The UPC turns two!

This month marks two years since the Unified Patent Court opened its doors for business 🎉 

Since the UPC's inception, Bird & Bird has established itself as one of the preeminent firms for UPC patent litigation across Europe. The numbers speak for themselves – we are currently involved in 14% of UPC Court of First Instance actions, including 10% of revocation, 23% of provisional measures, 13% of infringement, and 12% of appeals of UPC actions. 

We've been privileged to represent clients in landmark UPC cases, and as we look to the future, we remain committed to providing unparalleled expertise in UPC litigation.

See our highlights below! 

We are a firm at the forefront

For patent litigation in Europe, no other firm can match our breadth of coverage across locations, technologies, languages and experience with the UPC judges. Bird & Bird is in the top 3 law firms involved in proceedings before the UPC. 

The UPC opened for business two years ago, on 1 June 2023. 

To the end of May 2025, Bird & Bird is involved in 14% of UPC CFI actions.

We have you covered

• We have specialist patent litigators throughout Europe for tailored deployment across all UPC divisions.
• We know the strategic advantages and disadvantages of the available venues, including the UPC, the national courts and the EPO, and how to combine them to your best advantage. 
• We propose the best pan-European strategy for you, not us. 
• Our single European team from the EU and the UK puts weight behind this promise, providing objective recommendations on venues and team composition regardless of which lead adviser of ours you choose.

We have outstanding involvement with landmark cases

• 10x Genomics and Harvard v. NanoString
  We represented NanoString in a seminal ruling from the UPC Court of Appeal setting out how the UPC approaches claim construction, novelty and inventive step, burden of proof and the granting of provisional injunctions.
• Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd v. Netgear Inc 
  We represented Huawei in the Munich Local Division's first decision on SEP and FRAND issues.
• Edwards Life Sciences v. Meril Life Sciences 
  We represented Edwards Life Sciences in a landmark decision for competence of the UPC, literal infringement and public interest.

We have the accolades to match our work.  Find out more here.