7.2.2. Representation by a professional representative, list of professional representatives, associations, legal practitioner

Patent proprietors who do not have their residence or principal place of business in an EPC contracting state must appoint a representative and act through them in all EPO proceedings concerning their Unitary Patent, including the procedural act of requesting unitary effect (see 2.2.2). However, compulsory representation does not apply to the payment of fees (Art. 6 RFeesUPP).

Representation before the EPO in Unitary Patent proceedings may be undertaken by:

• professional representatives or an association of professional representatives (see EPC Guidelines, A-VIII, 1.2) or
• legal practitioners entitled to act as representatives under Rule 20(1) UPR in conjunction with Art. 134(8) EPC (see EPC Guidelines, A-VIII, 1.3)