EPLAW was formed in 2001 as a non-profit making Association of experienced patent lawyers in the European community with the aim of promoting the equitable and efficacious handling of patent disputes across Europe.
Strengthening links between patent lawyers in Europe
Committed to promoting legal excellence in patent matters
Fostering collaboration and upholding intellectual property rights. Join our vibrant community advancing innovation and patent protection.
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.
Aims and Objectives
EPLAW has actively assisted in the development of proposals for a new pan-European patent court system, and members have been involved in preparing the draft Rules of Procedure for the Unified Patents Court (UPC).
Our history
On 10 March 2000, 20 lawyers from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom, invited by Pierre Véron, convened in his Paris office, at that time at Square de l’Opéra. Shortly thereafter they decided to create an association so that their voices could be better heard. After some debate , they decided to take the name “European Patent Lawyers Association” (EPLA); the articles of incorporation were executed on 23 July 2001.
Constitution
EPLAW’s ‘statutes’ (Articles of Association) are in French because we are an association under Belgian law (which also would have allowed them to be in Dutch), but are downloadable below together with an English translation. Our Statutes were drafted in 2001 when the Association was created, and were last amended in 2017.
Structure and Board
In practice there are at least three large meetings organized by EPLAW every year: a Young EPLAW meeting in Brussels in April, the Venice Judges’ Forum in Venice in October, and the General Assembly in Brussels in November/December. The Board meets about five times per year in various locations.
EPLAW Patent Blog
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