< Back to latest news & events

Event

IQPC Life Science IP 2019 – London

November 2019

Event date: 26th November 2019

HGF are sponsoring IQPC Life Science IP conference on 26-27 November in London with Partner Martyn Fish, Legal Director Michelle Davies and Partner Rachel Fetches attending.

Life Science IP 2019 will include a range of subjects around practical strategies for navigating the regulatory landscape and maximising the value of IP within Life Science, whilst sharing practical knowledge with speakers and colleagues.

Martyn Fish will be chairing day 1 and will be joining a panel debate ‘Alternative Means of IP Protection’.

He will be discussing ‘What alternative forms of protection to patent protection exist for the pharmaceutical industry: Can gene sequences be protected by copyright? Developments in the drug names? Design Right in chemical structures?’

  • Trade secrets
  • Trade marks – GSK’s Seretide inhaler
  • Copyright
  • Designs – claiming infringement for the copy of medicine designs.

Michelle Davies will be presenting on day 1 ‘Legal Risk Mitigation & Minimisation Across your Business’:

Issues across the business are inevitable, from the inadvertent disclosure of sensitive information through to adverse event reporting, patient interactions, manufacturing problems or product recall. Whilst some risks can be avoided, it is often the inappropriate handling of situations and panic responses made by a business that can cause the greatest damage.

Steps can be taken as a matter of good business practice to prevent or minimise business risk and exposure. With twelve years’ experience supporting business teams and functions within the pharmaceutical industry, Michelle will discuss her insights and the practical steps she deems most effective.

Latest updates

The concept of ‘overall impression’ in UK and EU Registered Design Law

 

Read article

The Antibody Series #2 | Definition via binding strength in antibody claims: when “binds strongly... but only minimally...” becomes a trap of lack of clarity

Introduction Defining an antibody by its binding strength is common practice in patent claims, but it can quickly become a pitfall under Article 84 EPC on clarity. In this second …

Read article

The Antibody Series #1 | Quality Characteristics (CQAs) in Antibody Claims: When the Test Method Can Remain Outside the Claim

Introduction Therapeutic antibodies are at the heart of innovations in biotechnology and healthcare. With increasing regulatory requirements and quality expectations, critical quality attributes (CQAs) are becoming essential in the drafting …

Read article
Event - 7th January 2026

HGF Brand & Design Conference 2026

Join us on 3rd February 2026 for HGF’s Brand & Design Conference, the must attend event for in-house legal teams, brand leaders, creatives, and innovators shaping the future of IP. …

Event details

Empowered, Not Replaced: The Risks and Rewards of Using AI Tools in Patent Prosecution

With the rapid rise of AI and extreme hype around generative AI tools in the workplace, patent firms around the world have had to seriously consider to what extent they …

Read article

EU Agrees on NGT Plant Regulation: What It Means for Patents and Licensing

The European Parliament and Council have reached a provisional agreement for plants developed using New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) – below we summarise the main points and set out the requirements …

Read article

When Retail Branding Meets Politics

(Inter IKEA Systems v Algemeen Vlaams Belang (Case C‑298/23) In November 2022, the Flemish political party Vlaams Belang presented its “IKEA-PLAN – Immigratie Kan Echt Anders” (“Immigration Really Can Be Different”). …

Read article

Office Closed Dates December 2025 / January 2026

HGF Office Closed Dates December 2025 / January 2026   UK Thursday 25 and Friday 26 December 2025 CLOSED Thursday 1 January 2026* CLOSED * Friday 2 January 2026 – …

Read article