The Young EPLAW Congress 2026 last Monday brought together the next generation of European patent litigators in Brussels for an event combining advocacy training, networking and a full day of excellent presentations and panel discussions, covering a wide variety of current topics in patent law.
UPC Mock Trail & Social Event
The congress was preceded by a UPC Mock Trial on Sunday. No fewer than 20 Young EPLAWyers battled each other before two panels, each consisting of three EPLAW Board Members. The Mock Trial is part of EPLAW’s advocacy training.
Sunday evening was filled with a social event giving Young EPLAWyers the chance to connect informally before the main programme.
Monday’s Programme
The Young EPLAW Congress on Monday opened with welcoming remarks from EPLAW President Mark van Gardingen, followed by a debriefing of the mock trial with EPLAW Secretary Philippe Campolini.
Mock trial winners Isabelle Kleinveld and Daniel Borgogni will join the EPLAW Congress in November to receive their well-deserved prize.
The keynote speech ‘Three Years UPC: From Start-Up to Growth Phase‘ was delivered by Samuel Granata, Judge of the UPC Court of First Instance (Brussels Local Division).
The day’s programme featured four panel sessions:
– Interim licenses on the European stage – an update
Lydia Birch, UK – Chair
Patrick Newlands, UK
Sebastian Vautz, DE
Ryan West, UK
Clémence de Marassé-Enouf, FR
– Current Developments before the UPC: consolidation of the UPC’s long-arm jurisdiction and recent guidance of the Court of Appeal on substantive issues
Lars Eggersdorfer, DE – Chair
Nora Sandvik, NO
Silvia Muñoz, ES
Daniel Borgogni, IT
Hannah Elam, UK
Giovanni Trabucco, IT
– Changes expected from the upcoming EU Pharma Package
Johanna Rahnasto, FI – Chair
Jan-Willem Prügel, DE
Maria Giulia De Rosa, IT
Andrea Valdo Mocchi, IT
Diego Ibáñez, ES
Louise Millot, FR
– Preliminary Injunctions in the Pharmaceutical Space
Sophie van Asten, NL – Chair
Laura Coucke, BE
Floris Patijn, NL
Nathan Nadeson, UK
Elena Mannini, IT
Giulia Pasqualetto, IT
Organizing Committee
The EPLAW Board extends special thanks to the organizing committee:
Louis Bidaine, Lydia Birch, Daniel Borgogni, Nora Sandvik, Chiara Centola, Laura Coucke, Martina Dani, Clémence de Marassé-Enouf, Maria Giulia De Rosa, Lars-Oliver Eggersdorfer, Hannah Elam, Diego Ibáñez, Elena Mannini, Louise Millot, Andrea Valdo Mocchi, Anya Murphy, Silvia Muñoz, Nathan Nadeson, Giulia Pasqualetto, Floris Patijn, Chiara Perotti, Jan-Willem Prügel, Johanna Rahnasto, Pauline Springorum, Giovanni Trabucco, Sophie van Asten, Sebastian Vautz, Alexander Walker, and Ryan West.
Save the Date
We look forward to seeing all Young EPLAWyers at the next Young EPLAW Congress. Keep an eye out on the EPLAW website for the Save the Date.
Young EPLAW activities are aimed at (and exclusively open to) lawyers from EPLAW member firms who are on track to become future EPLAW members themselves.
