JUVE Patent

Ari Laakkonen is a partner at Powell Gilbert, a specialist European IP Law firm.

Ari is a trial lawyer, qualified as a UPC Representative, English Solicitor Advocate and Irish Solicitor. He has been active in the UPC since its commencement in 2023, and has argued a wide variety of issues at UPC hearings and in written submissions, both before Local Divisions and the UPC Court of Appeal. These issues include long-arm jurisdiction, the withdrawal of opt-outs and matters arising in relation to applications for preliminary injunctions.

He has a PhD in Computer Science and worked in-house at a major telecoms company from 2003 to 2007. He specialises in FRAND issues, jurisdictional issues and the strategic planning and execution of multi-jurisdictional patent and FRAND litigation, including anti-suit injunctions and similar other relief, and interim licences.

In addition to litigation, Ari has also been involved in confidential arbitrations and mediations, mainly in the telecoms sector but also in other licensing-related disputes.

Ari has been active in AIPPI, being a member of the Bureau from 2014 to 2024 (from 2022-2024 as the Reporter General of AIPPI). He is also a member of EPLAW, and has spoken at various conferences and events on the development of patent law for dispute resolution and the surrounding policy issues.