HGF

Firm overview:

Well established European firm HGF brings together patent attorneys, solicitors and transactional experts to provide a full-service IP solution for clients. The firm focuses on the key areas of chemistry, electronics, engineering and life sciences, with subject specialists helping businesses achieve global protection for their inventions.

HGF’s patent team works with clients to harvest, secure, commercialise and exploit their IP. Alongside drafting and prosecuting patent applications, the firm provides strategic portfolio advice and guides clients through transactions involving high-value IP and data. This year, the firm partnered with Rowan Patents, now part of Clarivate, to streamline and improve its patent drafting process.

The firm has an active oppositions and appeals practice at the European Patent Office (EPO), representing clients across all fields including pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, polymers, medical devices and telecommunications. The team also has significant opposition experience in emerging technologies, including CRISPR, bioinformatics, and AI, as well as opposing standard-essential patents (SEPs). Patent attorneys work alongside litigation lawyers to assist clients with a wide range of IP disputes.

Team overview:

The firm has 25 offices throughout the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, France, The Netherlands and Switzerland.

Stand-out members of the UK team include partner, patent attorney and UPC representative Matthew Cassie, who has drafted and prosecuted patent applications across the telecoms, cybersecurity, computer networking, consumer electronics and medical imaging sectors.

Leading the firm’s UPC team is Rachel Fetches, based in London. Fetches advises on contentious IP matters for clients across a broad range of sectors and has litigated cases before the UK Patents Court, High Court and Court of Appeal.

Key matters:

• Patent application for AI invention—Samsung Electronics

According to UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) records, HGF was Samsung Electronics’ representative in the filing of multiple patent applications related to AI in 2024, with one entitled ‘Artificial Intelligence/machine learning model identification for model description’.

• Patent applications—Snap-on

HGF represented US manufacturer Snap-on in multiple patent filings at the UKIPO in 2024, according to office records, such as ‘Ratchet flex joint locking mechanism’.

Clients:

Samsung Electronics, Snap-on