Munich European Patent Opposition Advocacy Masterclass
- Gold standard advocacy course for Opposition Oral Proceedings
- Hands-on experience together with personal tuition and feedback
- Participant numbers limited to 10
Seminar
From
2.750,00 €
plus VAT
Services & Process
Veranstaltung - 2.750,-€ zzgl. MwSt.
Includes the 'live' participation via internet, mid-session refreshments and lunch during the sessions in Munich, high-quality course material for download and a certificate.
Period:
6 May 2025 (from 13:00 to 17:00 CET) and 13 May 2025 (from 15:00 to 17:00 CET) I Online
27 and 28 May 2025 in Munich (1st day: 17:00 to 19:00 CET, 2nd day: 09:00 to17:00 CET)
Booking details
Seminar
From
2.750,00 €
plus VAT
Services & Process
Veranstaltung - 2.750,-€ zzgl. MwSt.
Includes the 'live' participation via internet, mid-session refreshments and lunch during the sessions in Munich, high-quality course material for download and a certificate.
Period:
6 May 2025 (from 13:00 to 17:00 CET) and 13 May 2025 (from 15:00 to 17:00 CET) I Online
27 and 28 May 2025 in Munich (1st day: 17:00 to 19:00 CET, 2nd day: 09:00 to17:00 CET)
The European Patent Opposition Advocacy Workshop is the gold standard advocacy course where attendees will get hands-on experience together with personal tuition and feedback.
Your speakers
Dr Graham Ashley
Former chairman of an EPO Board of Appeal, current
technically qualified UPC judge
Graham Ashley is a former chairman of a mechanics BA and member of the EBA. He has a background in metallurgy and holds…
Your speaker
Dr Graham Ashley
Former chairman of an EPO Board of Appeal, current
technically qualified UPC judge
Graham Ashley is a former chairman of a mechanics BA and member of the EBA. He has a background in metallurgy and holds a PhD in corrosion science from Cambridge. He qualified as a barrister in 1996 and was a member of the committee for the EQE for patent attorneys (C-Paper: Opposition). He is currently involved in training national judges in patent law and was recently appointed as a part-time technical judge in the UPC.
Leythem Wall
European and UK patent attorney and litigator, Oxon IP
Leythem Wall is the Director of Oxon IP. He is a European and UK patent attorney and litigator, specialising in EPO Oppositions and Appeals in the…
Your speaker
Leythem Wall
European and UK patent attorney and litigator, Oxon IP
Leythem Wall is the Director of Oxon IP. He is a European and UK patent attorney and litigator, specialising in EPO Oppositions and Appeals in the chemical, consumer products, energy, material, medical, pharmaceutical and tobacco sectors. Prior to founding Oxon IP, he was a partner in major European and US IP law firms, and before that in-house patent counsel for ExxonMobil and AkzoNobel.
Grant Philpott
Former COO of the EPO, Founder Director of Trusted
Technology Network
Grant Philpott completed 32 years at the EPO in the operational patent grant area, starting as an examiner and culminating as COO.…
Your speaker
Grant Philpott
Former COO of the EPO, Founder Director of Trusted
Technology Network
Grant Philpott completed 32 years at the EPO in the operational patent grant area, starting as an examiner and culminating as COO. He chaired opposition proceedings in both mechanics and industrial chemistry and was a member of the committee for the EQE for patent attorneys (A+B Papers: Drafting and Replying). He studied engineering at Cambridge University and is a founder director of TTN.
Richard Ash
Former director of EPO Opposition Divisions
Richard Ash recently retired after spending 39 years at the EPO and has been involved in hundreds of opposition cases. Richard has a wealth of experience as…
Your speaker
Richard Ash
Former director of EPO Opposition Divisions
Richard Ash recently retired after spending 39 years at the EPO and has been involved in hundreds of opposition cases. Richard has a wealth of experience as first examiner, second examiner and chair in opposition work at the EPO. From 2017 to 2022, as a director specialising in opposition proceedings, he chaired 40 to 50 opposition cases per year, trained examiners in opposition work and was active in the transition of oral proceedings from face-to-face to video conference hearings.
What to Expect
- Insights into the European Patent Opposition environment
- Inventive step, prior use and clarity: what needs to be considered
- Auxiliary requests, late-filing, admissibility, added matter
- Develop your own advocacy style
- Highlight: Full-day mock Oral Proceeding
- Led by four coaches with extensive EPO Oppositions Oral Proceedings experience
Who Should Attend
You are a European Patent Attorney but have limited European Patent Oppositions Oral Proceedings experience?
You are looking to fast-track your ability in this area with like-minded peers? Then this is the right course for you.
Objective of the Event
European Patent Opposition is a uniquely complex and demanding discipline that requires highly specialised expertise and advocacy skills. European Patent Attorneys therefore need a sound understanding of the key aspects of Opposition Oral Proceedings. This inperson, in-depth training two-day masterclass provides practical coverage of many classic issues that arise at Oral Proceedings, as well as the opportunity to practise advocacy skills under expert tuition.
The coaches will teach topics such as advocacy and the European Patent Opposition environment, as well as introducing the case itself on the first day of the masterclass. The participants will then prepare their argumentation with coach guidance.
Throughout the second day, participants take part in a mock Oral Proceedings before former EPO Opposition Division and Board of Appeal members, based on a simulated case suitable for all technical disciplines. As the case unfolds, they will prepare, present and analyse proprietor and opponent arguments during interactive sessions, interspersed with presentations and discussion of key topics such as inventive step, prior use, clarity, auxiliary requests, late filing and admissibility. Participants also receive one-to-one feedback and advice with respect to their own interventions.
Your Benefit
After the course, you will
- understand the key aspects of Opposition Oral Proceedings at the EPO
- have practised your advocacy skills under the tuition of our experts
- have trained practical conduct issues
Programme
Each day from 09:00 to 17:00 CET
Day 1
- EPO Opposition environment
- Advocacy
- Introduction to the case
- Break-out session: respective proprietor and opponent groups discuss initial thoughts and approach
- Proprietor group session: further case preparation, accompanied by one "sounding board" expert
- Opponent group session: further case preparation, accompanied by one "sounding board" expert
- Explanations on the conduct of the workshop
- Last-minute Q&A
- Proprietor group session: final case preparation, accompanied by one "sounding board" expert
- Opponent group session: final case preparation, accompanied by one "sounding board" expert
17 November 2026, 09:00 - 17:00 CET
17 November 2026, 09:00 - 17:00 CET
- EPO Opposition environment
- Advocacy
- Introduction to the case
- Break-out session: respective proprietor and opponent groups discuss initial thoughts and approach
- Proprietor group session: further case preparation, accompanied by one "sounding board" expert
- Opponent group session: further case preparation, accompanied by one "sounding board" expert
- Explanations on the conduct of the workshop
- Last-minute Q&A
- Proprietor group session: final case preparation, accompanied by one "sounding board" expert
- Opponent group session: final case preparation, accompanied by one "sounding board" expert
Day 2
- Mock Oral Proceedings in five phases, following a realistic case scenario
- Focuses on learning-by-doing and giving scope to make "classic" mistakes in a safe environment
- Interspersed with real-time commentary and discussion with the experts, including feedback to individuals on their advocacy style
- The mock Oral Proceedings is split into (five) phases, in which for each phase the parties will plead their arguments before the Opposition Division on a ground of Opposition. After deliberation, the Opposition Division will render a decision on that ground, before moving on to the next as is done in real life Oral Proceedings. Depending on how the hearing progresses, the latter phases may also include discussion of Auxiliary Requests. In between these phases, participants will also be taught modules on specific aspects of Opposition Oral Proceedings, such as clarity, inventive step, and late filings.
18 November 2026, 09:00 - 17:00 CET
18 November 2026, 09:00 - 17:00 CET
- Mock Oral Proceedings in five phases, following a realistic case scenario
- Focuses on learning-by-doing and giving scope to make "classic" mistakes in a safe environment
- Interspersed with real-time commentary and discussion with the experts, including feedback to individuals on their advocacy style
- The mock Oral Proceedings is split into (five) phases, in which for each phase the parties will plead their arguments before the Opposition Division on a ground of Opposition. After deliberation, the Opposition Division will render a decision on that ground, before moving on to the next as is done in real life Oral Proceedings. Depending on how the hearing progresses, the latter phases may also include discussion of Auxiliary Requests. In between these phases, participants will also be taught modules on specific aspects of Opposition Oral Proceedings, such as clarity, inventive step, and late filings.
Downloads
Request the documents using our form.
Further Informations
Features of the course
The masterclass is limited to a maximum of ten participants. The structure of the masterclass, the exceptionally low coach/participant ratio and the in-depth knowledge of the coaches offer an unparalleled opportunity for discussion and to benefit from expert advice and experience.
Key aspects
- Gold standard advocacy course for Opposition Oral Proceedings
- Hands-on experience together with personal tuition and feedback
- Formal teaching kept to a minimum and participant numbers limited to 10 to preserve very low coach/ student ratio
- Personal interaction central to all aspects of the masterclass, including during lunches and coffee-breaks
- Total time spent with coaches is 16 hours
- Networking: On the first evening of the course FORUM Institut für Management GmbH is pleased to invite the participants to a joint dinner in a traditional and cosy Munich restaurant.
Our Recommendations
Further Information
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We guarantee the highest quality
We are now officially certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 21001 standard.
Your Contact Person
We are happy to advise you personally and individually.
Jean-Claude Alexandre Ho, LL.M.
Deputy Department Manager
+49 6221 500-675
jc.alexandreho@forum-institut.de