Lauren Somers
Key Details
- HGF
- Trade Mark Director
- 44(0) 161 247 4900
- lsomers@hgf.com
- www.hgf.com
Lauren is a Chartered UK Trade Mark and Designs Attorney. She has expertise advising large multinationals through to small start ups, tailoring her strategic advice to suit client's needs. Lauren is commercially aware across sectors ranging from cosmetics and clothing, food and pharmaceuticals, to software and professional services. She works with her clients to help achieve the desired outcome in a cost effective way - whether that be in relation to filing strategy, oppositions and appeals or in contentious matters. Lauren is also a member of the European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA) and is the Vice Chair of its Internet Committee, recently leading a project on the effect on WHOIS data following the implementation of GDPR.
Leader Profiles
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Partner and Patent Attorney In his activity as patent attorney, Jan works in the fields of materials science and basic industry (metallurgy, metal processing, ceramics, glass, building materials, plastics processing, industrial furnace design),as well as the technical sector in General and inorganic chemistry. In legal matters Jan has a special interest in contract law, in particular licensing and legal purchase agreements. He also has extensive dealings in opposition, nullity and infringement proceedings.
As a German Patent attorney and as well as a European Patent Trade mark and Design Attorney of course another field of interest is trade mark and design/model law.
Jan has many years of experience in the field of industrial property protection (since 1996). He completed his training in a patent and legal attorneys’ office, in the German Patent and Trade mark Office and at the German Federal Patent Court. Afterwards Jan worked in a Munich attorneys’ office before becoming a co-founder of a Munich patent and legal attorneys’ office in 2002.
In 2013 Jan became founding Partner of Patronus IP in Munich. From March 1 he's Partner at HGF Europe LLP.
Prior to training as a patent attorney, Jan studied Material Sciences at the Technical University of Clausthal. In the course of the studies he gained experience in the glass industry, the cement and construction materials industry, and the refractory industry. HGF
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Partner and Patent Attorney Bernhard's main focus lies in the drafting and handling of patents in the areas of electric engineering, software inventions as well as devices for biotechnology and optics. Furthermore he possesses great experience in opposition cases and IP litigation cases as well as trade mark protection.
Bernhard studied Applied Physics at the Technical University of Munich. He has been in the IP business since 1990. He was accredited as a German Patent Attorney in 1994 and in the same year also qualified as a European Patent Attorney.
He has made his name as a specialist legal author with, amongst others, with the article “Patent situation in the field of DNA chip technology in Europe” (which appeared in no. 12/2000 of medgen, the journal of the German Association for Human Genetics) and the articles “Is the core theory once again topical?” (which appeared in the Transactions of German Patent Attorneys in December 2003) and "G 1/19: Did this decision surprise us?" (which appeared in the Transactions of German Patent Attorneys in December 2019), both dealing with German case law in respect of software inventions. The first article was cited by the Enlarged Board of Appeal in the fundamental decision (G 03/08) relating to computer implemented inventions. He regularly gives lectures on different topics in IP law.
Bernhard is a member of the Licensing Executive Society (LES), GRUR and the European Patent Experts Exchange (EuPEX). HGF
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Partner Jennifer has a wealth of experience as a patent attorney, spending time as a coordinator of global IP portfolios, strategic advisor, EPO opposition specialist, and drafter and prosecutor of patent applications in the engineering and physics fields.
She is particularly strong in the fields of mechanical devices and subsea technology (e.g. pipelines, cable protection, vehicles, vessels), medical devices (e.g. wound dressings, vacuum therapy apparatus, retinal treatment devices, waste disposal) and apparatus incorporating aspects of physics or electrochemistry. She is also expanding her knowledge into the wind energy sector and renewables in general.
Jennifer appears frequently before the EPO in Munich and The Hague to attend opposition and appeal hearings. She enjoys a debate and the continued professional development achieved from the fine scrutiny and detail of opposition proceedings.
Jennifer is also a member of the firm's Asia business development team as Japan coordinator, working to review and increase business with Japan and foster relationships with Japanese firms. Having started her IP career at a Japanese patent firm, she gained invaluable insight into the way different businesses and clients operate, and an appreciation of cultural diversity. HGF
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Partner and Patent Attorney Marie is a Registered Irish Patent Attorney, European Patent Attorney and Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney with over 25 years of experience in advising clients including start-ups and SME’s to large corporations. Marie has worked across a number of technology areas and specialises in industrial chemistry, materials science, polymer chemistry, and pharmaceutical chemistry. Marie also has in-depth experience in obtaining Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs).
Marie has strong focus on providing commercially relevant, pragmatic advice based on individual clients’ goals and works to listen and actively engage in understanding those goals so as to tailor advice and action consistent with those goals. Marie has an MBA from the Open University which supports her commercially focused approach to advising on IP strategy.
Marie has worked with clients across the globe, including local firms in Ireland, as well as US and Chinese clients and her objective is on clear communication with the clients’ commercial aims as the central focus. Marie has previously worked with another leading firm of patent attorneys in Ireland where she had the role of Director of Operations for China and Chief Representative of the local China office.
Marie also has extensive experience of providing opinions and advising in relation to freedom to operate (FTO). In addition, she has represented clients at Oppositions and Appeals at the EPO and achieved successful outcomes for clients.
Marie has a strong ethos of being responsive and her values are aligned with striving for excellence at the core of HGF’s values. HGF