In T 699/06 the board held that if European representatives wished to speak at conferences (even with the approval of clients whose cases are thereby delayed), the work of the boards of appeal and the interests of their clients' adversaries and the public should not be affected as a result. A representative who undertook such a commitment did so in the knowledge that this would make him unavailable to his clients, and unavailable to appear at any oral proceedings, on the date in question. See also T 2526/11. However, see T 902/07, in which the board referred to T 699/06, but granted the request to postpone oral proceedings after considering the agreement of the adversarial party's representative.
Source: http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/caselaw/2019/e/clr_iii_c_6_1_4_c.htm
Date retrieved: 17 May 2021