Mathys & Squire Partner Nicholas Fox has been prominently featured in a recent article by the Solicitors Journal, which discusses the Unified Patent Court’s (UPC) decision to grant the firm access to crucial evidence in a patent dispute between Astellas and Healios. The article highlights Mathys & Squire’s significant role in challenging the court’s approach to transparency, as the firm sought access to documents that were initially restricted by the UPC.In his comments, Nicholas Fox expressed mixed feelings about the court’s decision. On the one hand, he acknowledged the positive outcome of finally gaining access to the requested documents, which marks a step forward in promoting transparency within the newly established UPC system. He states that this victory reflects Mathys & Squire’s commitment to enhancing openness in the judicial process, particularly in the context of the UPC, which has only been operational for just over a year and is still refining its procedures. However, Fox also voiced serious concerns regarding how the UPC handled the access request.He emphasised the considerable delay in processing the request, noting that it took more than eight months for the court to grant access which resulted in the case being settled shortly before the access request was finally granted.” This delay, according to Fox, undermined the value of the access granted, as it prevented third parties from monitoring the case in real-time.To read the full article click here.