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WIPR Diversity 2022

October 2022

WIPR Diversity 2022 is out and HGF is a gold WIPR Global Diversity Supporter.

The 2022 edition includes:

  • Influential woman in IP and trailblazers – the women making waves in law
  • Growing fears – discover why there is no room for complacency in D&I
  • Neurodiversity in IP – why all minds matter
  • Mental health – striving for authenticity at work
  • And more…

A huge congratulations to HGF Trade Mark Director Adjoa Anim who has been featured in the annual listing of WIPR’s Influential Women in IP and HGF Partner & Patent Attorney Vanessa Stainthorpe who has been featured in the WIPR Diversity Champions list.

In this issue, you can also find an article by HGF Patent Director Dr Sofie McPherson and Senior Patent Attorney Dr Janine Swarbrick on ‘Promoting women in STEM‘. What does it mean for women to be at the heart of our business? They examine the gender balance in IP and what is being done to improve it.

READ IT HERE

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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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”). …

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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 – …

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