HGF boosts London chemistry and pharma practice with D Young partner

Garreth Duncan officially joined HGF’s London office on 1 April 2026, bringing with him considerable expertise across a broad range of chemical technologies.

His practice has a strong focus on the pharmaceutical sector, where he specialises in protecting new chemical entities, formulations, advanced drug delivery technologies, and medical uses. Notably, Duncan also brings extensive experience in supplementary protection certificates. Alongside pharma, he advises clients on food chemistry, agricultural chemistry, petrochemicals, and polymers.

Strategic growth for HGF

The move marks the end of a nearly two-decade tenure at D Young & Co. Duncan joined the firm as an associate in 2007 and was promoted to partner in October 2011.

Prior to his time at D Young, Duncan gained valuable in-house experience during a four-year stint at Pfizer, where he worked as a senior patent attorney. He began his career in IP in 1997 as a technical assistant at Marks & Clerk, qualifying as a European patent attorney in 2003.

At D Young Duncan was recently active for a manufacturer of vaccines and a research institute in the food and beverages sector.

Private-equity backed

At HGF, Duncan will integrate into the firm’s expanding chemistry and pharmaceutical group. The hire underlines the firm’s ongoing ambitious growth strategy across the UK and Europe.

Previously, HGF has expanded its European patent practice with two partners in Paris and one partner in Munich. HGF has 24 offices in seven European countries. In addition to the UK, Ireland and France, HGF has a presence in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands. HGF is best known in the UK, with 13 offices across the region. The new additions are part of its European expansion strategy following recent private equity investment in 2024.