11:00 - Refreshment break
• 11: 30 - Session 3
• 12:00 - Session 4
• 13:00 - Lunch
• 14:30 - Session 5
• 15: 40 - Session 6
• 16: 10 - Refreshment break
• 16:40 - Session 7
• 17: 10 - Closing Remarks
• 17: 30 - Drinks Reception