The Intellectual Property Regulation Board ('IPREG') recently began to issue formal Intellectual Property Litigation Certificates to Chartered Patent Attorneys entered on the UK Register before 31st December 2012.

Judges gavel and block

Attorneys meeting these criteria are entitled to conduct litigation, or act as advocate, before the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court or a County Court, or to appeal from the Intellectual Property Office to the High Court, in the United Kingdom.

Franks & Co attorneys entitled to conduct patent and/or trade mark litigation include:


Dr Robert Franks also holds a Higher Courts Litigation Certificate, under which he has conducted trade mark litigation successfully before the High Court.

Although the Unified Patent Court Agreement has yet to be ratified and enter into force, at least UK-qualified patent practitioners regulated by IPREG and with the relevant rights of audience certified by this new Intellectual Property Litigation Certificate, can look forward to a facilitated registration on the list of entitled representatives, authorised to represent before the Unified Patent Court.


Article Published October 5th, 2017