The first Sir Hugh Laddie Chair in Intellectual Property Law at University College London would have Sir Robin Jacob as its first appointee.
Prof Hugh Laddie,a leading English Judge and an expert in the field of intellectual property law,passed away in November 2008.He was appointed the Chair Professor in Intellectual Property at the University College London in 2006 after he retired from the Bench in 2005.He was also the founder of the Institute of Brand and Innovation Law (IBIL). Shamnad Sir had a wonderful post commemorating this “wittiest IP maverick ever.”
University College London created the academic chair funded by private giving to ensure that Sir Laddie’s name is forever associated with world class legal thinking.The objective behind the creation of the Chair was to carry forward the immensely successful seminar series spearheaded by Sir Laddie as a part of IBIL.
As well as shaping the research agenda of IBIL, the Chair is to develop leading-edge IP courses for academics, practitioners and industry, including programmes focusing on areas of emerging economic importance, such as India and China, where Hugh had strong links.
Sir Jacob practised at the Intellectual Property Bar from 1967.He was made a Queen’s Counsel in 1981 and served as a High Court Judge (Chancery Division) from 1993 to 2003. He was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal in October 2003, and is currently in charge of the Court of Appeal’s Intellectual Property List. He has written extensively on all forms of intellectual property. He often lectures, mainly on IP topics, in the UK and abroad.Expressing his sincere gratitude on the appointment,Sir Jacob said :
“This is a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity for me. I can carry on what my old and dear friend Hugh started so brilliantly. His imaginative establishment of IBIL was a significant event. Under him IBIL had started to become a major force for debate and constructive thinking, about IP Law not only in Europe but the world generally. My intention is to build on what Hugh started: to make UCL one of the key world centres for practical IP law research and teaching. UCL has the talented staff and suitable environment to make that happen.”
Sir Jacob will be taking up the position in 2011 and will also serve as the Director of IBIL.
