Mr Mrs Miss Ms Dr Other

Mr
Chris
Vaughan

Senior Partner

Leeds Office

Technology & Engineering

Telephone. +44(0) 113 233 0100
Mobile. +44(0) 779 875 7925
Email. cvaughan@hgf.com

Experience

Much of Chris’ practice involves working closely with SMEs, often born out of promising academic research by major UK universities, helping them to develop effective intellectual property strategies and secure multi-million pound investments. He also works with in-house patent attorneys and senior executives at major multinationals, and has expertise in worldwide patent prosecution.

Chris has particular experience in relation to fuel cell technologies, mobile phone antennas, metal coatings, oil and gas exploration, medical devices, civil engineering, electronic article surveillance and endoscopy.

After taking his first degree in natural sciences and a postgraduate diploma in computer science at Christ’s College Cambridge, Chris entered the profession directly in 1991, training with a large private practice firm in London. He qualified in 1995, and joined HGF as a partner in 1999.

Chris is fluent in German, and is experienced in acting before the Opposition and Appeal Divisions of the European Patent Office in Munich.

Chris heads the Engineering team in HGF's Leeds office, and serves as Chair of HGF's Conflicts Committee.

Qualifications

Patent Attorney

Chartered (UK)
Europe


MA

Natural Sciences (Cantab)

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE

Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science (Cantab)

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE

Postgraduate Certificate in Intellectual Property Law (London)

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE

Intellectual Property Litigation Certificate

Recognition

"Best for SME IP Strategy - UK", Acquisition International Awards 2015

View recognition online

Download recognition PDF

"UK – Niche Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year (Academic Spin-Off)", ACQ5 Global Awards 2019

View recognition online

Download recognition PDF

"UK – SME Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year", ACQ5 Global Awards 2020

View recognition online

Download recognition PDF

"UK - Engineering IP Lawyer of the Year", Gamechangers 2023 Global Awards

View recognition online

Download recognition PDF

CSR

Chris regularly leads tutorials, both in-house and externally, for trainee patent attorneys preparing for UK and European qualifying examinations.

Related News

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

PRESS RELEASE – HGF strengthens European presence with three new Partners in France and Germany

HGF is pleased to announce the arrival of three new partners, further strengthening its European presence. Two partners will be joining the firm’s fast-growing French practice, and one will join …

Read article

G1/23: The Enlarged Board of Appeal shift EPO practice towards an “on-sale” bar.

Last week, the EPO’s Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) issued its Decision that both a product put on the market before the date of filing of a European patent application, …

Read article

The EPO Board of Appeal comments on the scope of the morality exclusion from patentability

The recent decision, T1553/22 of the Board of Appeal required the Board to consider the scope of the exclusions from patentability under Article 53(a) EPC. The invention in this case …

Read article

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

Let's talk

If you would like to discuss how HGF could help you, contact one of our IP specialists.