IAM Patent 1000 2019

The IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Professionals 2019 guide has now been published. IAM’s market-leading guide covers all the world’s major patent jurisdictions. The guide analyses and details the firms and individuals identified as leaders of the pack.

HGF are delighted to have 13 attorneys listed within the latest IAM Patent 1000 guide from our UK, Scotland, the Netherlands and Ireland offices.

HGF also have 3 attorneys listed in the IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists.

The firm is  listed as Recommended Firm in the UK, Scotland and Ireland within the guide. This achievement comes on the back of another successful year for the firm, including recent office openings in Germany and Ireland, giving the firm a total of 20 offices across Europe.

The 13 attorneys published in the IAM Patent 1000 guide are:

• Matt Dixon – Partner and Head of Engineering
• Harry Hutchinson – Partner and Head of Electronics
• Dr Andrew Wells – Partner and Head of Pharmaceuticals
• Dr Gary Wilson – Partner and Head of Chemistry
• Dr Chris Moore – Partner and Head of Oppositions and Appeals
• Janet Knowles – Partner and Solicitor in HGF Law
• Dr Jonathan Atkinson – Partner
• Craig Thomson – Partner
• Lucy Johnson – Partner
• Dr Achim Krebs – Partner
• Matt Cassie – Partner
• Dr Jamie Thomson – Patent Director
• Dr Andrew McGettrick – Senior Patent Attorney

The 3 attorneys listed in the IAM Strategy 300 guide are:

• Dr Andrew Wells – Partner and Head of Pharmaceuticals
• Hsu Min Chung – Partner
• Matt Dixon – Partner and Head of Engineering

United Kingdom

The guide states “HGF Ltd has been on a blistering growth trajectory over the past few years – the firm now boasts 17 offices across Europe and there will no doubt be more in the pipeline if word of its outstanding quality attracts yet more clients. Covering all key sectors and types of non-contentious patent work, HGF’s patent attorney team aims to create pragmatic, bespoke solutions that consistently dazzle clients. Partners at the firm collaborate closely and instinctively know how to assemble teams that are more than the sum of their parts. Based in the Sheffield office, Harry Hutchinson is the firm’s senior partner; his high-tech prosecution and filing prowess – especially when it comes to telecoms, three-dimensional printing and processor architecture – leaves rivals in the dust. Birmingham-headquartered Chris Moore has his fingers in many technical pies. From chemistry to plastic electronics and fuel cells, his is the number to call for impeccable oppositions and appeals representation. Fellow chemist Jonathan Atkinson is a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemists and head of HGF’s Asia team. His pharmaceuticals practice continues to thrive on both contentious and non-contentious sides. Andrew Wells inhabits the same technical universe as Atkinson. One of his highlights this year has been helping to coordinate a successful bid to join Imperial Innovation’s IP panel, a major client win for the firm. Co-leading this bid alongside Wells was London-based Matthew Dixon, whose broad technical coverage of the physics, engineering, electronics and software realms is a client magnet. Among other distinctions, Dixon won the Gill Prize for the highest aggregate mark in his year when sitting the UK patent attorney examinations. Dixon’s colleague Matthew Cassie is another former winner of this prestigious award; his filing and prosecution skills are refined, and his client care is superb. Newcastle-based Lucy Johnson is an exceptionally versatile mechanical engineering patent strategist, as well as a qualified mediator. Last but not least, noted negotiator Janet Knowles draws positive accolades for her rarefied life sciences licensing dexterity. “Thorough and personable, she forms productive relationships easily, communicates well and always takes the trouble to understand the wider context before issuing her advice.”

Scotland

The guide states “The narrative this year for HGF Ltd has been one of ebullient growth. As one competitor puts it: “The firm has been growing so much it’s running out of Britain.” HGF has been garnering plaudits for providing a client-focused, streamlined, cost-effective service that combines quality drafting with strong personal relationships. This “exponential” growth is not confined to Scotland; in April 2018, HGF opened an office in Westport, Ireland, which was shortly followed by a Munich office in July of the same year. Such positive growth is also reflected in HGF’s popularity as a magnet for established patent attorneys seeking a new environment in which to thrive. Recruited back in 2017, Andrew McGettrick has certainly thrived, by using his finely-honed patent prosecution skills to carve out space for companies looking to operate in lucrative yet crowded landscapes. Managing partner Gary Wilson continues to drive the firm forwards, regularly representing major clients before the EPO with consummate skill. “Extremely knowledgeable, easy to work with and very responsive,” Wilson is the “go-to” Scottish connection for many of his European clients. His colleague Jamie Thomson also understands how to compile bulletproof patent applications; he has been plying his trade for clients such as Devro Plc, the world’s leading collagen manufacturer. This year is expected to be a bright one at HGF, with the “proactive, prompt and responsive” firm looking to continue its gathering momentum”.

Ireland

HGF has been on a remarkable growth curve in the past decade, opening a slew of offices in the United Kingdom and across Europe. In May 2018 the firm expanded to Ireland, establishing a presence in Westport to tap into the buzzing life sciences scene in Galway. Taking the reins on this initiative is Craig Thomson, an experienced handler of biotech, pharmaceutical, chemical and medical innovations. Thomson is a seasoned prosecutor and serves up trenchant advice on IP strategy in connection with technology-driven deals and enforcement issues; the broad ambit of his practice has helped him develop a refined commercial sense.

For more information on the IAM Patent 1000 and 300 guide please click here.