About HGF

Exceptional service and pragmatic commercial advice

The breadth and depth of knowledge and experience across HGF, combined with state of the art technology to support our service to clients, enables us to create value from innovation and deliver advice that is commercially astute and trusted by clients across the globe.

Our people
Leadership Team

Our Vision

We have a vision to be Europe’s IP firm of choice.

Our Mission

We’ll achieve this by being a dynamic and responsible business supporting global innovation and brands to create value.

Our Values

Our firm’s values have been developed to provide a clear insight into HGF’s culture and set expectations for the firm’s staff and partners, creating a sense of identity, community and belonging for all.

Our values underpin HGF’s success and growth, creating a positive environment for every single person at the firm to thrive and develop. And whilst we continue to strive for sustainable profits, we are as committed to working within our guiding principles to operate as a modern, dynamic, transparent firm with an approachable management team and a valued workforce.

People

People matter. We treat people fairly, with respect and compassion. We foster a friendly, inclusive and enjoyable culture for everyone to prosper in. We invest in our people and offer appropriate coaching and training to assist with development and learning. We promote a healthy work-life balance. Progression is based on merit.

Excellence

We strive to be the best. We pursue excellence in all our individual roles resulting in outstanding legal and technical advice for our clients. Our people are pragmatic, responsive and commercially minded. We do not presume but listen to understand so we can engage proactively and appropriately.

Teamwork

We stand together. We work with our clients to protect their interests, and with each other as a mutually supporting firm. We value, appreciate and listen to others, regardless of role, recognising each individual’s particular blend of talent, skill and experience. We are individually and jointly accountable and take responsibility for our actions and decisions.

Progressive

We innovate. We continually improve our services and processes through understanding, creativity, and investment. We evolve by taking opportunities and adopting new business procedures, unencumbered by historical structures or out-of-date attitudes. As a firm, we have an entrepreneurial spirit, and encourage new thinking in our people.

History & growth

Building a robust global network

Dynamic leadership, agility and understanding market conditions have played a significant role in HGF’s story. We now have operations across 25 offices in seven countries throughout Europe and a track record of developing long-term client relationships that have existed since 1995 - a testament to our exceptional client service.

Take a look at our timeline to discover more on our remarkable journey.

2023

HGF Dresden office opens

In September 2023, we continued our expansion across Germany with the opening of our Dresden office.

2023

HGF Belfast office opens

HGF opens in Belfast providing a hub for our network of HGF offices, including those in Dublin and Westport.

2021

HGF Rennes office opens

HGF continues its European expansion with the opening of Rennes, France.

2019

HGF Dublin office opens

HGF expands across Ireland with the opening of HGF Dublin to work alongside its office in Westport

2019

HGF merges with Patronus IP, Germany

HGF and Patronus IP merge their businesses into a new partnership within the HGF Group called 'HGF Europe LLP‘ operating in both Germany and Austria.

2018

HGF Westport office opens

On 8th May 2018, HGF opened its first office in Ireland, in the town of Westport, Ireland. It is HGF's 16th office opening.

2018

HGF Nottingham office opens

On 2nd January 2018, HGF continues its expansion opening its 15th office, located in Nottingham, UK.

2017

HGF Amsterdam office opens

HGF continues its European expansion opening its 14th office. The Amsterdam office launched in January 2017 as the 3rd office in Europe alongside The Hague and Basel, Switzerland.

2016

HGF Newcastle office opens

Following on from the success of our York office, HGF opened a Newcastle satellite office on 2nd May 2016 to provide a base for servicing the many companies and universities we act for in the North East of the UK.

2016

HGF Law Birmingham office opens

HGF Law joined our existing teams in Birmingham to ensure we could provide a fully integrated law and IP service in the West Midlands, UK.

2016

HGF Basel office opens

In February 2016 HGF opened its first office in Basel, Switzerland.

2015

HGF The Hague office opens

In September 2015, HGF opened its first office in The Netherlands.

2014

HGF LLP becomes a Limited company

With effect from 1st May 2014, HGF LLP becomes a Limited company.

2013

HGF Law Manchester office opens

HGF Law joined our existing teams in Manchester to ensure we could provide a fully integrated law and IP service in the North West of the UK.

2013

HGF acquires Grant Spencer, London

Trade mark specialist firm Grant Spencer was acquired by HGF as part of a move to expand our expertise and provide a more efficient trade mark service to clients across the UK.

2012

HGF Birmingham office opens

Our relatively new Birmingham office was set up to provide services to clients based in the Midlands, UK.

2012

HGF London office is expanded

HGF London moved to larger offices to make room for more staff as our business in the UK's capital increased.

2012

HGF Oxford office opens

Situated in the Oxford Science Park, in the UK, our HGF Oxford office is perfectly placed to work with the city's universities and businesses, particularly in the chemistry and life science industries.

2012

HGF Edinburgh office opens

Following on from the success of our Glasgow and, more recently, our Aberdeen offices in Scotland, HGF opened an Edinburgh office in Scotland in early 2012 to provide a base for servicing the many companies and universities we act for in the area.

2011

HGF Aberdeen office opens

HGF Aberdeen, Scotland opens in response to demand from North Sea Oil and Gas clients.

2011

HGF York office is expanded

HGF's York office serves the North Yorkshire area of the UK and focuses on a wide range of practices from electronics to life sciences. As the city becomes more innovative, our office expands to accommodate for our growing client base.

2011

HGF Glasgow office is expanded

Glasgow represents innovative SMEs and universities, both groups of which have been expanding rapidly. This allows our own offices to grow and develop alongside them.

2010

HGF Sheffield office is expanded

Our Sheffield office in the UK has experienced continued growth over the past decade and this latest expansion is a result of the hard work and dedication of our specialist teams.

2009

HGF Manchester office is expanded

Our Manchester office in the UK has expanded in response to a growing media tech community in the city and surrounding area. Today the office boasts the largest biotech team in the region.

2007

HGF Glasgow office opens

HGF's first Scottish office opens in Glasgow expanding HGF’s offering beyond the jurisdiction of England & Wales. HGF becomes the third firm in the UK offering such cross-border jurisdictional advice.

2004

Sanderson Lumber London office opens

Sanderson Lumber (now HGF Law) was brought to London to support our growing South East UK client base.

2002

HGF’s sister law firm, Sanderson Lumber, is launched (now HGF Law)

HGF creates a one-stop-shop IP law group with the launch of its specialist law firm Sanderson Lumber (now HGF Law).

2002

HGF acquires Brewer & Sons, London

Brewer & Sons provided a launch pad for HGF’s London business. Brewer & Sons came with a wonderful history including patenting the Wright Brothers aeroplane, the Whittle jet engine, Barnes-Wallis’s Bouncing Bomb and Concorde.

2001

HGF York office opens

This completes HGF’s offering in the Yorkshire and North-East regions of the UK.

2000

HGF Sheffield office opens

HGF acquires the patent practice of DLA Piper, strengthening its Leeds and Manchester offices by acquiring a new office in Sheffield, UK.

1995

HGF is founded with offices in Leeds and Manchester

HGF launches in Leeds and later that year opens a second office in Manchester as the firm’s client base begins to grow.

Latest updates

HGF Ranked #1 in the UK for Trade Mark Portfolios in the 2025 Trade Mark Filing Trends Report by Clarivate.

HGF has achieved the #1 ranking for the UK for trade mark portfolios in the newly released 2025 Trade mark Filing Trends report by Clarivate, recognising the firm as a …

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The EPO Board of Appeal comments on the scope of the morality exclusion from patentability

The recent decision, T1553/22 of the Board of Appeal required the Board to consider the scope of the exclusions from patentability under Article 53(a) EPC. The invention in this case …

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Celebrating exam success at HGF!

We are once again delighted to share that our colleagues have achieved success in their recent exams! Their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to professional development have paid off, and we …

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Is the Supreme Court denial in Thatcher’s case a fatal blow against lookalikes?

The dispute between Thatcher’s Cider Company and Aldi Stores Limited has been long running and has sparked legal controversy along the way. On 4th June 2025 the Supreme denied Aldi …

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HGF ranked among Europe’s top patent firms in IP STARS Patent Rankings 2025

HGF has once again made a bold mark in the latest Managing IP Stars 2025 firm rankings, with top-tier recognition across multiple jurisdictions for our patent expertise. This year’s results …

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The Enlarged Board of Appeal has today issued its decision in seminal case G1/24

G1/24, described as one of the most important cases in decades, relates to how claims of patents are to be interpreted by the Boards of Appeal and, by extension, all …

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UPC’s Hamburg Local Division provides guidance on the extent to which a patent may be used as its own “lexicon”

Agfa NV v Gucci & Anors. [UPC_CFI_278/2023] – Hamburg Local Division of the UPC (Klepsch, Schilling, Sarlin) – 30 April 2025 While we await a decision on G1/24 from the …

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