< Back to latest news & events

Knowledge Hub

From March 1 Patronus IP have merged with HGF

March 2019

The HGF team in Germany and Austria works across offices in Munich, Heidelberg and Salzburg led by Partners  Bernhard Ganahl, Jan Robert Naefe & Markus Zoller.

HGF is widely known across Europe for the expertise and quality of advice in intellectual property to its clients and its ability to provide inter geographical and interdisciplinary teams of attorneys to clients which meet their needs across

  • Patents and utility models
  • Trade marks
  • Designs
  • Plant Variety Rights
  • Oppositions and appeals

Working across the technical subjects of chemistry, electronics, engineering, material sciences and life sciences the German team has particular expertise in the respective industry sectors.

To learn more about our attorneys please click on the links below:

Bernhard Ganahl – Partner

Jan Robert Naefe – Partner

Dr Markus Zoller – Partner

Christian Himmler – European Patent Attorney

Rudolf Erhardt Sachs – European Patent Attorney

Julia Saladin – Attorney-at-Law

Dr Jens Kienitz – Trainee Patent Attorney

Latest updates

The Antibody Series #4 | pH points in antibody claims: when “same pH ” becomes an addition of matter

The Boards of Appeal of the EPO (BoA) are the appeal body that reviews EPO decisions; in this case, they reviewed a revocation in opposition of a patent relating to …

Read article

The Antibody Series #3 | Antibody code names in claims: why “ACZ885” is not sufficient to define the antibody

The Boards of Appeal of the EPO (BoA) are the appeal body that reviews EPO decisions. In this case, they examined a claim that identified an antibody by an internal …

Read article

Agritech Thymes: Unlocking the Soil Microbiome: Driving Agritech Innovation in the UK

The UK offers an ideal platform for harnessing the untapped potential of soil and plant microorganisms. Although much of my professional experience has focused on the human microbiome, I have …

Read article

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

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 of …

Read article
Event - 3rd February 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

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
See all updates