HGF Ltd ranked Gold in FT Europe's Leading Patent Firms 2020
Click here for more infoRead press release (NL)
Your idea is a precious and unique thing. HGF can help you protect it.
Find out more about HGFFrom March 1 Patronus IP have merged with HGF
Click here to meet the German teamRead press release (NL)
Patents, Trade Marks, Designs, Copyrights, IP Solicitors, Appeals and Oppositions, Due Diligence and Strategy.
HGF offers everything you would expect of a world-class intellectual property firm, including patent and trade mark acquisition as well as appeals and oppositions to protect your creative work.
We also focus on providing a bespoke service tailored to your industry, to ensure you really get the most out of your big ideas. Our teams are dedicated to providing professional, expert advice and support every step of the way.
-
Patents
If you‘re developing technology, can you afford not to patent it?
Find out more -
Trade Marks
Identify the rights you own and maximise their value in your business
Find out more -
Appeals & Oppositions
Protecting your investment
Find out more -
Due Diligence and Freedom-to-Operate
The right foundation for every IP portfolio
Find out more -
HGF Law
A specialist law firm committed to giving expert advice on contentious and non-contentious IP matters
Find out more -
IP Inclusive
Working for diversity and inclusion in IP
Find out more
Our people think differently, giving our clients the edge
The latest news and cutting edge commentary from across the group
WTR Connect 2020
HGF is sponsoring WTR Connect 2020 and HGF Partner Lee Curtis will be co-hosting the ‘Trademark challenges and opportunities in fashion and luxury goods’.
Find out moreHGF IP in Retail online training events
In 2020, HGF will be delivering its 8th Annual IP in Retail Conference differently. As usual, we have put together an agenda which considers topical IP issues encountered by in-house counsel for retailers and fashion brands. However, rather than our usual face…
Find out moreIQPC Global IP Exchange Europe 2020
HGF is sponsoring IQPC Global IP Exchange Europe 2020.
Find out moreIAM webinar: Primed to tap into the economic potential? Troubleshooting patent protection of AI innovations in Europe
IAM webinar will be hosted by HGF Partners Dr Chris Benson and Dr Susan Keston on 28 September at 4pm BST.
Find out moreFunding for the Future
As part of Leeds Digital Festival, Nexus is holding an event on Thursday 24th September 2020.
Find out moreUK High Court rules an AI Machine (DABUS) cannot be an Inventor but Owner possibly could be
In a decision published on 21 September 2020, a High Court judge, Mr Justice Marcus Smith, has ruled that an Artificial Intelligence (AI) machine cannot be considered to be an inventor under the UK Patents Act 1977 and that, in any event, the right to obtain a patent application could not …
Find out more
HGF offices and COVID-19 deadlines
HGF continues to remain fully operational with the majority of staff working remotely due to the ongoing situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Find out more
Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst webinar; Intellectual Property: Are you infringing?
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/intellectual-property-are-you-infringing-tickets-117282570325
Find out moreIPBC Connect 2020
IAM’s IPBC Connect virtual event will be held across the month of September and HGF is proud to be a sponsor.
Find out moreHGF Complete: Brexit Webinars
As part of HGF Complete campaign, we are holding a series of webinars on Brexit and its implications on trade marks.
Find out moreSustainable Protein Production and Animal Microbiome Virtual Summit 2020
Sustainable Protein Production and Animal Microbiome Virtual Summit 2020 will be held on 8-10th September.
Find out moreHGF webinar: The rise of AI. What happens when you take the human out of trade mark law?
HGF Partner Lee Curtis will be hosting a webinar on 3rd September 2020 at 4PM (BTS).
Find out moreAlt Protein Conference - Transforming the Future of Food
HGF is the Intellectual Property Partner for the Alt Protein Conference on 2nd-3rd September 2020.
Find out moreONE Life Sciences Leadership Forum 6
The sixth ONE Life Sciences Leadership Forum will explore intellectual property and clinical pathway strategies.
Find out moreUK Supreme Court Reaches a Unanimous decision in Parallel Unwired Planet and Conversant Appeal cases, Spelling Victory for Standard Essential Patent Holders
The Supreme Court has today (26th August 2020) issued decisions unanimously dismissing two parallel appeals from English Court of Appeal decisions. The decision can be found here. In particular, the “Unwired appeal” and the “Conversant appeal”. The Supreme Court heard the oral arguments in…
Find out more
IAM Strategy 300 2020
IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists guide has now been published and HGF is proud to have 4 Partners listed.
Find out more
Furlough and entitlement
Recently we reviewed with a client a new invention, for which there is a (currently unanswered) question whether the employee devised this invention whilst on furlough. It has therefore led us to consider how the furlough scheme may affect entitlement for other inventions and employers.
Find out more
Coronavirus update: Oral proceedings before Opposition Divisions and Boards of Appeal
In view of the ongoing disruptions caused by the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the European Patent Office (EPO) has implemented special measures for arrangement and conduct of oral proceedings. These measures are now updated with respect to oral proceedings before Opposition Divisions …
Find out more
International Beer Day 2020
International Beer Day is on 7 August 2020, so lets raise a cheers and look at some of the trade mark issues in this ever expanding industry.
Find out more
Battle over beer patents brewing at the European Patent Office
Oppositions launched by 16 organisations against patents for mutant barley owned by Carlsberg & Heineken highlight the tensions that exist over the grant of monopolies for plant products. We consider which party will most likely be raising a glass to victory in light of recent legal change…
Find out more
Privacy Shield ruling introduces new challenges to personal data transfers to the US (and elsewhere)
EU and UK data protection legislation contains long standing restrictions around transferring personal data to third countries outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) where the country in which the recipient is located has, in the eyes of the European Commission, inadequate protections…
Find out more
UK will not participate in the UPC
On 20 July 2020, it was announced that the UK had made its final preparation to withdraw from the Unified Patent Court project.
Find out more
Twenty one offices in leading cities across the UK and Continental Europe
Aberdeen
Our Aberdeen office opened in 2011 in response to the wide number of innovative firms in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire.
View officeAmsterdam
In January 2017, HGF continued its European expansion with the launch of its office in Amsterdam.
View officeBasel
In February 2016, HGF’s second office outside the UK opened in Basel, Switzerland.
View officeBirmingham
HGF's Birmingham office was opened in November 2012, and since then has gone from strength to strength.
View officeEdinburgh
Following on from the success of our Glasgow and, more recently, our Aberdeen offices, HGF opened an Edinburgh office in early 2012 to provide a base for servicing the many companies and universities we act for in the east coast area.
View officeGlasgow
Our Glasgow practice has grown rapidly since we opened our doors in 2007, and we now act for many of Scotland’s top companies and universities.
View officeHeidelberg
HGF Heidelberg launched following the merge of HGF and Patronus IP in July 2018.
View officeLondon
Our London office is located in the City of London, the financial centre of the UK and Europe.
View officeMunich - Neumarkter Str.
HGF Munich launched following the merge of HGF and Patronus IP in July 2018.
View officeNewcastle
Following on from the success of our York office, HGF opened a Newcastle satellite office on May 2nd 2016 to provide a base for servicing the many companies and universities we act for in the north east area.
View officeNottingham
Our Nottingham office opened in January 2018. The office provides access to the full wealth of HGF expertise in particular in the field of Chemistry.
View officeOxford
HGF opened an Oxford office in July 2012 to build on our existing strong relationships within the local business and university community.
View officeSheffield
HGF Sheffield have been supporting local innovation and technology in South Yorkshire since 1999.
View officeYork
Since 2001, HGF York have been committed to the continued development of ideas and technology in North Yorkshire.
View office