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Harrison Goddard Foote HGF

40 - 43 CHANCERY LANE, LONDON, WC2A 1JA, ENGLAND
York, Sheffield, Manchester, London, Leeds, Glasgow and 1 more

What we say about the firm's legal practice in London

TMT (technology, media and telecoms)

Within Patent and trade mark attorneys: The Regions, Harrison Goddard Foote HGF is a second tier firm,

Harrison Goddard Foote HGF has a UK-wide presence, and is noted for its strength in the areas of chemistry and pharmaceuticals. Manchester-based Dr Andrew Wells is ‘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. Glasgow-based Dr Gary Wilson is ‘a trusted service provider, and highly knowledgeable’. Clients include Astra Zeneca, Robert Bosch, Ipsen and Eaton Corporation. In trade marks, David Potter is ‘a knowledgeable and reliable attorney’. New clients include Jaguar Land Rover and Halfords.

Within Patent attorneys: London, Harrison Goddard Foote HGF is a second tier firm,

Harrison Goddard Foote HGF is ‘a very well-organised operation’ with ‘an incisive and businesslike approach to developing and protecting its clients ’ IP’. Life sciences head Richard Williams and engineering head Matthew Dixon have ‘excellent knowledge, experience and analytical acumen’. Clients include Ipsen, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Isis Innovation and Jaguar Land Rover. Claire Irvine joined the life sciences group from Marks & Clerk LLP.

Within Trade mark attorneys: London, Harrison Goddard Foote HGF is a second tier firm,

Harrison Goddard Foote HGF’s trade mark group in London is led by Geoffrey Smith and Tom Farrand. It acts for high-profile clients such as Lipsy and Dreamworks on due diligence and contentious matters. Notable new clients include Ben Sherman and British Design Innovation. Michael Varvill joined as a partner from Bird & Bird in April 2011.

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Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • HOUSING

    In Nzinga Maswaku v Westminster City Council [2012] EWCA Civ 669 the Court of Appeal clarified that in offering a homeless person with alternative temporary accommodation the local authority is obliged to point that if the offer is refused it has discharged its Part VII duties under the Housing Act 1996.
    - 11KBW

  • COUNCIL TAX

    In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.
    - 11KBW

  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

    Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.
    - 11KBW

  • Standards

    In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.
    - 11KBW

  • A justified retrospective

    Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation
    - 11KBW

  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

    In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:
    - 11KBW

  • Public Sector Equality Duty

    Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.
    - 11KBW

  • Judicial Review

    The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.
    - 11KBW

  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

    After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
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  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue:
    - Penningtons Solicitors LLP
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