Unified Patent Court (UPC)

The UPC brings the biggest change to the European patent system for 40 years. As a world leader in patent litigation, we’ve been active in the development of the UPC system and are set to continue our integral role. So let us guide you.

If your business has patent interests to look after, you now face significant and complex choices.

As an entirely new court system, the UPC favours those ready to hit the ground running. During the past 10 years Bristows has been the leading commentator on the evolution of the UPC, helping develop the rules of procedure. We are ready to guide you in this new landscape, navigating the timetables, rules, procedures and any jurisdictional challenges – potentially in parallel with national litigation.

We have the largest team of patent litigators in Europe, with 11 partners and more than 30 associates, including European-qualified lawyers. We bring experience in co-ordinating global patent strategies for some of the world’s most successful businesses, and most of our team have a technical background in key sectors.

We are fully independent and untied to any local division, so we can take an objective approach focused on your best interests. Knowing what it takes to win in the international context, we can safeguard your litigation interests both within and outside the UPC.

Bristows is setting the standard for UPC participation. We’re ready with a comprehensive infrastructure and innovative knowledge management tools. We stand apart for our expertise, insight and resources. We look forward to working with you.

Key contacts

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Review of Parent Cases in the English Courts in 2021

What others say

“We work with Bristows because we think they are very competent, and they have a very pragmatic approach. We think that working with them is essential for a lot of transactions we do. They have been helpful in speeding up projects and finding the right solutions.”
Chambers and Partners 2024

“Bristows has an exceptionally strong team of patent litigators, with excellent individuals at both at partner and associate level. In my view it remains in the top patent litigation firms in the UK.”
Legal 500 2024

“The team at Bristows is highly skilled and has extensive experience handling very complex patent litigation matters…You always get the feeling that you are top of mind when working with Bristows.”
MIP, IP Stars 2023

“I have experience of working with all of the major patent litigation firms in the UK, and in my view Bristows is right up there with the best of them.”
MIP, IP Stars 2023

“It is nearly impossible to find lawyers that keep responses concise and appreciate the reality of running a business. We require straightforward advice that can be implemented within the business within a short period of time. Bristows does just that.”
MIP, IP Stars 2023

“Bristows has in the past engaged more strongly than other London law firms with the launch of the UPC.”
Juve UK 2023

“Bristows remains a force to be reckoned with in Europe.”
Juve UK 2023

“Bristows has always been a first choice for life sciences clients.”
Juve UK 2023

“Market-leading firm Bristows remains excellently placed to retain a variety of big-name clients while being a leading name among its European competitors.”
Juve UK 2023

“They are excellent, they have really good work and nice people there.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“Their reputation is well deserved.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“Bristows has really good practitioners of patent litigation and trade mark work.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“The Bristows team is extremely capable at balancing competing factors.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“Bristows provides very strong and pragmatic advice founded on a deep understanding of the life sciences sector.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“Bristows is known for its deep bench of high-calibre litigators with supreme expertise in contentious patent, trade mark, designs and copyright matters. The team is particularly sought after for biosimilars and telecommunications litigation, and is frequently instructed for standard-essential patent-related disputes. The Bristows IP team is also distinguished for its work on the commercialisation of IP at the vanguard of life sciences and technology, and is additionally recommended for its trade mark prosecution service.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“They are competent, efficient and very supportive.”
Legal 500 2023

“A law firm that sees its team members as a family and could teach bigger international firms a great deal about how law should be practised.”
Legal 500 2023

“Hugely experienced partners and associates, based in a full-service firm, provide a personal first class service in a friendly and cost-effective manner.”
Legal 500 2023

“Bristows remains one of the top UK-based patent litigation firms.”
Legal 500 2023

“Consistently at the forefront of the market, dealing with precedent setting cases or managing multi-jurisdictional matters, the team advises high-profile global clients in the technology and life sciences sectors on commercial, regulatory, competition, and contentious matters.”
Legal 500 2023

“Maintaining one of the broadest patent benches, Bristows LLP is praised as ‘one of the top UK-based patent litigation firms‘ with a full-service capacity.”
Legal 500 2023

“The team at Bristows strike the perfect balance between excellent technical legal knowledge and industry insight and experience. They are able to distil often complex legal positions into easy to digest and practical advice. The strategic value they are able to add sets them apart from their competitors.”
Legal 500 2023

“Their understanding of the industry and therefore ability to provide tailored advice is great. They also take a pragmatic view, such that in negotiation with providers they focus on what is important and likely, rather than focusing on theoretical, pedantic legal points that have no” probability of happening in practice.”
Legal 500 2023

“The team at Bristows is second to none in the UK technology law space. They are accessible, responsive, highly knowledgeable and experienced and are a go-to team for any complex, high value or innovative IT deal.”
Legal 500 2023

“The practice has strengths in new and emerging technologies, advising clients on cloud issues, robotics and AI.”
Legal 500 2023

“The team demonstrates wide-ranging expertise across telecoms M&A, SaaS and outsourcing issues, and regulatory matters, and is notably strong in contentious mandates.”
Legal 500 2023

“Bristows LLP has a vast array of clients, including technology and telecoms companies, regulators, and purchasers of IT, such as governmental departments and financial institutions.”
Legal 500 2023

“Great expertise, very approachable.”
Legal 500 2023

“The team at Bristows is second to none in the UK technology law space. They are accessible, responsive, highly knowledgeable and experienced and are our go-to team for any complex, high-value or innovative IT deals.”
Legal 500 2023

“On the non-contentious side, strengths include corporate M&A and venture capital matters, commercial IP work, and strategic and project advice for clients across the technology, media, and telecoms sectors.”
Legal 500 2023

The UPC brings the biggest change to the European patent system for 40 years. As a world leader in patent litigation, we’ve been active in the development of the UPC system and are set to continue our integral role. So let us guide you.

Key contacts

Gregory Bacon

Myles Jelf

What others say

Inquisitive Minds