HGF

Who owns HGF?

HGF is currently owned by CBPE Capital through CBPE Capital Fund X (2020 vintage), since 2024.

Hand-verified · updated 2026-05-29

About HGF

HGF is a Leeds-headquartered European intellectual-property firm whose patent attorneys, trademark attorneys, design attorneys and IP solicitors provide an integrated offering across patents, trademarks, designs, copyright and IP litigation. Its practice spans chemistry, life sciences, engineering and technology sectors, and it positions itself as one of Europe's largest IP specialists and the second-largest provider of IP services in the United Kingdom. The firm operates from more than 20 offices across seven European countries, the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland, and supports over 3,000 organisations worldwide with their patent, trademark and IP strategy needs. Its stated ambition is to become Europe's IP firm of choice, building an integrated cross-border platform under a single brand.

Ownership journey

HGF was founded in 1995 with initial offices in Leeds and Manchester and expanded over the following three decades into a multi-country European IP group, adding offices in Rennes in 2021 and Belfast and Dresden in 2023, alongside its earlier merger with the German firm Patronus IP. In October 2024 the firm secured a private-equity investment from CBPE Capital, made through the CBPE Capital Fund X vehicle, in a transaction the firm and CBPE described as a minority investment intended to accelerate its growth strategy. CBPE was selected for its track record in professional services, including BKL, Centralis and Perspective Financial Group, and its deal team was led by Harry Hewlett and Ian Moore. CBPE remains a current backer and HGF is still listed as an active investment; no exit or secondary transaction has been recorded.

Under PE ownership

The 2024 investment was earmarked for four strategic priorities set out at completion, people, processes, technology and services, with the capital intended to support recruitment, systems and enhanced advisory offerings rather than a change of operating model. HGF framed the deal as a way to broaden equity participation across the firm, extending ownership beyond its historic partner base, and to fund continued expansion toward its goal of European IP leadership. Alongside the transaction the firm advanced technology initiatives including a Salesforce partnership and strengthened its people proposition, introducing a policy of 26 weeks of fully paid parental leave. As the investment closed only in late 2024, the operational impact remains early stage, with growth centred on headcount, office footprint and cross-border integration rather than any disclosed financial return.