Glasgow-based global intellectual property law firm Murgitroyd Group has announced the latest move in its international expansion strategy with the acquisition of Leeds-based UDL Intellectual Property practice.
This follows Murgitroyd’s recent acquisition of Ireland-based IP practice Hanna Moore + Curley.
Murgitroyd was taken private by London-based Sovereign Capital Partners LLP in a £65 million deal in December 2019.
UDL, founded over 100 years ago, is headquartered in Leeds, with offices in Bristol, Cardiff, London, Milton Keynes and Newcastle and it specialises in the preparation, filing and prosecution of patents and trade marks, representing clients before the UK, European and international intellectual property offices.
UDL has a total of 80 staff, including twelve partners, and all staff will remain with the enlarged business.
The deal creates one of the largest IP practices in the UK and Europe, increasing Murgitroyd’s headcount to 440 and reinforcing its position as a leading consolidator in the international IP sector.
Murgitroyd CEO Gordon Stark said: “This is a significant step forward in enhancing the scale and reach of Murgitroyd in the UK and strengthens our overall presence in Europe.
“UDL has an excellent reputation for advising innovative companies and its focus on legal excellence, deep sector knowledge and strategically focused, pragmantic advice will complement Murgitroyd’s client-centred approach.
“Like Murgitroyd, UDL’s people are at the heart of its business and our strong cultural alignment will ensure that the teams are stronger together, creating a more compelling and attractive client offering.
“This advances our strategic ambitions, as we continue to grow Murgitroyd through a blend of organic development and carefully selected additions, to create the European leader in IP professional and support services.
“This growth will enhance our client capabilites and the associated scale enables us to support the IP needs of even the largest of businesses.
“We are leading an emerging trend of consolidation within the IP sector, where scale brings a greater depth of technical and legal expertise and breadth of services as, increasingly, clients require a one stop, multi-sector, multi-service approach in meeting their businesses needs.”