Mr Mrs Miss Ms Dr Other

Mr
John
Johnston

Senior Patent Attorney

Birmingham Office Aberdeen Office

Technology & Engineering

Telephone. +44(0) 121 265 7930
Email. jjohnston@hgf.com
Vcard
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Experience

John's professional experience includes drafting and prosecuting patent applications across many jurisdictions, with a focus on the UK, US, Europe, China and Japan.

John works primarily in the mechanical, aerospace and physics fields, with a particular technical focus on energy technologies including upstream oil and gas (particularly well drilling and completion technology), offshore wind and solar.

John has experience working with clients of all types, from start-ups to multinationals in identifying and protecting their intellectual property.

Prior to entering the profession John worked in the energy industry, initially for an engineering consultancy in the field of structural dynamics. This required regular trips offshore to both the UK and Danish sectors of the North Sea in order to carry out vibration and fatigue assessments of upstream oil and gas production equipment.

John then moved into drilling operations where he was based in Algeria and oversaw wellsite drilling operations from "spud to completion".

John's energy industry experience provides him with a unique perspective when looking to protect his clients' intellectual property in this field.

Specialisms

Industries

Services

Qualifications

Patent Attorney

Chartered (UK)
Europe

MENG

MEng (Hons) in Aeronautical Engineering

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE

PG Cert in Intellectual Property

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE

PG Cert in Safety and Reliability Engineering for Oil and Gas

Publications

Drafting for the EPO

View publication online

Can Patent Box Help Keep The Lights On?

View publication online

Intellectual Property (IP) and its role in innovation during the energy transition

View publication online

Energy Transition: The Oil and Gas Tech Behind a New Offshore Wind Industry

View publication online

Protect Future Profits by Making Sure Intellectual Property Rights in Place

View publication online

Conferences: 2025

25th June 2025

Webinar: Patent and trademark strategy for start-ups - protecting innovation, building a brand, securing growth

Attended

Event details

17-06-2025

RenewableUK Global Offshore Wind 2025, London, UK

Attended

Conferences: 2024

20-11-2024

ICoTA 30th European Well Intervention Conference 2024

Attended

25-09-2024

Houston Intellectual Property Law Association 40th Fall Institute on Intellectual Property Law

Attended

22-09-2024

IPO Annual Meeting 2024, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Attended

18-06-2024

RenewableUK Global Offshore Wind 2024, Manchester, UK

Attended

30th May 2024

OGV Group Energy Live: 'Innovation and Technology' webinar

Speaker

Event details

Conferences: 2023

12-12-2023

Offshore Wind Growth Partnership UK Offshore Wind Supply Chain Spotlight

Attended

07-09-2023

SPE Offshore Europe

Speaker

05-09-2023

Houston Intellectual Property Law Association 39th Fall Institute on Intellectual Property Law

Attended

Related News

Event - 25th June 2025

Webinar: Patent and trademark strategy for start-ups - protecting innovation, building a brand, securing growth

Start-ups thrive on ideas – and on protecting them. However, patents and trademarks are often protected too late or insufficiently. HGF is pleased to invite you to participate in our …

Event details
Event - 30th May 2024

OGV Group Energy Live: 'Innovation and Technology' webinar

John Johnston will be speaking at OGV Group Energy Live: ‘Innovation and Technology’ webinar on 30th May at 2pm. This webinar will explore a range of topics around ‘Innovation and …

Event details
Event - 5th - 7th October 2023

39th Annual Fall Institute on Intellectual Property Law

HGF Partner Nick Manley, Patent Director Alastair Blake, and Patent Attorney, John Johnston will be attending the Houston Intellectual Property Law Association’s 39th Annual Fall Institute on IP Law. This …

Event details
Event - 7th August 2023

SPE Offshore Europe 2023

HGF are proud sponsors of the Offshore Wind Hub at this year’s highly anticipated SPE Offshore Europe 2023 Conference & Exhibition, taking place at P&J Live in Aberdeen from the …

Event details
See all updates

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