HGF
HGF is a European intellectual property law firm with 190+ attorneys operating across 25 offices in 7 countries, providing full-spectrum patent, trade mark, and IP advisory services to 3,000+ multinational, SME, and academic clients, with particular depth in chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersLeeds, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What HGF does
HGF is a European intellectual property law firm founded in 1995 in Leeds, UK, operating under the legal entity HGF Limited. It provides full-spectrum IP services spanning patents, trade marks, designs, copyright and database rights, oppositions and appeals, SPCs and patent term extensions, IP litigation, transactional IP, IP due diligence, searching and competitor monitoring, strategy, formalities and renewals, data protection, and advertising law. The firm is organized into five sector groups (Chemistry, Life Sciences, Technology & Engineering, Trade Marks, and Law) and serves roughly 3,000 organizations across pharmaceuticals, life sciences, technology, food and drink, retail, FemTech, energy, finance, healthcare, universities, and research institutions. It supports multinational corporates, SMEs, universities and research institutions across 25 offices in seven European countries (UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria), with a stated headcount of 190+ patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys, IP solicitors, and Rechtsanwälte, many of whom hold PhDs and have prior in-house industry experience.
HGF firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HGF
- Legal name
- HGF Limited
- Website
- https://hgf.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- HGF is a European intellectual property law firm with 190+ attorneys operating across 25 offices in 7 countries, providing full-spectrum patent, trade mark, and IP advisory services to 3,000+ multinational, SME, and academic clients, with particular depth in chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HGF industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Intellectual Property Legal Services
- NAICS
- Legal Services (5411), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management (BPAHAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- IP Search, Watch & Competitive Intelligence (BPAHAMAI), IP Filing, Annuities & Renewals Administration (BPAHAMAJ), IP Management, Patents & Trademark Software (BPAEAPAN)
Keywords
Where HGF is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leeds
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices23 records
Markets served
HGF business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- IP Advisory Services: Professional services revenue generated from providing intellectual property advisory services including patent prosecution, trade mark registration, IP strategy, due diligence, and portfolio management. Services are delivered by patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys, IP solicitors, and attorneys-at-law.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels10 records
HGF product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HGF is a European intellectual property firm providing comprehensive IP services including patent drafting and prosecution, trade mark registration and opposition, IP litigation, EPO oppositions and appeals, Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs), design rights, copyright, trade secrets, IP due diligence, and portfolio management. Services are delivered by 190+ patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys, IP solicitors, and attorneys-at-law through 25 offices across 7 European countries. The firm serves multinational corporations, SMEs, universities, and research institutions across multiple industry verticals.
Product overview
HGF is a comprehensive intellectual property firm offering a broad portfolio of IP services organized as distinct practice areas rather than a unified software platform. Core services include Patents, Trade Marks, Designs, Copyright & Database Rights, IP Litigation, Oppositions & Appeals, Patent Term Extensions & SPCs, Utility Models, Trade Secrets, Transactional IP & Commercial Support, Due Diligence, Searching & Competitor Monitoring, Strategy, Formalities & Renewals, In-House Legal Support, Data Protection & Privacy, and Advertising. The firm operates specialized Sector Groups for Chemistry, Life Sciences, Technology & Engineering, Law, and Trade Marks, serving industries including pharmaceuticals, food & drink, FemTech, retail, healthcare, energy, finance, and creative/media. Supporting offerings include the Knowledge Hub (featuring the Fashionably IP podcast, IP Kitchen podcast, and HGF Presents video series), the proprietary OCIS client portal for docketing, and UP & UPC advisory services. The portfolio spans 25 offices across 7 European countries with 190+ patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys, and IP solicitors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Patents
Quantifiable outcome
- Supporting over 3,000 organizations with IP services
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use HGF
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
HGF technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
HGF partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators9 records
Recent moves29 records
Expansion highlights6 records
HGF competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bird & Bird: International law firm with one of the largest dedicated IP practices globally, including strong pan-European patent litigation capability. Competes with HGF for cross-border IP mandates but offers broader legal services.
- Hogan Lovells: Global law firm with a top-tier IP practice covering patents, trade marks, and litigation across all major jurisdictions. Competes for large multinational IP portfolios but as part of a broader full-service offering.
Direct peers
- Marks & Clerk: One of Europe's largest dedicated IP firms with a similar pan-European footprint and comparable patent and trade mark practice. Direct competitor for cross-border IP mandates across the same geographies.
- Mewburn Ellis: UK-headquartered IP firm with strong chemistry, life sciences, and engineering practices. Closely comparable in size, sector focus, and European service offering.
- Mathys & Squire: Long-established UK patent and trade mark attorney firm with strong European IP prosecution practice. Comparable in client base mix and chemistry/life sciences specialism.
- Boult Wade Tennant: UK-based IP firm with full-service patent and trade mark capabilities across Europe. Comparable size and practice breadth.
- Withers & Rogers: European IP firm headquartered in the UK with offices across multiple jurisdictions, focused on patent and trade mark prosecution in engineering, chemistry, and life sciences.
- Potter Clarkson: Nottingham-based IP firm with strong patent prosecution and litigation capability. Overlaps with HGF in UK chemistry and life sciences work.
- Carpmaels & Ransford: London-headquartered patent and trade mark firm with strong EPO oppositions practice and pan-European coverage. Directly competes for high-stakes IP mandates.
- J A Kemp: London-based IP firm with deep expertise in chemistry, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals — overlapping significantly with HGF's largest sector groups.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HGF social profiles
Digital presenceHGF financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HGF leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
HGF subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
HGF funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HGF M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HGF
What does HGF do?
HGF is a European intellectual property firm providing comprehensive IP services including patent drafting and prosecution, trade mark registration and opposition, IP litigation, EPO oppositions and appeals, Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs), design rights, copyright, trade secrets, IP due diligence, and portfolio management. Services are delivered by 190+ patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys, IP solicitors, and attorneys-at-law through 25 offices across 7 European countries. The firm serves multinational corporations, SMEs, universities, and research institutions across multiple industry verticals.
Is HGF a public or private company?
HGF is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was HGF founded?
HGF was founded in 1995. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is HGF based?
HGF is headquartered in Leeds, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does HGF make money?
One revenue line is on record: IP Advisory Services.
Who are HGF's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bird & Bird and Hogan Lovells. Direct peers are Marks & Clerk, Mewburn Ellis, Mathys & Squire, Boult Wade Tennant, Withers & Rogers, Potter Clarkson, Carpmaels & Ransford and J A Kemp.
Does HGF have an API?
No public API is recorded for HGF.
What industry is HGF in?
HGF's product category is Intellectual Property Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAMAA, Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management, with a secondary code of BPAHAMAI, IP Search, Watch & Competitive Intelligence. Its NAICS code is 5411.