Professor Sir Robin Jacob presides over the European Patent Judges’ Meeting

Professor Sir Robin Jacob, Sir Hugh Laddie Professor of Intellectual Property Law at UCL Laws and Director of the Institute of Brand and Innovation presided over the annual European Judges’ Forum in Venice, organised jointly by the European Patent Office (EPO), European Patent Law Association (EPLAW), and the IP Judges' Association (IPJA) which took place on 17th and 18th October 2025. The Forum is a high-level conference for Europe’s most experienced patent judges, as well as EPO Board Members and senior patent lawyers. 

The meeting provides the opportunity for discussion the most recent developments in European patent law and practice, with the aim of furthering harmonisation. This year, the programme featured in-depth discussions on several topics, including the progress of the PMAC, the latest developments in FRAND litigation and the legal implications of second medical use claims and Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs). 

Professor Jacob has been President of the IPJA since 2016, despite being a retired judge. For more information about the event, see: here.

Guests at the European Judges Forum 2025 (from left to right): Alexander Ramsay (Registrar, UPC), Florence Butin (President of the Court of First Instance, UPC), António Campinos (President, EPO), Klaus Grabinski (Court of Appeal President, UPC), Margot Fröhlinger (Special Advisor to the EPO President), Giovanni Galimberti (President, EPLAW), Rian Kalden (Presiding Judge of the Court of Appeal second panel, UPC), Tilman Quarch (Senior Advisor to the President, EPO), Professor Sir Robin Jacob (President, IPJA), Ingo Beckedorf (Chair of the Legal Board of Appeal, EPO Boards of Appeal), Aleš Zalar (PMAC Director, UPC)