From 24 to 25 June 2025, the Unified Patent Court (UPC) held a training session in Lisbon bringing together over 180 legally qualified judges (LQJs), technically qualified judges (TQJs) and clerks. Organized in close collaboration with the Directorate-General of Justice Administration of the Portuguese Ministry of Justice and the Polícia Judiciária (Portuguese Criminal Investigation Police), the event was an opportunity for the Court’s staff to deepen their expertise, exchange experience and prepare for the introduction of the new Case Management System (CMS).

The program offered participants a comprehensive overview of the new CMS, including available support and key functionalities, presented through live demonstrations. These sessions were designed to familiarize judges and clerks with the system ahead of its official launch in July 2025.

In addition to the technical components, the training also featured a presentation on the Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC) of the UPC. Furthermore, panels explored key judicial themes such as the standard of proof and cooperation among UPC judges.

Clerks attended parallel sessions focusing on the technical aspects of patent cases and the role of the UPC in the broader patent system.

In addition to the substantive discussions, the training included team-building activities to strengthen collaboration across divisions.

The UPC remains committed to supporting its members through high-quality training and continuous dialogue as it enters the next phase of its development with the new CMS.

Gonçalo da Cunha Pires, Deputy Secretary of State for Justice

Klaus Grabinski, President of the Court of Appeal

Florence Butin, President of the Court of First Instance

Alexander Ramsay, Registrar of the Unified Patent Court