A closer look at how the Unified Patent Court and the UK patent courts influence global patent litigation strategies
IP event hosted by JUVE PATENT and BARDEHLE PAGENBERG
This informal IP networking event is aimed exclusively at in-house IP counsel who deal with patent litigation across a wide range of industries. It will feature leading voices from industry, the bar, and policy, and will serve as an opportunity to evaluate new strategies, learn from the experiences of your peers, and discuss how the relationship between the UPC and the UK is evolving.
Date & Time
Monday, May 04, 2026, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. (BST),
followed by drinks and finger food on the terrace – with panoramic views of
Parliament Square, Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben.
The live streaming of the event will start at 2 p.m.
Location
Surveyors House at RICS Westminster,
12 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AD, United Kingdom
Format
Hybrid (in-person attendance plus video stream to allow international participation)
Three years into the Unified Patent Court, the system has firmly established itself in the global patent litigation landscape. At the same time, the UK remains one of the world’s most influential patent jurisdictions. The interaction between these two systems – their synergies, friction points, and strategic opportunities – is shaping how global companies approach patent enforcement and defence in Europe and beyond.
The event opens with a keynote by Tom Mitcheson KC (Three New Square Intellectual Property, London) on “The UPC from the UK perspective”, setting the stage for the discussions that follow.
The first panel explores the competitive dynamics between the UPC and UK courts:
- Judicial competition: is there a forum non conveniens?
- Impact of long-arm jurisdiction (BSH vs. Electrolux) on both sides of the channel
- Global rate setting: judicial imperialism or pragmatism reflecting industry needs?
- Interim license injunctions and counter-measures: safeguarding fair trial or denying access to justice?
The second panel takes a closer comparative look at the two systems:
- Key commonalities and differences between UPC and UK patent litigation
- Revocation statistics and timelines
- Hybrid litigation strategies (offensive and defensive)
A special highlight of this year’s event is a contribution by Kathi Vidal, Immediate Past Director of the USPTO, offering a US perspective on patent litigation in Europe.
Learn from the experiences of senior in-house counsel, licensing leaders and litigation experts who are navigating these systems daily. Whether your company is a patentee, a defendant, or both – this event offers actionable insights for shaping your European and global litigation strategy.
Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to discuss with journalists from JUVE PATENT, industry representatives, and lawyers/patent attorneys from the leading IP boutique BARDEHLE PAGENBERG how in-house experts can leverage the interplay between the UPC and UK courts.
After the programme (from 6 p.m.), we would be delighted to continue our exchange over drinks and fingerfood at the reception.
Please note that the registration deadline for attending in person is April 19, 2026.
We look forward to meeting you in person or online!
