Microscopic photo from National Cancer Institute

Sector group

Life sciences

HGF’s life sciences attorneys understand the challenges associated with commercially focused IP management and can advise on the pertinent issues, from invention conception through to patent term extension, to maximise the value of intellectual property.

Lady looking into test tube

As one of Europe’s largest groups of specialist life science attorneys, HGF has the wealth of technical and legal expertise to deliver truly global, commercially-focused strategies.

From protecting new research from Europe’s most prestigious universities, to high-profile oppositions for international healthcare companies on market-leading technologies, the team possesses in-depth legal experience. Particular technical expertise within the group covers the fields of foodtech, microbiome for therapeutic purposes, cell and gene therapy, bioinformatics, agritech, gene editing, and personalised medicine.

In addition, our life sciences attorneys work closely with our IP lawyers in relation to life cycle agreements such as MTAs, R&D collaborations, companion diagnostics, IP licensing, clinical trials through to commercial manufacturing and supply, and litigation.

See our life sciences specialists

Life sciences sector specialisms

AgriTech
Bioinformatics
Biopharmaceuticals
FoodTech
LongevityTech
Microbiome

Latest updates

Strategic Deployment of Third Party Observations

This episode outlines the strategic use of European Patent Office (EPO) pre-grant Third Party Observations (TPOs) It explains how TPOs can be used to influence the outcome of competitor patent …

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Agritech Thymes: Rare UK Plant Variety Rights ruling provides guidance on the interpretation of “essentially derived varieties”

In this article, we examine a recent UK Plant Variety Right (PVR) case involving “Nadorcott” and “Tang Gold” mandarins. This judgement clarifies what constitutes an essentially derived variety (EDV) and …

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Agritech Thymes: 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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Third party observations

Overview: Third Party Observations (TPOs) are a mechanism by which third parties can submit written observations in proceedings before the EPO. TPOs are often filed with the aim of persuading …

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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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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 …

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

A recent European Union court decision considers the issue of implied consent to commercialise a plant variety, and whether the evidence meets the threshold of “serious doubts” of the validity …

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How France's investment in digital health, AI, and bioinformatics is transforming the intellectual property (IP) landscape

In recent years, France has become a key player in digital health innovation, driven by strategic government investments under the France 2030 initiative and the French Tech 2030 program. These …

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