Naoise Gaffney

The London-headquartered firm opened its Dublin office in September 2023 in response to the establishment of the Unified Patent Court (UPC).

Mr Gaffney is an experienced patent attorney, legal counsel and adjunct assistant professor who brings a wealth of industry experience and expertise to Bristows.

He has worked extensively in the technology and life science sectors for over 10 years, after prior roles in private practice.

Commenting on the appointment, Andrew Bowler, head of patent litigation at Bristows, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Naoise to our team.

“Naoise’s industry expertise and strategic vision align perfectly with our goals and those of our clients, and we are confident that this addition will further strengthen our ability to serve our clients, particularly at the UPC.”

Mr Gaffney added: “I am excited to join Bristows and contribute to the firm’s continued success.

“Bristows has been an integral player since the start of the Unified Patent Court, having helped develop the rules of procedure, and it is very exciting to get to work with such an experienced and talented team.

“I look forward to leveraging my own experience to support our clients and drive innovation in the legal field.”

Ireland has not yet held the constitutional referendum required for it to participate in the UPC.

A referendum was originally set to be held last year but was indefinitely postponed and does not feature in the 2025 programme for government.