European Union: Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration

The Paris Local Division of the Unified Patent Court issued a decision on the merits in an infringement action brought by Orange SA against HMD Global Oy concerning European Patent EP 2 345 029. The case involved jurisdictions across France, Germany, and Italy, with the defendant filing a conditional counterclaim for revocation under Article 33(3) of the UPCA and Article 69 of the EPC.

The Unified Patent Court's Court of Appeal examines critical questions of patent validity, including whether omitting disclosed features constitutes added matter when functional or structural links exist, and how technical effects factor into determining essential features for inventive step analysis. The decision also addresses procedural boundaries for raising new legal arguments on appeal.

The Unified Patent Court's Court of Appeal examines the scope of a defendant's obligations under an injunction order, specifically addressing whether geo-blocking purchase functions alone satisfies compliance requirements when third-party platforms continue to market prohibited products.

Mr. Justice Sheehan in Cork Circuit court on the 24 July 2026 dismissed the claim, the Plaintiff had pleaded that he had been thrown off his bicycle by a lump of tarmacadam deposited on the roadway by Cork County Council

Personal injury claims represent one of the most significant areas of civil litigation in Cyprus, as they involve not only the legal assessment of liability but also the complex process of determining the appropriate level of compensation for the harm suffered by an injured person.

The High Court's recent judgment in O'Shaughnessy v Health Service Executive provides crucial guidance on when medical negligence proceedings may be dismissed for want of prosecution, particularly examining the significance of warning letters and the four-year inactivity threshold. Building on the Supreme Court's reformulated principles in Kirwan v Connors, the decision clarifies what procedural steps genuinely interrupt periods of delay and when the burden shifts to plaintiffs to justify continuation of st

Evidence of this is readily available in the U.S., where Novo Nordisk is currently facing multiple class action lawsuits from investors alleging disclosure failures relating to GLP-1 products and the weight-loss drug CagriSema.

Ireland's collective litigation landscape is rapidly evolving with new qualified entities joining the register and the country's first representative action proceeding to trial. As third-party litigation funding recommendations loom on the horizon, businesses face an increasingly complex legal environment that demands careful attention to potential exposure and strategic risk assessment.

Third-party litigation funding (TPLF) is a financial arrangement under which an external investor provides capital to cover the costs of legal proceedings in return for a share of the proceeds if the case succeeds.

Work at height remains one of the most dangerous occupations despite technological advances, with falls from scaffolding, cranes, and platforms continuing to cause fatal workplace accidents. Understanding the complex web of legal liability—from employers to equipment owners—and knowing the compensation rights available to surviving families becomes crucial when tragedy strikes on construction sites and elevated workspaces.

A Paris division of the Unified Patent Court granted a moderate €100,000 top-up to security for legal costs in a patent infringement case, balancing the defendant's increased defense expenses against the claimant's fundamental right to access justice. The court rejected demands for a much larger security increase, finding that the claimant's status as a micro-enterprise required careful consideration of proportionality principles under EU law.

Cyprus reformed its civil procedure on 1 September 2023 with new rules modelled on the English system, introducing active case management and an overriding objective to handle cases justly and proportionately. How do these reforms change the way civil claims progress through the Cyprus courts, from pre-action protocols through to trial and enforcement?