OxFirst Expert Groups & Members’ Club
The Year-Round Bridge Between Oxford and Munich
The OxFirst Expert Group provides the working structure between the Oxford and Munich Forums.
They bring together selected participants from the judiciary, industry, private practice, economics, academia and policy to examine the issues shaping patent enforcement, licensing, competition policy and innovation governance.
The Expert Groups are designed to be focused, practical and light-touch. Participation will primarily take place online through working discussions, with opportunities to contribute to short notes, policy reflections, webinars, OxFirst Club blog articles and conference-linked publications.
Initial Expert Group Themes
Long-arm jurisdiction and cross-border enforcement
How courts influence disputes beyond their borders and how parties respond through global litigation strategies.
FRAND, SEPs, arbitration and mediation
How structured dispute resolution can support more efficient licensing outcomes.
UPC litigation costs, written submissions and case allocation
How the UPC is shaping litigation behaviour, cost exposure and procedural strategy.
Economics of patent litigation and rate-setting
How valuation evidence, damages, costs and incentives affect licensing and litigation outcomes.
6G, video coding and future technologies
How emerging technologies test patent value, patent quality, essentiality and market adoption.
The OxFirst Expert Group
A focused effort to identify practical reference points for responsible, predictable and commercially workable cross-border patent enforcement.
Not legislation. Not advocacy.
A structured judicial, institutional and expert dialogue aimed at strengthening legal certainty in innovation markets.
Participation
Participants may contribute as discussion participants, reviewers or contributors, depending on interest and availability.
The Expert Groups support the wider OxFirst Club programme by developing ideas before and after the Fora, while preserving OxFirst Club’s independence, balance and editorial integrity.
Part of the 2027 OxFirst Club programme: 15th Forum, Oxford → OxFirst Expert Groups → 16th Forum, Munich.