UPC launch schedule

1 January 2023

A request for delay of the grant of a European patent application that has received a notice of allowance can be filed from this date, to ensure the grant date is on or after 1 June 2023. This will mean a unitary patent can be obtained.

1 March 2023

Opt-outs can be filed from this date, to protect European patents validated in the traditional national way by preventing central revocation attacks filed at the Unified Patent Court. If no opt-out is filed in time, this will become possible from 1 June 2023.

1 June 2023

The launch date of the unitary patent system. The Unified Patent Court will begin accepting cases on this date, and a unitary patent can be obtained from European patents that grant on or after this date

UPC Rules of Procedure entered into force 1 September 2022

The UPC Rules of Procedure entered into force on 1 September 2022. This is another step in the UPC coming into effect as a working forum to resolve patent disputes in Europe. For practitioners, in particular, it means that we now know the detailed legal framework that will apply to proceedings. Important provisions with regard to the opt-out procedure and video conference hearings are confirmed also. Further announcements on the set up and coming into effect of the UPC are expected over the next few months also.

Our UP/UPC services from 1 June 2023

Following the announcement of the expected implementation date of 1 June 2023, we are announcing our new UP/UPC services. We will be ready to assist with obtaining Unitary Patents at the EPO. We will also offer a full range of services before the UPC, including filing opt-outs for classical European patents from the jurisdiction of the UPC (as well as opt-ins), and UPC litigation services. When dealing with patent enforcement litigation, we already usually cooperate with litigators to build specialist litigation teams for the jurisdiction in question. We will be proceeding on the same basis for UPC infringement matters also. However, for UPC revocation actions we intend to handle such matters ourselves in the same way as for EPO oppositions (unless the matter is sufficiently complex that a specialist team is required).

The Sunday Times ‘Top 100 Best Companies’ recognises Kilburn & Strode with a 2-star ranking

Kilburn & Strode has been recognised as a 2-star company in The Sunday Times - Best Companies Survey. Trainee Patent Attorney Daniel Wood gives us an overview of how we got here and what this means.

Reaching for the stars

We are thrilled that, despite the challenging year COVID has dealt us, we have again earned a 2 Star accreditation, which means we have "Outstanding" levels of engagement. This year we also gained a place on two additional lists: we are in the 'Top 75 Best Large Companies to work for in London' and the 'Top 20 Best Law Firms to work for'. The journey to 3 Stars continues!

Reaching for the stars

We are thrilled that, despite the challenging year COVID has dealt us, we have again earned a 2 Star accreditation, which means we have "Outstanding" levels of engagement. This year we also gained a place on two additional lists: we are in the 'Top 75 Best Large Companies to work for in London' and the 'Top 20 Best Law Firms to work for'. The journey to 3 Stars continues!

Take away the office and what happens?

For many years, professional services organisations were afraid of allowing people to work at home. And then, the office was taken away from us. We had no choice. Trust we must. At Kilburn & Strode, we kept up with technology, and agile working, and so the switch was simple. Our work has not stopped. But something has and perhaps that’s the real purpose of an office. HR Director Jonathan Clarke shares how we have stayed connected in the first 4 months of remote working.