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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Trademark Attorney practice which would become one of Europe’s flagship IP Firms.
