Ever wondered what annoys an IP judge? Ever considered how they approach a case? Or perhaps you’re just curious about how they use their spare time? To find the answers to these questions and more, look no further than our special report – which comprises interviews with leading judges across the world’s major IP jurisdictions.
In an unprecedented exercise, we spoke directly to the senior IP judiciary to find out their views on a range of subjects from courtroom best practice to case preparation. The interviews, which in some cases were conducted face to face, are aimed at any IP specialists involved in litigation, not to mention anyone who wants to learn how those at the top of their game perform.
In mid-2019, we embarked on a mission to interview leading judges worldwide – and this report is the culmination of our efforts to date. Since we published the interview with Mr Justice Henry Carr, he sadly passed away. Mr Justice Richard Arnold was promoted to Lord Justice of Appeal after his interview was published, and our conversation with Justice Peter Huber, following which we broke a major story about the Unified Patent Court, was framed mainly on one case.
We hope you enjoy reading these interviews, and we welcome your feedback.
Belgium
Judge Sam Granata, Court of Appeal (Antwerp Division)
Canada
Justice Roger Lafrenière, Canada Federal Court
Justice Michael Manson, Canada Federal Court
China
Deputy Chief Judge Li Jian, IP division of China’s Supreme People’s Court
EPO
President Carl Josefsson, Boards of Appeal
EUIPO
President João Negrão, Boards of Appeal
Germany
Judge Johanna Brückner-Hofmann, Düsseldorf District Court
Judge Klaus Grabinski, Federal Court of Justice
Justice Peter Huber, Federal Constitutional Court
Presiding Judge Stephanie Zöllner, Hamburg Regional Court
India
Judge Mukta Gupta, Delhi High Court
Judge Prathiba Singh, Delhi High Court
Italy
Judge Pierluigi Perrotti, Court of Milan, IP Division
Spain
Judge Florencio Molina López, Commercial Court of Barcelona
Peru
Judge Ricardo Guillermo Vinatea Medina, Supreme Court of Peru
United Kingdom
Lord Justice Richard Arnold, England and Wales Court of Appeal
Mr Justice Colin Birss, England and Wales High Court
The late Mr Justice Henry Carr, England and Wales High Court
Lord David Kitchin, UK Supreme Court
Mr Justice Richard Meade, England and Wales High Court
Mr Justice James Mellor, England and Wales High Court
United States
Judge Alan Albright, US District Court for the Western District of Texas
Judge Cathy Bencivengo, US District Court for the Southern District of California
Chief Judge Scott Boalick, PTAB
Judge James Donato, US District Court for the Northern District of California
Chief Judge Rodney Gilstrap, US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
Chief Judge Philip Gutierrez, US District Court for the Central District of California
Senior Judge Irene Keeley, US District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
Judge Virginia Kendall, US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Judge Kathleen O'Malley, US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Chief Administrative Trademark Judge Gerard Rogers, TTAB
Chief Judge Leonard Stark, US District Court for the District of Delaware
