HGF adds two in-house life sciences partners in Basel and Bristol

HGF has made a string of hires in its European patent practice over the past two years. Now it has bolstered its teams in Basel and Bristol.

European patent attorney Frédéric Didelon spent almost 18 years at Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis in Basel, most recently as senior patent attorney in R&D IP. He handled patent matters across the company’s product lifecycle focusing on biologics and gene therapy, covering therapeutic areas such as neuroscience and immunology. His work included drafting and worldwide prosecution of patents for biologics, gene therapy, medical use, formulations and processes, as well as freedom-to-operate analyses, IP due diligence and the management of EPO oppositions with external counsel.

Before joining Novartis, Didelon spent nine years as patent examiner at the European Patent Office in Munich, where he examined applications and handled oppositions in the fields of pharmacy — with a focus on second medical use — and biotechnology.

Didelon says of his move to HGF, “I am looking forward to advising clients on strategic IP matters in the biopharmaceutical and biotech sectors, from early-stage counselling, to post-marketing IP management.”

In-house background in Bristol

A European patent attorney and UPC representative, Fergus Manford joins HGF’s Bristol office after more than two decades of in-house experience in the biotech sector. Most recently, from March 2022, he served as director of IP at Leyden Labs, where he was responsible for the design and execution of IP strategy for the company’s PanCov, PanFlu and PanX platform technologies. His role covered strategic portfolio management of patents, trademarks, registered designs and trade secrets, as well as IP due diligence for in-licensing and acquisition opportunities.

Before Leyden Labs, Manford spent nearly 16 years at UK-based inhaled therapeutics company Vectura Group. During his time at Vectura, he was involved in EPO opposition and appeal proceedings and supported external counsel in patent infringement litigation, including Vectura’s dispute with GlaxoSmithKline over inhalers.

Continued European expansion

The two hires form part of HGF’s ongoing investment in its European practice, which has seen a series of lateral hires since 2024 following private equity investment. According to Kate Taylor, head of HGF’s Life Science Group, “Frédéric’s experience and network in Basel reinforce our presence in one of Europe’s leading life sciences centres, while Fergus’s years working in-house give him first-hand insight into the commercial challenges our clients face. Together they add further breadth and depth to our Life Sciences team and the advice we provide to clients across Europe.”

As recently as April, HGF bolstered its UK team, with patent attorney Oliver Pooley joining the tech practice in Birmingham from Barker Brettell and Garreth Duncan joining the London chemistry and pharma practice from D Young. The previous year, HGF strengthened its presence in Paris and Munich.

The firm currently has over 100 patent attorneys, more than 50 of whom are UPC representatives. It operates from 25 offices, including locations in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland, and Austria. HGF regularly litigates for its prosecution clients, including in EPO oppositions, as well as infringement and nullity suits before civil courts. Its prosecution clients include Fujifilm, Intel, Philip Morris, Samsung Electronics, and Syngenta. The firm represented Philip Morris in an EPO opposition over heat-not-burn technology and acted as a straw man in an opposition over CRISPR/Cas patents. HGF was also involved in the high-profile Xarelto case, representing Amarox/Hetero Lab against Bayer.

HGF is also present in UPC proceedings. Together with lawyers from Krieger Mes, patent attorney Bernhard Ganahl represented Expert Klein and Expert e-commerce in two disputes with Seoul Viosys that began at the Düsseldorf local division and reached the Court of Appeal.