Awards
HGF ranked band 1 in Chambers and Partners 2023
October 2022
Chambers and Partners 2023 guide is now live. HGF is delighted to be highly ranked as a firm and to have four Partners ranked as individuals.
HGF is ranked Band 1 for:
- UK-wide: Intellectual Property: Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys
- North West: Intellectual Property
- Yorkshire: Intellectual Property
Band 3 for:
- Midlands: Intellectual Property
HGF individuals ranked:
- Midlands: Intellectual Property – Marie McMorrow – Band 1
- North West: Intellectual Property – Antony Gold and Janet Knowles – Band 1
- Yorkshire: Intellectual Property – Martyn Fish – Band 1
Intellectual Property: Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys – Band 1
What the team is known for
HGF Law is one of the UK’s largest patent and trade mark firms and has the resources to handle complex and international mandates, including litigation support. The firm has an impressive client base in numerous sectors including hi-tech, life sciences and universities. The attorneys advise on the IP implications of technology-driven corporate deals as well as licensing and R&D agreements. It also has offices in Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Munich.
Strengths
“HGF Law are good at maintaining the client’s brand position in the global market. They are consistent in terms of follow-through with ongoing matters and have good success rates.”
Work highlights
HGF Law assisted Oxford University Innovation with the protection of its inventions across all areas of research, from chemistry, materials and life sciences to engineering and artificial intelligence.
Notable practitioners
Head of trade marks David Potter is a key contact.
North West: Intellectual Property – Band 1
What the team is known for
HGF Law in Manchester is sought after for its expertise in commercialisation and enforcement matters involving all core IP rights. Clients are drawn from a wide range of sectors including retail, life sciences, higher education and technology, and enjoys strong links with its sister patent and trade mark attorney firm. The team is frequently instructed on matters of multi-jurisdictional scope.
Strengths
“The team at HGF Law have great technical and practical expertise, enabling a confident and pragmatic approach to negotiations and the drafting of complex transactions.”
“They provided commercially focused feedback at all points during the deal.”
“I felt that we were in very capable hands and confident that our interests were strongly represented and defended.”
Work highlights
HGF Law acted for Queen’s University Belfast in the negotiation and finalisation of a global exclusive licence of QUB’s preclinical stage FLIP inhibitor programme for Ipsen to research, develop, manufacture and commercialise FLIP inhibitors.
Notable practitioners
Antony Gold is a consultant at HGF Law in Manchester. He stands out as a leader in the North West intellectual property legal market, frequently acting for a diverse client roster across trade mark and patent disputes, He is active across sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals to retail.
“It’s always a joy to work with Antony Gold. He’s my favourite specialist lawyer, bar none.”
Janet Knowles is head of department at HGF Law in Manchester. She leads the firm’s non-contentious and transactional IP offering and is adept at matters involving all core rights. She has extensive experience in patent applications and licensing, and is frequently instructed by clients in the pharmaceutical industry.
“Janet Knowles is experienced and solution-focused.”
Yorkshire: Intellectual Property – Band 1
What the team is known for
HGF Law in Leeds offers an excellent service geared towards sophisticated contentious and non-contentious IP matters in a range of sectors, notably consumer products, engineering, manufacturing and life sciences. The firm is particularly skilled at patent and trade mark infringement disputes, and a go-to for design right matters of all kinds. It is able to coordinate comprehensive patent prosecution and trade mark filing with its sister patent and trade mark attorney firm, HGF.
Strengths
“The HGF Law team are professional, knowledgable and personable. They deal directly with our clients efficiently and effectively to achieve successful results.”
“I have really valued the ability of the team to turn the complicated legal language into a language I understand and therefore can act upon.”
“HGF Law have an experienced and strong team who have worked both in industry and practice which provides the foundation for powerful insights and advice.”
Work highlights
HGF Law acts for Sun Pharma in a range of patent advice and litigation matters.
Notable practitioners
Martyn Fish is head of department at HGF Law in Leeds. He is an IP litigator accomplished in cases involving all core rights. He also advises brand and technology-based businesses on all manner of licence agreements.
“Martyn Fish is personable, highly knowledgable and a highly sophisticated negotiator.”
Midlands: Intellectual Property – Band 3
What the team is known for
HGF Law in Birmingham is a full-service IP practice which works closely with its sister patent and trade mark attorney firm. It counsels clients on patent, design and trade mark registration. The firm has a deep well of experience in IP litigation, including before the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court and High Court.
Strengths
“HGF Law offers a good level of knowledge and expertise across the team.”
“They have always been approachable and responsive to our requirements.”
“The team is immensely broad in both knowledge and connections.”
Work highlights
HGF Law provided Holland & Barrett with strategic brand planning advice on a global basis and advised on advertising, brand enforcement and infringement issues. This included defending against allegations of US trade dress infringement, managing a take-down programme on Amazon and successfully pursuing online infringers.
Notable practitioners
Marie McMorrow Marie McMorrow is the head of department at HGF Law in Birmingham. She is highly sought after for her experience in trade mark, copyright and patent disputes. She is frequently instructed on complex cross-border IP matters and regularly appears before the High Court and IPEC.
“Marie McMorrow has been an invaluable resource and adviser.”
About Chambers UK Guide 2023
Chambers and Partners has been the leading source of independent legal market intelligence for over 30 years. They have more than 70 experienced, dedicated researchers ranking the best law firms and solicitors working in the UK legal market. This provides a wealth of local knowledge and market insight.
The Chambers UK guide’s legal market coverage and analysis covers 78 specialist areas of UK law, such as corporate/M&A, banking and finance, employment, personal injury and family/matrimonial. It is grouped by regions, such as South West, Midlands and London.
