1.5 1.4Representation by an employee

Parties having their residence or principal place of business in a contracting state are not obliged to be represented by a professional representative or legal practitioner in proceedings before the EPO. They may, irrespective of whether they are legal or natural persons, act through an employee, who need not be a professional representative or legal practitioner but who must always file an authorisation (see A‑VIII, 1.6A‑VIII, 1.7 and A‑VIII, 1.7A‑VIII, 1.8).