Our History

Strategic growth and unwavering dedication to the field of intellectual property is the foundation on which we have built and expanded Murgitroyd. Our journey began in Glasgow in 1975 and over the years, we've been proactive in our approach to acquisitions, enabling us to curate an exceptional blend of talent and experience across all corners of the globe.

Our story continues to evolve, and as markets change, we continue to build our global network and expertise to ensure we offer the best possible service and most effective solutions.

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  1. New North Carolina office

    Moving to the heart of Durham, North Carolina, our new office space aligns with our ESG initiatives and goal to reduce our carbon footprint.

  2. Murgitroyd 2024 Report Promo Double

    Fourth Edition of the ESG Report

    In its fourth year, our ESG Report showcases our sustained approach to adding value to the communities in which we live and operate as well as providing an opportunity to reflect on all that we have achieved in the past 12 months – which continues to drive and inspire us to do more. Read the report here. 

  3. Aerial view of a city with a river running through, surrounded by modern buildings, residential houses, and hills in the background on a clear day.

    New Belfast office

    Located in the heart of Belfast City Centre, the new Murgitroyd Belfast office offers a dynamic setting for collaboration; enhancing new work experiences and making it easier to build and maintain strong professional relationships.

  4. A historic stone church with twin towers, surrounded by palm trees and greenery, under a partly cloudy sky.

    Managua office move

    The new office in Managua represents an important new chapter in the development of the office, as it is uniquely placed to provide a range of services both to support our in-house operations and to support the activities of our clients.

  5. Collection of printed community outreach and engagement documents, including executive summary, group photos, and leadership messages.

    Third Edition of the ESG Report

    Our third Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report showcases our sustained approach to adding value to the communities in which we live and operate as well as providing an opportunity to reflect on all that we have achieved in the past 12 months – which continues to drive and inspire us to do more. Read it here

  6. London skyline with the Tower Bridge in the foreground and modern skyscrapers behind on a clear day.

    New Central London Office

    Based right by Euston station, we’re proud to serve our clients right here in the bustling centre of the UK’s capital in our new Central London office.

  7. Hands holding a red heart-shaped object against a dark background.

    Second Edition of the ESG Report

    As one of the leading businesses in the European IP protection sector, we are committed to growing in the right way. To us, this means ensuring that sustainability, social responsibility and ethics are at the heart of all we do. This helps us to continue to add value to the communities in which we operate around the world as we achieve our ambitious business goals. Read how we do this in the second edition of our ESG Report. 

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    Acquisition of TLIP

    Founded in 2014, TLIP was a specialist UK-based IP firm with offices in Cambridge, Dublin and Leeds. The acquisition of TLIP brought our headcount to over 470 people, including over 140 attorneys, and further strengthened our position as a leading player — and one of the fastest-growing businesses — in the European IP protection sector.

  9. Modern cityscape with illuminated buildings and boats docked in a canal during dusk, under a cloudy sky.

    Leeds office move

    Moving to a new address right in the heart of Leeds, the Murgitroyd Leeds office promotes collaboration and a positive culture with room to grow and develop.

  10. A city skyline at dusk with modern buildings, calm water reflecting the lights, and a partly cloudy sky overhead.

    Acquisition of Creation IP

    Based in Glasgow, Creation IP was founded in 2012 and had a broad spectrum of innovative companies, ranging from Scottish-based start-ups through to larger SMEs and US-based corporates. The acquisition increased Murgitroyd’s headcount to more than 450 and underlined its position as a leading consolidator in the international IP sector.

  11. Murgitroyd signs the Mindful Business Charter

    The Mindful Business Charter is a practical framework that encourages us to be more thoughtful about our impact on each other. It promotes healthier and less stressful working environments and allows people to perform at their best.

  12. Modern cityscape with tall buildings, illuminated windows, a paved plaza, and trees against a clear evening sky.

    Milton Keynes office move

    Our new office in the centre of Milton Keynes will allow us to grow and meet the needs of our clients with increased efficiency. 

  13. Group of diverse friends giving high-fives, smiling and laughing indoors by a window.

    First Edition of the ESG Report

    Our inaugural ESG Report highlights our achievements over the previous 12 months and how we intend to advance our ESG agenda going forward. Read the report here. 

  14. A cityscape featuring modern buildings along a river with boats, under a cloudy evening sky with illuminated windows and streetlights reflecting on the water.

    Acquisition of UDL

    UDL, founded over 100 years ago, was headquartered in Leeds, with offices in Cardiff, London, Milton Keynes and Newcastle. This acquisition was a significant step forward in enhancing the scale and reach of Murgitroyd in the UK and strengthened our overall presence in Europe.

  15. Modern cityscape with tall buildings along a river, reflected in the water, under a partly cloudy sky.

    Acquisition of Hanna Moore + Curley

    Dublin-headquartered Hanna Moore + Curley’s talented team strengthened our reach within Europe and our presence in the Far East – a region which continues to be of increasing interest to our clients – adding specialist knowledge in the electronics, software and digital sectors in particular.

  16. A vibrant city square with red buildings, a fountain with statues in the centre, and people walking on the streets under a clear blue sky.

    Nice office move

    Our new Nice office is in Sophia Antipolis, Europe’s leading technology park, which is well-known for innovation, research and development.

  17. A historic Gothic-style building with ornate architecture and towers, set against a colorful evening sky in a spacious city square with few people.

    Munich office expansion

    Right in the heart of Munich and conveniently located close to the European Patent Office, our Munich office provides comprehensive intellectual property services in Germany.

  18. A cityscape with modern buildings, a marina filled with boats, and a body of water, under a partly cloudy sky.

    Acquisition of Chapman IP

    Chapman IP, based in Southampton, was founded in 2002 and traded successfully and consistently for nearly two decades. The Chapman practice was a strong addition to the Murgitroyd team and has proven not only to be a great fit but also a critical contributor to Murgitroyd’s future growth.

  19. A historic stone church with twin bell towers, surrounded by palm trees and greenery, under a partly cloudy sky.

    Acquisition of MDB Capital Group - Patentvest S.A.

    Based in the USA and Nicaragua, Murgitroyd acquired a select group of assets from the MDB Capital Group business. This acquisition enhanced the scope of our offerings to clients, including the highest quality of patent searching through the Managua-based Patent engineers as well as the US qualified Patent Attorneys.

  20. New presence on the US West coast

    Expanding on our East Coast US presence, we opened on the West Coast, specifically in Silicon Valley. Known as the tech hub of the world, this new office expanded our reach within world tech giants and bringing their innovative tech to Europe and the wider world.

  21. New office in Helsinki

    Murgitroyd's first office in the Nordics, we opened in Helsinki in 2010. Bringing us closer to our clients in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark, this new geographical presence allows us to work more effectively with our clients based, and with IP, in this locale.

  22. A city skyline with skyscrapers, modern buildings, and streets, featuring a tall high-rise building with a colourful digital display.

    Acquisition of Raworth Moss & Cook

    Founded in 1894, Raworth Moss & Cook was one of the United Kingdom’s oldest-established, independent intellectual property law firms. The partnership of European and UK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys was supported by substantial in-house expertise bolstering the already extensive Murgitroyd team.

  23. A cityscape featuring a modern glass building, a historic bridge, and a river reflecting the blue sky and surrounding structures.

    Acquistion of Kennedys

    Founded in 1997, Kennedys Patent Agency Limited provided a full range of intellectual property services through its offices in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Newcastle, including patent and trademark advice and applications, advice on IP law and the strategic use of IP within organisations.

  24. New offices in Milan & US East Coast

    Further expanding our presence in Europe, and opening our first US office, Murgitroyd opened new offices in Italy and North Carolina.

  25. Sydney Opera House and harbour bridge reflected in calm water at dusk with cloudy sky.

    Acquisition of Fitzpatricks

    Fitzpatricks was a well-regarded Glasgow based firm of patent and trade mark attorneys. 24 staff in total consisting of 8 Attorneys and 16 support staff joined the Murgitroyd team and this acquisition further strengthened our presence in Scotland.

  26. A city skyline with tall modern buildings, a mix of commercial and residential structures, under a cloudy sky.

    Acquisition of Castles

    Castles was a well-established, very successful and highly respected London based practice with 15 staff, amongst them 5 experienced Attorneys and 3 paralegals. This acquisition gave Murgitroyd a solid presence in London and the burgeoning southeast of England marketplace.

  27. A vibrant city square surrounded by colourful historic buildings, with statues and fountains in the centre and pedestrians strolling across the cobblestones.

    Acquisition of Cabinet Bonneau

    Cabinet Bonneau was a French Patent and Trade Mark Attorney practice based near Nice. After the acquisition, Murgitroyd was one of only two practices operating in the south of France, servicing clients throughout the Monaco and Aix-en-Provence territories.

  28. New office in Dublin

    Situated in the centre of Dublin, our office here provides an unparalleled service in all aspects of IP law, particularly European patents, whether you're based in Dublin, elsewhere in Ireland or Europe and firmly put Murgitroyd on the European IP map.

  29. New presence in Belfast

    The office in Belfast was our first UK office outside of Scotland, serving as a local hub for companies and clients based in Northern Ireland as well as across the rest of the UK and Europe.

  30. New office in Munich

    Our first mainland Europe office brought Murgitroyd to the economic centre of southern Germany, Munich. With many global companies' headquarters being based here, Murgitroyd was perfectly placed to assist with the intellectual property portfolios of these companies.

  31. New office in Aberdeen

    At the heart of Europe's Energy Capital, we expanded our Scottish presence with a new office in Aberdeen. This new office enabled Murgitroyd to better serve our clients within the oil and gas industry, as well as those companies locally based in the North-East of Scotland.

  32. The beginning of Murgitroyd

    Founded by Ian Murgitroyd in 1975, Murgitroyd & Company was born in Glasgow with a conviction to bring something new to the IP industry leading to Ian building a Patent and Trade Mark Attorney practice which would become one of Europe’s flagship IP Firms.

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