< Back to latest news & events

Awards

Managing IP firm rankings – Trade Marks 2025

June 2025

HGF has once again been highly recognised in the Managing Intellectual Property firm rankings for trade marks, with Tier 1 rankings and high recommendations in several key jurisdictions.

Each year, the IP STARS rankings spotlight the leading IP firms across the globe, and we’re proud to be recognised as industry leaders.

England

  • Trade Mark Disputes – Patent and Trade Mark Attorney Firms – Tier 1
  • Trade Mark Prosecution – Patent and Trade Mark Attorney Firms – Tier 1

Scotland

  • Trade Mark Prosecution – Highly Recommended

Ireland

  • Trade Mark Prosecution – Patent and Trade Mark Attorney Firms – Tier 2

Netherlands

  • Trade Mark Prosecution – Patent and Trade Mark Attorney Firms – Tier 1

Benelux

  • Trade Mark Prosecution – Patent and Trade Mark Attorney Firms – Tier 3

These rankings are a reflection of our commitment, dedication, and expertise across multiple jurisdictions.

Read the full rankings below.

Latest updates

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 #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 - 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

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