An HF surgical instrument includes two instrument branches movable toward each other into a closing position. Each branch is equipped with at least one electrode and can be supplied with electric power from a power source. The HF instrument includes a separately configured bridge which is connectable to the power source via at least one electric connection or at least one electric line and includes at least one electrically conductive contact point for supplying the at least one electrode with electric power. The bridge can be introduced to at least one of the two branches so that the at least one contact point is electrically contacted by the at least one electrode. A method of assembling a HF surgical instrument includes equipping two instrument branches with at least one electrode.