Microscopic photo from National Cancer Institute

Sector group

Life sciences

HGF’s life sciences attorneys understand the challenges associated with commercially focused IP management and can advise on the pertinent issues, from invention conception through to patent term extension, to maximise the value of intellectual property.

Lady looking into test tube

As one of Europe’s largest groups of specialist life science attorneys, HGF has the wealth of technical and legal expertise to deliver truly global, commercially-focused strategies.

From protecting new research from Europe’s most prestigious universities, to high-profile oppositions for international healthcare companies on market-leading technologies, the team possesses in-depth legal experience. Particular technical expertise within the group covers the fields of food technology, microbiome for therapeutic purposes, cell and gene therapy, bioinformatics, cleantech, agritech, immunobiology, gene editing technologies, personalised medicine and anti-infectives.

In addition, our life sciences attorneys work closely with our IP lawyers in relation to life cycle agreements such as MTAs, R&D collaborations, companion diagnostics, IP licensing, clinical trials through to commercial manufacturing and supply, and litigation.

See our life sciences specialists

Life sciences sector specialisms

Agritech
Anti-infectives
Bioinformatics
Cell & gene therapy
Diagnostics
Food technology
Gene editing technologies
Immunobiology
Microbiome
Personalised medicine

Life sciences industries

CleanTech
FemTech
Finance
Food & drink
Healthcare
Pharmaceuticals

Latest updates

The draft of The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025 reveals practical details on how to obtain a Precision Bred Organism status

In a recent blog post we discussed the Precision Breeding Regulatory Framework developed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Further details on the application process for Precision Bred Organism confirmation …

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A £2.1M Lesson: The Power of Confidential Information

A recent High Court ruling1 serves as a stark reminder of the importance of respecting confidential business information. Hambro Perks, was found guilty of breaching confidentiality and ordered to pay …

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Event - 6th March 2025

IQPC Global IP Exchange Europe 2025

HGF is sponsoring the IQPC Global IP Exchange Europe, which will be held on the 11th-12th March 2025 in Meliá, Berlin. Head of Electronics, Chris Benson, will be chairing the …

Event details

IP Ingredients: Pouring Over the Verdict: What Thatchers v Aldi Means for Food & Drink Brands

Readers of our IP Ingredients blog may recall that we covered something of this case last summer in our post IP Ingredients: Summer case law review. The dispute between Thatchers …

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Protecting inventions in Europe and beyond

A patent is  a form of registered intellectual property right granted for new, inventive and industrially applicable inventions. Patents are monopoly rights that  allow their owners (or licensees) the right …

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Can intellectual property and foreign investment save struggling European eVTOL companies?

With the ongoing funding difficulties in the European eVTOL sector, we look at the role that intellectual property is likely to play in the prospects for the survival of Lilium …

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Managing IP EMEA Awards 2025

The shortlist for the 20th annual Managing IP EMEA Awards 2025 has been announced, and it is a record-breaking year for HGF’s European team with an incredible 23 nominations! This …

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Designation of a technical standard as a trademark

EUTMR Article 7 (1) (c) and Article 7 (1) (b) – DASH The designation “DASH” of the technical standard/protocol/format for streaming data on the Internet constitutes a descriptive indication in …

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