Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys

Introduction

The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) is the professional and examining body for patent attorneys (also known as patent agents) in the UK and represents virtually all the 1,750 registered patent attorneys in the UK.

All members who join the Institute agree to abide by the Institute’s Rules of Professional Conduct. These ensure that clients consulting a firm of patent attorneys will receive accurate and impartial advice. The Institute issues, from time to time, updated Guidelines on the Observance of the Rules of Conduct.

Rules of Professional Conduct

The conduct rules are entitled “Rules of Professional Conduct Under By-Law14, Special Rules for Patent Attorney Litigators and Guidelines Concerning the Observance of the Rules of Professional Conduct” and can be found on the CIPA web site.

   Rules of Professional Conduct

On the rare occasion that an error may occur, and a client may feel that he/she has received poor service from a patent attorney, the Institute expects firms to have in-place an internal complaints procedure to resolve the issue with the client. If this fails, the Institute may be able to assist by conciliating between the client and the patent attorney, or by investigating the client’s complaint. There are a number of sanctions which can be applied, from a reprimand, through an order over to pay compensation and/or to forego fees, to enclusion or suspension from membership.

CIPA Disciplinary Procedures

CIPA have produced a document setting out their disciplinary procedures. The current version is from August 2007. It is available from their website.

   CIPA Regulatory and Disciplinary Procedures