Appleyard Lees Leading in UPC and Patent Litigation Investment
(UK, January 2025) Appleyard Lees continues to expand its comprehensive suite of intellectual property services, including patent, trade mark prosecution and dispute resolution, with the appointment of Arnie Francis, a qualified UK and European patent attorney and solicitor of England and Wales.
One of only a handful of UK firms investing in Unified Patent Court (UPC) litigation expertise, Appleyard Lees are strategically positioning themselves as a leader in this emerging field. With the UPC offering new opportunities and challenges, Arnie’s dual qualifications further enhance the firm’s ability to service clients navigating the UPC system.
On joining the Firm, Arnie said, “I am thrilled to be joining Appleyard Lees and contributing to its reputation as a leader in intellectual property law as it continues to expand its service offering. As both a patent attorney and solicitor, I am looking forward to drawing together my varied experience to help our clients successfully navigate the complex intersection of legal, technical and commercial issues that arise in today’s evolving IP landscape.”
Speaking on Arnie’s appointment, Bobby Smithson, Appleyard Lees Managing Partner commented, “Adding Arnie’s rare combination of skills to our team is a significant step forward as the firm continues to grow. This appointment aligns with our strategy to expand our service portfolio and deliver unparalleled expertise to our clients.”
Partner and Head of Litigation, Robert Cumming, added, “As the UPC emphasises active case management, English solicitors familiar with IPEC have a unique advantage in serving clients with UPC litigation. I am excited that Arnie’s unique skill set, combining both technical and legal expertise, will boost the firm’s growing capabilities in UPC litigation.
“Arnie’s expertise also strengthens our well-established IP litigation team, which includes myself and specialist IP solicitors Chris Hoole, Daniel Bailey and Christopher Thomas. Arnie’s distinct expertise further diversifies our broad-skilled team, recently expanded by the addition of transactional IP specialist, Amrit Jethwa.”
About Appleyard Lees
Appleyard Lees is a leading intellectual property law firm with approximately seventy patent and trade mark attorneys and litigators.
Who we are and what we do – but also, how we do it – makes us distinctive.
We help our clients protect and monetise their intellectual property, and manage post-grant challenges, should they arise.
We offer broad sector and industry knowledge, plus the ability to adapt our services to specific client requirements, in an agile way.
With offices in UK innovation hotspots, we are positioned to give clients expert strategic IP advice in the UK and worldwide.
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