This Order makes provision under section 80 of the Legal Services Act 2007 (c. 29) (“the 2007 Act”) for the First-tier Tribunal to hear and determine appeals from decisions made by the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and the Institute of Trade Mark Agents (ITMA), acting jointly or separately, in their capacity as licensing authorities. Licensing authorities regulate licensed bodies under the provisions of Part 5 of the Act (alternative business structures). The decisions are those which are appealable under Part 5 of the 2007 Act or under these bodies’ licensing rules. Section 83 of the 2007 Act defines licensing rules as rules about the licensing and regulation of licensed bodies. A separate Order will designate CIPA and ITMA as licensing authorities.

Article 4 provides for such appeals to be heard and determined by the First-tier Tribunal and sets out the powers of the First-tier Tribunal in relation to an appeal under the licensing rules. The 2007 Act provides for the grounds of appeal and the First-tier Tribunal’s powers in relation to an appeal under Part 5.

Certain provisions of the 2007 Act are modified by article 5 of, and the Schedule to, this Order in relation to appeals against decisions of CIPA and ITMA. The modifications take account of the provision in Part 1 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15) for appeals from the First-tier Tribunal to go to the Upper Tribunal.

An impact assessment has been prepared for this instrument and can be found at www.legislation.gov.uk or obtained from the Head of Legal Services Policy, Law and Access to Justice Group, Ministry of Justice, 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ.