The Patent 1000 focuses exclusively on patent practice and has firmly established itself as the definitive 'go-to' resource for those seeking world-class legal patent expertise.
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Committed to helping clients meet their long-term commercial goals, HGF is one of the largest specialist IP outfits in Europe. Boasting both legal and technical expertise, the team have earned an excellent reputation for helping patrons develop their IP assets. “HGF is filled to the brim with specialists in a variety of fields. The firm provides a very comprehensive service and can manage a wide range of patent issues, from first application through to protection.” Leading the team is IP all-rounder Craig Thomson, who has an excellent track record of securing successful outcomes for patrons in a variety of legal proceedings. A life sciences expert, he has considerable experience advising players in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, who appreciate his pragmatic and big-picture approach to IP advice. With a background in material sciences, Marie Walsh handles clients of any size, from large US or Chinese-based multinationals to small Irish start-ups. She acts as a commercial anchor, consistently adding value to her clientele and explaining the potential implications of every action. “Working with Marie is always a positive experience. She is very responsive and extremely detailed in her replies. She is objective, very knowledgeable and is clear in her advice about the likelihood of success.” Working across a range of technologies, European patent attorney Sarah Ann McCrann is a specialist in electronics who consistently impresses patrons with her stellar IP strategies.
Marie Walsh is a registered Irish patent attorney, European patent attorney and chartered (UK) patent attorney with over 25 years of experience in advising and delivering on IP strategy for clients including start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations. Ms Walsh has a reputation for working closely with clients and supporting clients’ business goals with pragmatic, commercially focused IP advice, be it on the development of company-wide IP strategies, due diligence or strategies in relation to third party IP.
As well as patent drafting and prosecution, Ms Walsh has achieved successful outcomes for clients in oral proceedings at the EPO Examining and Opposition Division and at the EPO Boards of Appeal.
Ms Walsh has worked with clients across a number of technology areas and specialises in MedTech, industrial chemistry, materials science, polymer chemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry.
Ms Walsh is vice-chair of the UPC committee of the Association of Patent and Trademark Attorneys of Ireland.
HGF Ltd is one of Europe’s largest firms of IP specialists. It is one of only a few to offer clients a fully integrated IP solution, bringing together over 200 patent attorneys, trademark attorneys and IP solicitors. The firm has 23 offices throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
HGF has an ambitious growth strategy and is already one of the leading firms in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe in terms of its national reach, volume of Patent Cooperation Treaty and EU trademark filings and position in major legal directories. Its growth has been secured organically and through a combination of acquisition and strategic lateral hires from both private practice and in-house counsel.
HGF has a proven track record in forging successful long-term relationships with clients across a spectrum of business sectors and technologies. The firm’s highly experienced attorneys, commitment to client service and geographical profile ensure that it is uniquely placed to attend to high-value and complex IP issues.
Specialist teams
HGF offers everything you would expect of a world-class IP firm, including patent drafting, filing and prosecution, trademarks, design rights, copyright, oppositions and appeals, IP litigation, IP strategy, IP due diligence, freedom to operate, supplementary protection certificates and IP contracts, and licensing.
The firm has dedicated teams of experts working across key industry sectors with relevant experience who fully understand their clients’ businesses and appreciate the significance of their brands, innovations and other IP assets.
Patent team
Our patent team comprises 38 partners, 66 patent attorneys and over 50 trainee patent attorneys. Many of our patent attorneys have years of experience working with or for some of the world’s leading technology companies. As a recommended firm in the IAM Patent 1000, HGF also has 13 attorneys listed. The team’s expertise and experience cover the whole range of technical fields.
The chemistry group at HGF is one of the leading multidisciplinary chemical IP practices in Europe. Combining world-class expertise from patent and trademark attorneys and IP solicitors, the team provides advice to a wide range of clients on complex issues. It is specifically sought out by clients to secure and protect their most valuable technology in the chemical arena.
HGF provides expert, commercially oriented patent advice and services to a range of organisations working in the electronics and advanced technology sector. As well as offering patent registration worldwide, it can help shape a business’s IP strategy, enabling it to make best use of its portfolio and to identify new opportunities for the future. Core technology areas include telecommunications, computer software, semiconductor technology, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, drone and autonomous vehicles and flexible electronics.
When it comes to engineering, HGF maintains a talented and specialised engineering team, who have individual expertise in areas including automotive, aerospace, cleantech, energy, medical devices and packaging. Our experience helps our clients to realise the full commercial potential of their inventions and innovations.
With one of the United Kingdom’s largest teams of specialist life sciences attorneys, HGF has a wealth of experience providing clients with practical, legal and strategic advice on managing their life sciences intellectual property. From protecting new research from the United Kingdom’s most prestigious universities, to high-profile oppositions and court proceedings on market-leading products, our attorneys’ practices cover the full range of life sciences innovations.
Languages spoken
The firm’s spoken languages include Chinese, German, French, Dutch, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, Latin, Greek, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Twi, Kyrepong, Ga, Portuguese, Mandarin, Russian, Cantonese, Polish, Gaelic, Arabic, Hindi and Bengali.
International
HGF is one of a few firms to have mapped out reciprocity across the globe and to have a clear strategy for growing international work, targeting the United States, Japan, India, Korea and China with focused activities.
HGF has connections with:
- the Asian Patent Attorneys Association;
- the International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys;
- the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property;
- the American Intellectual Property Law Association;
- the Biotechnology Innovation Organisation (BIO);
- BIO Korea;
- BIO Japan;
- BIO Europe;
- the International Trademark Association;
- Managing Intellectual Property;
- the North East of England Process Industry Cluster;
- International Drug Discovery Science Technology; and
- the American Bar Association.