< Back to latest news & events

News

PRESS RELEASE – HGF secures private equity investment

October 2024

HGF secures private equity investment to propel its vision of being Europe’s IP Firm of Choice; to attract top talent and to deliver excellence to clients.

Over the past 30 years, HGF has expanded its presence across Europe, consistently demonstrating an entrepreneurial approach and becoming one of Europe’s leading IP firms. It has now secured strategic investment from private equity firm CBPE, positioning the firm to accelerate its growth strategy and deliver enhanced value to both its clients and team.

HGF remains dedicated to building a responsible business, grounded in its core values: People, Teamwork, Progressiveness, and Excellence.

The investment will enable HGF to focus on enhancing its high-quality advisory services, with an emphasis on four key strategic areas: people, processes, technology, and services. These efforts will boost the firm’s value to its global client base and significantly expand its commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives.

Prior to this investment, HGF had already made bold moves in the industry, including a strategic partnership with Salesforce and the introduction of a new parental leave policy, offering 26 weeks of fully paid leave for parents. These initiatives underscore HGF’s fearless approach to change in the traditionally conservative IP sector. As part of this investment, a greater number of colleagues will now benefit from an equity interest in HGF.

HGF selected CBPE as its partner due to their deep understanding of the IP industry’s potential and their track record of successful investments in professional services firms, such as BKL, Centralis, and  Perspective Financial Group. The alignment of values between the two firms made CBPE the ideal partner to help HGF achieve its vision of becoming Europe’s IP Firm of Choice.

Martyn Fish, CEO of HGF, commented: “This investment marks a significant opportunity for HGF and everyone in the team. I am thrilled with our decision to partner with CBPE to take the next step in our journey. Their culture and values are closely aligned with ours, and we share a common vision for the future of HGF.”

Harry Hewlett, CBPE Director, commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with the HGF team. IP services is a sector that we know well. We recognise in HGF a highly attractive business, with a strong team committed to delivering exceptional service to its clients. We look forward to supporting the business during the next phase of its growth journey. “

 

About HGF:

HGF Ltd is one of Europe’s largest firms of IP specialists with a vision to be the leading IP services firm in Europe. The firm’s patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys, design attorneys, IP solicitors and attorneys-at-law provide an integrated solution for clients. HGF creates and manages IP portfolios for the world’s leading companies and research institutes. We advise clients on the creation of strategic IP assets around the world and provide world-class expertise in oppositions, appeals, commercialisation, dispute resolution, and litigation to defend and enforce IP rights.

HGF regularly wins industry awards and is recognised by the leading legal directories.

For further comment please contact Jacqui Weston at +44 (0)113 233 0100, jweston@hgf.com. Further details on the firm can be found at www.hgf.com or email marketing@hgf.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Latest updates

Event - 11th November 2025

OIS Investor Forum - Jeffries

HGF is proud to be sponsoring the OIS Investor Forum on 18th November. One of the premier gatherings for leaders, innovators, and investors across the healthcare industry. The forum covers …

Event details

From Stripes to Supermarkets: The Court of Appeal Reaffirms the Need for Precision in Trade Mark Law

On 23 October 2025, Lord Justice Arnold delivered two landmark Court of Appeal decisions addressing trade mark registrability: Thom Browne Inc & Anor v adidas AG [2025] EWCA Civ 1340 …

Read article

Protecting Digital Health innovation in the AI revolution

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform healthcare, from diagnostic imaging and drug discovery to wearable devices and clinical decision support, questions around how to protect these advancements have become …

Read article

Doubling Up on Added Matter at the UPC

Following the UPC Court of Appeal (CoA) decision in Abbott v Sibio (APL_39664/2024, 14 February 2025) we now have a second CoA decision on added matter in expert Klein v …

Read article
Event - 4th November 2025

HGF are Silver Sponsors of LSPN Europe 2025

HGF is proud to be a Silver Sponsor of LSPN Europe 2025, a leading forum dedicated to helping life sciences innovators protect and leverage their intellectual property across the entire …

Event details
Event - 30th - 31st October 2025

RAPS European Digital Technologies and Software conference

HGF is proud to be attending the RAPS European Digital Technologies and Software conference in The Netherlands on 30th-31st October. HGF Partner and Patent Attorney Janine Swarbrick and Patent Director …

Event details

Protect It Before You Promote It: IP Advice for MedTech Innovators

Developed a new medical product? Check. Got tickets to an exciting MedTech conference to show off your new product? Check. Intellectual property? Pardon? In the excitement of bringing a new …

Read article

Agritech Thymes: The Bite of Implied Consent: Lessons from the Pink Lady Case

Can the supply of a plant variety without clear and defined restrictions on its use be an implicit consent to commercialise it? This case centres on the evidence required to …

Read article