1.3 Representation by an employee 

Parties having their residence or principal place of business in a contracting state are not obliged to be represented by a professional representative in proceedings before the EPO. They may, irrespective of whether they are legal or natural persons, act through an employee, who need not be a professional representative but who must be authorised always file an authorisation (see A‑VIII, 1.6, and A‑VIII, 1.7).