A leading European IP firm

How can we help you?

Our vision is to be Europe’s IP firm of choice, a goal that drives every aspect of our business.

For our clients, this means more than just providing services. We build strong personal relationships and assemble multi-disciplinary teams of experts who deeply understand, and often have firsthand experience in, the clients’ industry. This approach allows us to deliver tailored solutions that resonate with our clients’ unique needs. Our commitment to investing in our people is unwavering. We empower our team to be their authentic selves and to excel in everything they do. Through technology, strategic recruitment and confident leadership, we are cultivating an environment where innovation thrives and our people are positioned to lead the industry.

This is why we confidently deliver tangible and sustainable value to our clients’ businesses, ensuring their intellectual property is protected and optimized for success.

Latest updates

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Featured article

6th February 2025

UPC’s CFI (Milan) extends deadline to file defence to infringement claim to align with parallel EPO appeal proceedings

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Other features:
Featured article

4th February 2025

UK IPO Update to AI Patenting Guidelines Highlights Difficulties in Protecting Core AI Inventions

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Featured Article

31st January 2025

IP Ingredients: The not so "Impossible" Burger

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Featured Podcast

19th December 2024

Fashionably IP Podcast – Episodes 31-40 – exploring hot topics in the world of fashion and intellectual property

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Three core areas for a complete service offering

Prepare

Our dedicated, specialist attorneys are skilled in maximising value at the vital early stages of a technical innovation, laying the foundations for powerful, long-term protection.

Select a service to find out more.

Protect

Our expertise in optimising IP to maximise our clients' business objectives. Our breadth and depth of experience and knowledge allows us to take-on complex challenges and provide protection.

Select a service to find out more.

Enforce & exploit

Our in-house litigation, oppositions and appeals teams are highly skilled with a proven track record in securing successful outcomes in some of the most contentious, high-profile cases in Europe.

Select a service to find out more.

Industries

By tapping into rich in-house experience, our attorneys truly understand the different business landscapes in which we specialise.

Aerospace & defence

Aerospace and defence is experiencing a transformation, with innovation driven by historical challenges and opportunities, leading to an increased focus on IP and volume of granted patent applications.

Agrochemicals

Our extensive experience in agrochemicals allows us to secure strong, commercially-focussed patent protection in this dynamic industry.

Automotive

The automotive industry is in the midst of a revolution, with new technologies and increased connectivity bringing new complexities.

CleanTech

Because of the large and varied issues which fall under the CleanTech banner it is essential to ensure that your representation is as refined as the issues you are addressing to drive the best outcomes for you.

Computing

Developments in technology are driving the highly competitive computing market, with intellectual property allowing businesses to leverage their market position.

Creative, media & entertainment

We work with a considerable number of creative, media and entertainment companies to guide and advise on protecting the intellectual property which they create.

Energy

From the sunny climes of Brazil to the tar sands of Canada, countries have different natural resources to generate energy, with varying government priorities and approaches to IP.

FemTech

Our accomplished FemTech team are experts in patent drafting, prosecution, appeals, FTO and infringement opinions, and litigation for large corporate firms, SMEs, universities, and overseas associates

Finance

IP rights underpin a lot of value in the finance industry. They are all too often the unappreciated core of commercial or investment banking services, foreign exchange, investment services, research, fund and asset management, insurance, financial exports, stock exchanges and clearing houses, accountancy and audit, and every business allied to the sector.

Food & drink

Food and Drink is a diverse and innovative sector where businesses from global conglomerates to bio-tech based start-ups strive to meet the demands of a truly challenging market.

Healthcare

The healthcare sector has a long history of life-changing innovation, with new and evolving technology at its core.

Medical devices

The medtech sector is at the forefront of innovation and growth, reflected in the large and increasing number of patent applications.

Packaging

As companies adapt to increasing regulatory and sustainability challenges, packaging goes well beyond serving just a practical purpose.

Pharmaceuticals

Combining technical expertise and industry experience, our pharmaceuticals team provides comprehensive support and advice for every stage of a product’s development and lifespan.

Renewable energy

The development of renewable sources of energy, such as wind, hydropower, solar, geothermal, biomass and tidal, is essential to tackling the climate crisis.

Retail

From bricks and mortar to online retail, there are challenging times ahead, with technology and ethics driving developments across the sector.

Telecommunications

Remaining at the forefront of innovation is a key challenge for businesses in this fast-paced and competitive industry.

Sector groups

Our attorneys combine impressive academic and industry experience with strong commercial acumen to deliver world-class, specialist IP support.

Chemistry

The chemical and pharmaceutical fields are constantly evolving as new chemicals, drugs, compositions, materials and processes are needed to meet the ever increasing demands of tomorrow’s world.

Electronics

The electronics sector is faced with diverse commercial challenges, from rapid technology emergence and short product life cycles, to long established, yet evolving core enabling technologies.

Engineering

Engineering businesses require strong technical insight and a global overview to secure a portfolio of intellectual property rights that are fit for purpose today, and also in tomorrow’s world.

Law

Our law team provides services which complement those provided by HGF’s patent and trade mark attorneys, covering IP litigation, transactional IP, commercial law, data protection and privacy, due diligence and IP advisory work.

Life sciences

Technology specific legal issues abound in this sector, with route to market often involving rigorous regulation; factors to be understood when developing appropriate long-term patent strategies that maximise exclusivity and drive business success.

Trade marks

As businesses increasingly put 'brand' at the heart of their growth strategies, trade marks play a vital role in protecting equity and driving economic growth.

Latest updates

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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Designation of a technical standard as a trademark

EUTMR Article 7 (1) (c) and Article 7 (1) (b) – DASH The designation “DASH” of the technical standard/protocol/format for streaming data on the Internet constitutes a descriptive indication in …

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HGF ranked band 4 in Chambers and Partners Global Guide for Germany in 2025

Chambers and Partners Global Guide 2025 is now live. HGF is proud to be ranked as a firm in Germany. HGF is ranked band 4 for: Germany: Intellectual Property: Patent …

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HGF ranked in The Legal 500 Germany 2025

HGF is proud to be ranked in The Legal 500 Germany 2025 guide. The Legal 500 provides the most comprehensive worldwide coverage on recommended Law firms, Lawyers, Attorneys, Advocates, Solicitors, …

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T 1847/22: Procedural considerations in appeal: Re-ordering of requests and the impact on admissibility

Background This case concerned EP 3 085 344 B1, which relates to a wound pad, a self-adhesive member comprising a wound pad. The patent was opposed by two opponents. During …

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Regulation of NGT plants in Europe- Polish Presidency proposes an alternative solution to the Patent ban

In the latest development on the new proposed legislation for the regulation of NGT (gene-edited) plants in the EU, the Polish Presidency have proposed an amendment which removes the proposed …

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Event - 18th March 2025

Salzburg Seminar: Pitfalls in trade mark practice - What can be protected as a trade mark?

The registration of trade marks is a central component of trade mark protection – but which signs can actually be protected? In recent years, the national trade mark offices and …

Event details
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