Håmsø

What Håmsø does

Håmsø Patentbyrå AS is a Norwegian intellectual property advisory firm headquartered in Stavanger, founded in 1950 by Børge Håmsø. The firm provides a full spectrum of IP services covering patents, trademarks, designs, IP strategy consulting, and plant breeders' rights, with direct representation rights before the European Patent Office (EPO), UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), Norwegian Industrial Property Office (NIPO), the Unified Patent Court (UPC), and the international PCT and Madrid systems. Its core technology consists of case processing and deadline monitoring systems for IP portfolio management integrated with the AIPEX international network for cross-border filings. The firm operates through three offices — Stavanger (headquarters), Oslo (opened 2024), and London (opened 2025) — supported by an international team of 24 staff from six nationalities with European Patent Attorney, UK Patent Attorney, and UPC Representative qualifications spanning physics, nanotechnology, mechanical engineering, chemistry, electronics, computer software, and biotechnology.

The firm's revenue model is professional services, fee-based, with quote-based pricing for filing, prosecution, grant, and maintenance of patents (with publicly disclosed fee schedules for core patents but contact-required pricing for most engagements). Håmsø serves a horizontal segmentation spanning startups (Elpedal/Podbike, Rodeo Holding), SMEs (Riska Sagbruk), and large multinationals (Kverneland Group, Neodrill, Alu Rehab, historically Statoil), including high-profile clients such as Erling Braut Haaland and Davide Campari-Milano for whom it has secured trademark victories. The go-to-market is sales-led, combining direct enterprise consultation, website inquiries, professional referrals, and content marketing through a knowledge center and case studies. The firm was family-owned until 2019, when it transitioned to a partnership model with seven equity partners and one associate partner acquiring the business; it has been ranked among Europe's top patent law firms by Financial Times and Statista for seven consecutive years.

The firm's strategic positioning is that of a high-credibility, mid-sized Nordic IP boutique with growing UK ambitions. Its key competitive advantages are the 75-year operating history, multi-jurisdictional direct representation rights, an international talent base, FT/Statista recognition, and AIPEX network membership. Recent strategic moves — opening Oslo in 2024, London in 2025, and recruiting toward a Central Scotland office — signal active geographic expansion in the UK and continued investment in patent attorney capacity to serve multi-jurisdictional IP portfolios.

Name

Håmsø

Legal name

Håmsø Patentbyrå AS

Website

https://patent.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Håmsø Patentbyrå is a Norwegian intellectual property advisory firm, founded in 1950, providing patent, trademark, design, and IP strategy services through offices in Stavanger, Oslo, and London. It serves startups, SMEs, and multinationals with direct representation before EPO, UKIPO, NIPO, and the UPC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intellectual Property Law Services

NAICS

Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management (BPAHAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

IP Filing, Annuities & Renewals Administration (BPAHAMAJ), IP Compliance, Anti-Counterfeiting & Enforcement (BPAHAMAK), IP Due Diligence & Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Analysis (BPAHAMAG), Copyright Services & Content Protection (BPAHAMAC)

Keywords

• Patent filing services
• Trademark registration
• Design protection
• Intellectual property law
• IP strategy consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandnes

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Patent Services: Comprehensive patent services including preparation of new applications, filing and prosecution to grant in various jurisdictions including Europe and Norway, representation in opposition and appeal cases at EPO and Patentstyret
2. Trademark Services: Registration and protection of trademarks including strategic advisory, preliminary searches, preparation of national and international trademark applications, renewal of registrations, assistance in opposition and appeal cases
3. Design Services: Design protection services including preparation of design applications, representation in opposition cases, administrative review requests, and international registration via Hague System
4. IP Strategy Services: IP strategy services including due diligence, IP audits, and portfolio management for businesses and investors
5. Translation Services: Professional translation services for IP documentation and international filings

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Håmsø Patentbyrå is a Norwegian intellectual property advisory firm that prepares, files, and prosecutes patent, trademark, and design applications before the Norwegian Patent Office (NIPO), European Patent Office (EPO), UKIPO, and the Unified Patent Court (UPC), including opposition and appeal proceedings. The firm additionally delivers IP strategy services such as due diligence, IP audits, and portfolio management, and represents clients in opposition cases at EPO and Patentstyret. Services are delivered by qualified European and UK patent attorneys, supported by an in-house international network (AIPEX) for cross-border filings.

Product overview

Håmsø Patentbyrå is a full-service intellectual property consulting firm offering a unified portfolio of services centered around patent, trademark, and design protection. The core offering consists of three main service lines—Patent Services, Trademark Services, and Design Services—all delivered by a team of qualified attorneys and advisors. Supporting these core areas, the firm provides specialized IP Strategy Consulting (including due diligence, IP audits, and portfolio management) and Plant Breeders' Rights services. The services are delivered through direct representation before key jurisdictions including the Norwegian Patent Office (NIPO), European Patent Office (EPO), UKIPO, EUIPO, and through international systems such as PCT and the Madrid Protocol.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Patent Services End-to-end patent services including preparation of new applications, filing and prosecution to grant in Norway, Europe (EPO), and internationally via PCT, plus representation in opposition and appeal cases before EPO and Patentstyret, directed at inventors, startups, SMEs, and large multinationals.
• Trademark Services Trademark registration and protection services including strategic advisory, preliminary searches, preparation of national and international trademark applications, renewals, opposition proceedings, consent negotiations, and complaints against company names, for brand owners and rights holders.
• Design Services Design protection services covering preparation of design applications, representation in opposition cases, administrative review requests, international registration via the Hague System, and anti-counterfeiting assistance through customs authorities, for product designers, manufacturers, and brand owners.
• IP Strategy Consulting Strategic IP services including due diligence, IP audits, portfolio management, and monitoring of industrial rights, directed at enterprises, investors, and corporate IP owners.
• Plant Breeders' Rights Protection of plant breeders' rights, a specialized intellectual property offering for new plant varieties, directed at agricultural companies, breeders, and biotech firms.
• Translation Services Professional translation services for IP documentation and international filings, used by clients pursuing patent, trademark, and design protection abroad.

Quantifiable outcome

• Only 1 in 10 applicants who seek patent without professional help receive approval - Patentstyret recommends using a patent agency
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AIPEXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Nordic representative in the international AIPEX network since 2018, offering simplified management of international IP portfolios for larger international companies. AIPEX is a network of IP companies providing international companies with streamlined IP portfolio administration.
• International Partner NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationSolid international network of professional partners developed through experience and personal relationships since 1950. Partners assist where local representation is required for patent, design, and trademark applications in all countries.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hoffmann Eitle: Leading European patent firm with strong EPO practice, particularly in physics, chemistry, and engineering. Sets the quality benchmark Håmsø competes against for high-value European patent prosecution work.
• HGF Limited: Major European IP and law firm with full-service patent, trademark, and litigation capabilities. Competes with Håmsø for large European patent portfolios and IP litigation mandates.
• J A Kemp: Major UK and European patent and trademark attorney firm with significant EPO representation. A scale competitor to Håmsø, particularly relevant given Håmsø's new London office and UPC ambitions.
• Mewburn Ellis: One of the UK's largest IP attorney firms with broad patent, trademark, and design practice across Europe. A larger incumbent that Håmsø will compete against for premium UK and European patent work.
• Marks & Clerk: One of the world's largest IP firms with deep European patent prosecution capabilities across EPO, UKIPO, and beyond. Represents the broad incumbent benchmark against which Håmsø's FT recognition is measured.

Direct peers

• Zacco: Scandinavian-origin IP consultancy with offices across the Nordics and broader Europe. Competes with Håmsø for cross-border patent and trademark work, particularly for clients seeking a larger Nordic-wide footprint than a single Norwegian firm.
• Potter Clarkson: UK-based patent and trademark attorney firm with strong European patent practice. Comparable to Håmsø in size and specialization, and a relevant competitor now that Håmsø has direct UKIPO representation via its London office.
• Onsagers: Established Norwegian patent agency providing patent, trademark, and design services with international representation. Directly competes with Håmsø across Norway's IP advisory market, particularly for SMEs and Norwegian-headquartered multinationals.
• Plougmann & Vingtoft: Danish-headquartered patent firm with Nordic reach. Offers comparable patent prosecution and IP strategy services to Håmsø and is part of the competitive set for cross-Nordic IP mandates.
• Acapo: Norwegian patent attorney firm offering patent, trademark, and design services with direct representation before EPO and NIPO. Closest head-to-head competitor to Håmsø in the Norwegian IP advisory market, with overlapping client base in Norwegian industrials and SMEs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Håmsø