Harrison Goddard Foote Blog

HGF hires new partner to London office

 

 
 

In a further boost to its chemistry team, HGF has hired European and Chartered Patent Attorney Hsu Min Chung as a partner in its Chancery Lane office in London.

Her expertise in drafting, filing and prosecuting European patents in the chemistry, material science and pharmaceuticals fields further strengthens the London team and the national chemistry team headed by Nigel Sanderson.

Joining from another leading patent and trade mark attorneys where she was also a partner and with prior experience as an in-house patent attorney for a major multinational oil company, Hsu Min has experience managing substantial patent portfolios for clients including universities, start-up companies and multinational corporations.

Please see the full news article and profile of Hsu Min Chung on the HGF website.

 

HGF expands into new premises in York

 

HGF has moved to larger premises in Saviour House, St Saviourgate in York this week from its former office in Micklegate. The relocation reflects the continued expansion of HGF, now one of the top five UK intellectual property firms both locally and nationally.

The firm has grown from launch with two attorneys in 1995 to more than 65 attorneys and solicitors and a total staff of over 150 today. The York office, which launched in 2001, has nearly tripled in size over the last four years and now numbers eight attorneys, including four partners, reflecting business growth in the office’s specialist areas of electronics, engineering, life sciences, chemistry and pharmaceuticals.

Nigel Sanderson, Partner and Head of the York office, said: “Our continuing success is due to the collective experience and expertise of our specialist teams which allow us to provide our clients with a winning combination of technically and commercially sound advice.

"The relocation represents a return to St Saviourgate for us, where we started in 2001 before we moved to Micklegate. Our new offices are much bigger, providing excellent facilities for clients and staff alike and a great space for all the attorneys to work together.”

HGF and sister firm HGF Law together form one of the fastest growing, full-service intellectual property firms in the UK, with offices in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester and Sheffield as well as York, serving a national and international client base. Growth has been secured organically and through a combination of acquisition and strategic lateral hires, from both private practice and in-house counsel.

HGF York is now located at: Saviour House, 9 St Saviourgate, York, YO1 8NQ. For more information about the firm’s services, please contact T: +44(0) 1904 732 120 or email Office Managing Partner Nigel Sanderson on E: nsanderson@hgf.com

 

Increase in Legal 500 ranking for HGF

HGF and sister firm HGF Law is delighted to announce that it has increased its ranking in the latest edition of the Legal 500, moving from Tier 3 to Tier 2 for both Patent Attorneys and Trade Mark Attorneys in London in the respected legal directory.

In addition, the intellectual property firm has maintained its prestigious Tier 2 ranking for patents and trade mark matters in the regions, reflecting strong growth across all its offices. In the Yorkshire and Humber region, sister law firm HGF Law have maintained their Tier 2 ranking, while in Scotland, where the firm was named Scottish IP Firm of the Year in 2011 only four years after opening in Glasgow, the firm is the only patent and trade mark specialist to be listed in the Scottish rankings.

The Legal 500 praised the London team led by Matt Dixon as ‘a very well-organised operation’ with ‘an incisive and business-like approach to developing and protecting its clients’ IP’. Life sciences head Richard Williams and engineering head Matt Dixon are recommended for their ‘excellent knowledge, experience and analytical acumen’. The increased ranking reflects several high-profile lateral hires this year for the London team, including Michael Varvill, a brand specialist who joined HGF Law from a top city law firm in April and life sciences expert Dr Claire Irvine, partner, who is leading the firm’s successful oppositions and appeals team. In the regions, HGF is noted for its strength in the areas of chemistry and pharmaceuticals.

Manchester-based Dr Andrew Wells is respected as ‘very knowledgeable on the pharmaceutical industry and an extremely capable patent attorney’, and Lee Curtis is recommended for trade mark matters. In Leeds, Chris Vaughan and Jonathan Atkinson are well regarded for their ability to handle complex issues while Glasgow-based Dr Gary Wilson is noted as 'a trusted service provider, and highly knowledgeable’. In trade marks, David Potter is regarded as ‘a knowledgeable and reliable attorney’.

Managing partner Paul Sanderson is recommended for his patent expertise and Martyn Fish is ‘very good’ in areas such as royalty negotiations and trade mark infringement cases for specialist IP firm HGF Law.

Commenting on the latest edition of the Legal 500, Paul Sanderson, CEO of the HGF Group, said: “We are delighted with this year’s results. Achieving the second tier in London for both patents and trade marks and maintaining our Tier 2 position in the regions and HGF Law confirm HGF’s position as one of the premier IP firms in the UK. The rankings reflect the quality of advice given by our attorneys which has resulted in consistent growth across our client base and several high-profile wins this year, which has in turn meant we have been able to attract first-rate attorneys to the firm.”

For more information please visit: http://www.legal500.com/c/london/tmt-technology-media-and-telecoms/

HGF supports innovation at Disrupt@MADE

 
Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys HGF are delighted to be sponsoring Disrupt@MADE, part of MADE: The Entrepreneur Festival, to be held in Sheffield on 21 - 24 September.

The festival, which was first held last year, provides a platform for start-up businesses and global brands to be inspired, share ideas, meet investors, mentor and influence future policy.

Disrupt@MADE on Thursday 22 September will look at how businesses can gain competitive advantage by incorporating disruptive thinking into their business practices.

With a series of workshop events, a debate by Wired and a TEDx Sheffield event in the afternoon, the day will be of particular interest to creative and digital companies, although the expert insights and discussions will be relevant to all businesses.

To coincide with the festival, HGF is running a free IP drop-in clinic. Every day from 21 – 23 September, we are offering a free 30-minute consultation to Sheffield businesses interested in developing their IP at our Sheffield office at Fountain Precinct, Balm Green, Sheffield, S1 2JA.

Simply drop in to meet the team, or if you would like to book your session in advance, please contact Kathryn Grant at kgrant@hgf.com   

Harry Hutchinson, Senior Partner & Head of HGF Sheffield, said: “HGF is proud to support Disrupt@MADE, which focuses on encouraging entrepreneurship through technological innovation.  Whether it’s through advanced manufacturing or its UK - leading creative and digital industries, Sheffield’s entrepreneurial success is founded on innovation, which the government has rightly identified as key to the country’s economic recovery.

"In recognition of this we are running a free IP drop-in clinic to coincide with the festival, which provides the opportunity for business-owners and entrepreneurs to ask us a question on any aspect of IP.”

Through its Sheffield office, HGF has been supporting local innovation and technology in South Yorkshire since 1999.

With particular expertise in the areas of electronics and software, computing, physics and engineering, HGF Sheffield serves some of the leading companies and universities in the city such as the University of Sheffield and Rotherham-based Pyronix, a leading manufacturer of security systems.

The regional team can also draw on its national network and the expertise of seven specialist technology groups including a trade mark team throughout the UK to provide an integrated, full IP service to business.

Scottish IP Firm of the Year opens office in Aberdeen

HGF Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys is delighted to announce that it is opening a dedicated office in Aberdeen in a move which demonstrates its commitment to the Scottish market after being named Scottish IP Firm of the Year 2011 by Managing Intellectual Property magazine.

Former Junior Chamber International (JCI) Aberdeen president and patent atorney Craig Watson joins HGF as a partner to lead the new office at the Innovation Park at the Bridge of Don.

Craig’s experience in the energy, oil and gas and renewables sectors will enhance the considerable expertise of the Scottish HGF team of partners Dr Gary Wilson, Dr Glen Wilson and patent director Douglas Drysdale.

Dr Gary Wilson, head of HGF Scotland, said: “HGF already provides IP services to international energy clients through our network of offices in Scotland and England. Opening a dedicated office in Aberdeen will put us in a great position to build on our growing reputation in the North East in this sector.

“Since opening an office in Glasgow in 2007, HGF has gone from strength to strength in Scotland, culminating in the firm being named Scottish IP Firm of the Year in 2011 by Managing Intellectual Property magazine. We are pleased to welcome Craig to the HGF team. He brings over a decade of experience in the Aberdeen energy industry and will be a fantastic asset to the Scottish team.”

Craig Watson said: “Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire is widely recognised as the global leader in innovation for the energy market and I am pleased to continue to support the industry by joining HGF Scotland and look forward to leading the firm’s Aberdeen office. HGF has built a reputation for strong technical expertise and client service in Scotland which we will continue in Aberdeen.”

HGF will be attending the Offshore Europe Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition in Aberdeen on 6-8 September and can be found at stand 5D51. To book an appointment to meet Craig please call him on 07527 922866 or email cwatson@hgf.com

For more information on any aspect of IP, please contact the Aberdeen office, Davidson House, Campus 1, Aberdeen Innovation Park, Balgownie Road, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, AB22 8GT E: cwatson@hgf.com

To view Craig's profile, please see the 'People' section of the website and search for Aberdeen.

 

All is not lost for the Stormtroopers

Foreign copyright claims can be heard in the UK 

By Martyn Fish, Partner, HGF Law

The Supreme Court (the UK’s highest appellate Court) has today given its much awaited judgment in the case of Lucasfilm Limited v Ainsworth.

The dispute concerns the famous Imperial Stormtrooper helmets used in the Star Wars films and whether they are protected by UK copyright laws. Most of the headlines surrounding this decision will focus on the fact that the Supreme Court held that the helmets are not works of sculpture and therefore not protected by UK copyright law.

More importantly in an unexpected move the Supreme Court decided that cases of foreign copyright infringement can be brought in the English Courts. This is a major change in policy by the Courts.

For Martyn's full analysis of this case, please see the HGF Law briefing note (available from the HGF Law news pages).

To discuss this case or any other copyright issues contact Martyn Fish on 0113 233 0148 or mfish@hgf.com  

Team HGF raise over £1,000 for charity on 40 mile ‘PLOD’

A team from HGF Leeds and Sheffield completed the ultimate endurance challenge – a 40-mile circular walk on the Chalkland Way called ‘the PLOD’ – on 8 June, raising over a thousand pounds for Action Medical Research, a children’s charity.

The eight-strong team, led by Dr Rachel Jones of HGF Leeds, took eighteen and a half hours to complete the gruelling walk in the scenic Yorkshire Wolds, starting at midnight on Friday and walking through the darkness to finish on Saturday early evening.

 
 
Team HGF with their PLOD medals (from left to right) Andy Camenisch (with his fiancée Alex on the far-left), Ben Wright (support driver), Lyndsey Hall, Vincent Jennings, Rachel Jones, Daniel Wollaston, Jo Speak, Guy Towlson (support driver) and Ang Harker (not pictured).

Rachel Jones said: “I was invited to participate by Action Medical Research, which funds medical research into childhood and baby illness and disability in the UK. When I approached HGF staff, eight people volunteered for the challenge to support this worthy cause. Thank you to everyone who crossed their fingers for nice weather; the torrential rain missed us and the weather was great!

“The hardest bit for me was doing the trek whilst missing a night’s sleep, so we were already tired before we started. Most of the team developed blisters and Jo and Dan had to hobble the last five miles but refused to give up - I think they will both be wearing trainers for the next week!

 

“We owe a huge thank you to our support drivers, Guy Towlson and Ben Wright, who pitched a gazebo, brewed hot tea on their petrol stove and supplied us with food and muffins baked by Guy at the check points. We couldn’t have completed the trek without them and, without doubt, we had the best support drivers out of all 24 teams taking part. We’re already talking about future plans for fundraising – possible ideas include doing the PLOD again or the three-peak challenge.”

 

So far the HGF team has raised over a thousand pounds for Action Medical Research, well on their way to reaching their £1,250 target. If you would like to help them, you can still sponsor them at:

www.action.org.uk/sponsor/HGF

 

HGF Scotland Awarded title of Scottish IP Firm of the Year

 

At an award ceremony in London’s Dorchester Hotel last night Managing Intellectual Property magazine announced Harrison Goddard Foote as Scottish IP Firm of the year. The firm beat off stiff competition in this highly competitive market to take this prestigious award.

HGF opened in Glasgow 3 years ago into a market dominated by existing providers in the IP market. The firm came into the market with a strong long term commitment to provide clients with excellent attorneys and pro-active client service. This strategy has paid off with the team winning clients across all technical fields with clients ranging from large blue chip companies to universities and highly innovative SMEs.

Their success has also manifested itself with a new office move on April 18^th, to Delta House, West Nile Street, Glasgow, due to recent hires with further recruitment to shortly follow in 2011. An Aberdeen office has also been opened to service mainly oil and gas companies in the area.

Dr Gary Wilson commented: “Winning Scottish IP firm of the year is a great honour and confirms our place as a leading IP provider in Scotland. My team and I strive to be the best in the market place and this award clearly recognises this commitment to excellence.”

Jason Lumber, Chairman of Harrison Goddard Foote, commented: “I am delighted that the team in Scotland have won the Scottish IP firm of the year. HGF is committed to the Scottish market and recognises the wealth of innovation in the region. Our aim was always to differentiate ourselves through excellence and this award demonstrates that our efforts have been rewarded by MIP magazine. To receive this accolade so soon after the firm’s arrival in Scotland is also of great pride to the HGF partners.”

HGF

HGF at the John Logie Baird Awards

A few weeks back, Harrison Goddard Foote’s office in Glasgow attended the prestigious John Logie Baird Awards. It was a 20’s themed night with lots of glamour and excitement.

Each year, hundreds of entrants submit for the awards, resulting in 18 finalists fighting for the 6 different awards. The John Logie Baird Awards focus on innovation and technology Harrison Goddard Foote had a tremendous evening ahead of them, as four of their clients were nominated in four different categories.

  

Nominated in the ‘Impact through Innovation’ category was Edinburgh based Spinsight Ltd. Spinsight was founded in 2008 and their innovation focuses on the ability to analyse sports events in real-time. The second nominee associated with HGF was the founder of Viopti Ltd, Alastair Knox who was nominated for “Entrepreneurial Spirit”.  Viopti are to launch a range of innovative contact lens eye care products. This will include the ContactsPod that is a patent protected pre-filled disposable case.

 

The third nominee was Ian Guy from Air Free Ltd. The Air Free innovation is a drip chamber redesign that prevents air entrainment in drip lines. Air Free was also the winner of the SIE New Ideas Award 2010 (Science Eng & Tech Category), 2nd Place in University of Glasgow Big Idea 2009 and most notably an international finalist (top 15 from over 500 starting entries) in the James Dyson Award. The final nominee was inventor Jim McConkey, who has already won two awards before. Jim is nominated for a door alarm for the elderly, which is in production and has been installed in 114 houses.

 


The night was filled with several posts on the programme, included the grandson of John Logie Baird holding a speech about how innovation and the use of modern technology.

There was tough competition in all 4 categories. Especially three strong candidates were up for the award of Entrepreneurial Spirit, which in the end the prize was won by Alastair who founded Viopti and was with HGF at the awards. The award is for an individual innovator or inventor for an innovation which has required outstanding entrepreneurial spirits in its commercialization, such as response to adversity, problems faced and overcome.

 

 

Glen Wilson, Patent Director at HGF attended the award ceremony, keen to support the various HGF clients up for awards that evening. Upon hearing of Viopti’s success, he commented:

“We are delighted to see Viopti Ltd. has been rewarded for their innovation and hard work and are very pleased to be part of their success.  We look forward to supporting them and their intellectual property needs in all their future endeavours. ”

HGF were very proud to be there the night of the event and having four clients nominated. If you think HGF might be able to work with your company, innovation or idea, check out our website here.

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HGF is on Twitter too!

Harrison Goddard Foote is not only using a blog this day as a social media tool, but we are now also to be found on Twitter.

 

Our Twitter name is @HGF_IP, so be sure to add us to get our latest news, events and happenings straight to your twitter feed. We also have several members of staff using Twitter, so if you have a question or an enquiry, do not be afraid to get in touch with us.
We will also directly do a tweet when a new blog post is out, so it is even easier to catch up on us when we have something to share!

HGF

P.S: You can find a direct Twitter link to us on the right with several other sources to connect to us!