The Purposeful Strategist, a podcast from Menkus & Associates in partnership with Norman Broadbent, shares conversations with CEOs on how they translate organisational purpose into bold strategy, real impact, and lasting results.
How do you continue to grow a specialist professional services firm while challenging the conventions of your industry? In this episode, Martyn Fish, Chief Executive and Partner at HGF, reflects on the mindset that has helped transform the business into one of Europe's leading intellectual property firms over the past three decades.
Having spent more than 20 years with HGF, Martyn shares how the firm's entrepreneurial culture and willingness to challenge established ways of working have shaped its growth. He discusses the decision to secure private equity investment from CBPE - a significant shift from the traditional partnership model - and explains why the right investment partner should strengthen a strategy rather than define it, providing both accountability and the freedom to pursue long-term ambitions.
Looking ahead, Martyn explores how HGF is redefining the delivery of intellectual property services by expanding the role of its professionals, investing in leadership development through initiatives such as a mini-MBA programme, and embracing AI to allow attorneys to focus on higher-value work. His perspective highlights how a challenger mindset, combined with continuous investment in people and innovation, is helping the firm prepare for the future of the legal profession.