Due to an increase in legal work related to contested applications and decision as well as regulatory developments the CPVO has increased its legal unit. Following a selection procedure for a Head of Legal Unit Mr Francesco Mattina has been appointed to fill the post.
Mr Mattina has been a managing partner of an international law firm based in Rome for many years, where he was heading the law firm's intellectual property team. Last year he took up a post at the OHIM where he was dealing with trade mark litigation. His vast experience in IP law and litigation will complement the existing competences in plant variety right law in the legal unit. Mr Mattina is of Italian nationality and he will start in the Office on 1 September 2013.