Greenwoods takes a seat at the European table. Make that two.

The epi (the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office) is the professional body for European Patent Attorneys across all member states. Its Council is the governing body, responsible for shaping how the profession is represented, regulated, and developed at a European level. It also holds a privileged position being written into the European Patent Convention and having close relationship with the European Patent Office.

Jim has been a member of epi Council for decades and is currently chair of their EPO Finance committee (examining whether the public receive value for money from the EPO); and their “Chemistry” sub-committee (looking at the application of patent law to the field of chemistry). Jim is also an epi delegate to the Standing Advisory Committee of the European Patent Office.

This is the first time Arthur has stood for election, and he is willing to contribute where he will be most useful, in particular in any of the fields of: education (having already contributed by being an examiner on the UK patent attorney exams for several years); information technology (which aligns with his AI patent practice); and DEI (reflecting his strong inclination to “do the right thing”).

Comment from Jim, Partner and Head of IP:

“Being on epi Council (and particularly its committees) provides an inside view of where European patent practice is, and where it is going. It provides the opportunity to give back to the public and the profession of patent attorney, what is received from practicing the profession. Doing something useful is the price of being on the inside track. It is a price that is worth paying.”

Comment from Arthur, Partner:

I’m keen to support the epi’s work in the education and training of new attorneys. A single patent can endure for decades – a family of patents, each building on the previous one, for even longer than that. Supporting clients whose IP has that sort of longevity demands succession planning, new blood, and looking to the future. Better training for those entering the profession leads to better results for the clients on whose behalf they use that training. I am keen to stay on top of best practice in this respect.

The epi Council election results were published in March 2026.

Greenwoods’ IP practice continues to grow in expertise, in recognition, and in representation at the heart of the European patent profession.