Murgitroyd Celebrates 25 years in Ireland

Murgitroyd would like to mark a truly special milestone for the 25th anniversary of our Dublin office. Reaching a quarter-century presence in Ireland is a proud achievement and an opportunity to reflect on the growth, evolution, and impact of our operations.

Our Dublin office has long been a key part of our European network, strengthening our ability to support clients across Ireland and throughout the EU. From this strategic location, the team works closely with colleagues across the UK and Europe, ensuring seamless representation before major jurisdictions including the EPO and EUIPO. Over the past 25 years, the office has played an important role in expanding our reach and reinforcing our reputation as a trusted, international IP firm.

As we celebrate this 25 year milestone, we recognise the people who have shaped the Dublin office into what it is today, and we look forward to continuing to support our clients across Ireland and Europe for many years to come.

As part of our celebration of this success, we asked Dublin office lead, Barry Moore, to reflect on the IP landscape from the last 25 years, and for his prediction for the next 25: 

Ireland’s IP landscape in a European context: 25-year evolution and 25-year outlook #

Twenty-five years ago, when Murgitroyd established its Irish base, both the firm and the jurisdiction were operating in a moment of transition. Ireland’s modern IP framework was still relatively new. The Patents Act 1992 had only recently aligned the State with the European Patent Convention, and the implementation of the EU Trade Mark and Design Directives, alongside the emergence of the EUIPO system in the mid-1990s, was embedding Ireland into a more unified European IP landscape.

At that point, Ireland was evolving from a national, registration-focused system into a participant in a broader European framework. In parallel, firms like Murgitroyd were expanding beyond domestic advisory models into pan-European IP service providers.

A shared trajectory: from local presence to international reach #

Over the past 25 years, the development of Ireland’s IP framework has closely mirrored the growth of Murgitroyd itself.

Then:

• Ireland: a recently aligned European IP jurisdiction, building capability
• Murgitroyd: a growing firm establishing local presence to serve clients regionally

Now:

• Ireland: a globally recognised IP hub, embedded in EU systems but internationally oriented
• Murgitroyd: a pan-European firm, where local offices support international IP protection strategies

Core Insight #

The evolution of Ireland’s IP system and Murgitroyd’s Irish presence reflects the same underlying shift: from local capability to internationally connected expertise.

The Irish model and the Murgitroyd model #

Ireland’s IP landscape—and Murgitroyd’s growth within it—illustrate a distinctive European principle:

A strong local base can deliver international protection.

• Irish-based teams now routinely manage European and global IP portfolios
• Clients use Ireland not just as a jurisdiction, but as a strategic coordination point
• Murgitroyd’s Irish office operates within a networked European system, reflecting how IP itself is created, protected, and enforced

The UPC: the next chapter in that journey #

The anticipated adoption of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) represents the next major inflection point—for both Ireland and firms operating within it.

For Ireland, this means:

• Moving from alignment with European systems to active participation in centralised enforcement
• Increased exposure to pan-European litigation strategies
• Greater strategic importance as part of the European patent litigation map

For Murgitroyd, it reinforces an existing model:

• Local expertise combined with cross-border capability
• Advising clients  across multiple jurisdictions from a single forum

Where we are today #

Ireland now represents:

• A fully integrated participant in EU IP systems
• A globally connected hub for IP management and commercialisation
• A jurisdiction where local offices deliver international outcomes