< Back to latest news & events

News

Coronavirus update – HGF offices

July 2020

The situation across the world is changing rapidly and as a result we have put in place measures to ensure that we are able to continue to provide the high-quality services to our clients whilst also protecting our staff, other stakeholders and suppliers.

This page provides information on any HGF office closures that may happen as a result of Coronavirus safety measures in Europe and the UK.

Updated 2nd July 2020

Aberdeen – Fully operational – Office closed with all staff working remotely

Amsterdam – Fully operational – Office open with majority of staff working remotely

Basel – Fully operational – Office open with majority of staff working remotely

Bern – Fully operational – Office open with majority of staff working remotely

Birmingham – Fully operational – Office closed with all staff working remotely

Dublin – Fully operational – Office closed with all staff working remotely

Edinburgh – Fully operational – Office closed with all staff working remotely

Glasgow – Fully operational – Office closed with all staff working remotely

Heidelberg – Fully operational – Office open with majority of staff working remotely

Leeds – Fully operational – Office closed with all staff working remotely

London – Fully operational – Office closed with all staff working remotely

Manchester – Fully operational – Office closed with all staff working remotely

Munich – Neumarkter Str – Fully operational – Office open with majority of staff working remotely

Munich – Uhlandstr. – Fully operational – Office open with majority of staff working remotely

Newcastle – Fully operational – Office closed with all staff working remotely

Nottingham – Fully operational – Office closed with all staff working remotely

Oxford – Fully operational – Office closed with all staff working remotely

Salzburg – Fully operational – Office open with majority of staff working remotely

Sheffield – Fully operational – Office closed with all staff working remotely

The Hague – Fully operational – Office open with majority of staff working remotely

Westport – Fully operational – Office closed with all staff working remotely

York – Fully operational – Office closed with all staff working remotely

If you need any urgent assistance, please call us on +44(0) 113 233 0100.

Latest updates

Avoiding Legal Pitfalls: The Notting Hill Bag Company's Costly Mistake

[2025] EWHC 1793 (IPEC) – Natasha Courtenay-Smith and Notting Hill Bag Company Limited v The Notting Hill Shopping Bag Company Limited, Nangialai Takanai, The Notting Hill Shopper Bag Ltd, Ehsanullah …

Read article
Event - 12th September 2025

Wolters Kluwer Breakfast Panel on AI & IP at AIPPI

Sofie McPherson, Patent Director at HGF, will be moderating a special breakfast panel session hosted by Wolters Kluwer at the AIPPI World Congress in Yokohama on 15 September 2025. Session …

Event details

T1465/23 – No Narrowing by Description—EPO Board Terminates Inventive Step Analysis for Arbitrary Modifications Citing G1/24 and G1/19

“The potential patentability of a specific narrow embodiment…cannot render a claim allowable which, due to its breadth, encompasses a multitude of other, non-inventive embodiments” – r. 3.5. Background EP3113515 was …

Read article

Wrestling with G1/24 – How should the claims be interpreted in view of the description?

In G1/24, the Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) codified how claims should be interpreted for assessing patentability: in consultation with the description. However, the decision was light on how, in …

Read article

Welcome to HGF Presents - New Video Series

Introducing HGF Presents a new video series delivering practical insights into European Patent Law and practice. Curated by our leading experts in chemistry, life sciences, technology & engineering, each concise …

Read article

Seminar on Incorporating Trade Secrets into your IP Strategy

HGF is hosting a Seminar on Incorporating Trade Secrets into your IP Strategy which will be followed by networking, apero, and snacks. The Seminar will be held on Wednesday, 10th …

Read article

PRESS RELEASE – HGF strengthens European presence with three new Partners in France and Germany

HGF is pleased to announce the arrival of three new partners, further strengthening its European presence. Two partners will be joining the firm’s fast-growing French practice, and one will join …

Read article

Providing Enabling Disclosure for AI inventions at the EPO

  Video overview: The equivalent to the enablement requirement in the US at the EPO is Sufficiency. There is an increasing trend for the sufficiency of AI related patent applications …

Read article