By joining EPLAW as an organisational member, you will become part of a dedicated organisation, working to ensure that the UK has world-leading research and education, skilled scientists and engineers, and innovative businesses.
Join EPLAW
Members are lawyers admitted to a bar or similar law society in a country in the European Economic Area (and also including Switzerland) and must have substantial experience in the conduct of patent litigation cases to trial.
Benefits of joining us
Networking Opportunities
EPLAW provides a platform for patent attorneys and lawyers to network and interact with peers and experts in the field.
Continuing Professional Development
EPLAW often organizes seminars, workshops, and conferences on various aspects of European patent law. These events offer members the chance to stay updated with the latest developments, case law, and changes in patent regulations.
Legal Updates and Publications
Members of EPLAW receive access to exclusive legal updates, newsletters, and publications on European patent law. This helps them stay informed about the latest trends and developments in the field.
Advocacy and Representation
EPLAW actively advocates for the interests of patent attorneys and lawyers in Europe. As a member, you can have a collective voice in influencing policy decisions and changes in patent law.
Training and Education
EPLAW offers specialised training and educational resources to its members and judges, enhancing their expertise and skills in patent law practice.
Access to Resources
Members may gain access to an extensive library of resources related to European patent law, including case studies, precedents, and legal opinions.
Guidelines for membership
Guidelines regarding membership applications further to Article 7, second paragraph, of the EPLAW Statutes
1. The applicant for membership must be an advocate, solicitor or barrister, member of a bar association or law society;
2. He or she must have significant experience in patent litigation in his/her jurisdiction which experience, next to assisting senior lawyers in litigation, should include conducting a substantial number of patent cases (be it regarding issues of infringement, validity, and/or entitlement) during the five years preceding the application;
whereby a patent case will count as such if it regards one patent, but can count for more if it regards more patents; and
whereby what will be a substantial number may vary from one jurisdiction to another, depending on the volume of patent cases and the number of patent lawyers in that jurisdiction (under circumstances the threshold may be set at less than five or more than fifteen patent cases); and
whereby the applicant shall provide an account of each of the relevant patent cases, mentioning – unless this would violate rules of professional or contractual confidentiality – the numbers of the patent(s) in suit, the court instance and location, the names of the parties, the types of issues in some detail, the dates marking the beginning and the end of the pendency of the case, and details about his or her personal involvement in each of the cases.
3. The applicant shall also provide the Board with the names and contact details of two reference members who, based on their own contacts and direct work experience with the applicant, will support his/her application. The reference members shall not be from the same firm or group of firms (national or international) as the applicant. A least one of the reference members, and preferably both, shall be from the same jurisdiction as the applicant.
4. The applicant will ask the reference members to confirm to the Board their support of the applicant adding reasonable details. Upon receipt of the reference letters the Board will evaluate the application and let the applicant know whether his/her application is accepted.
