(Research Triangle Park, N.C.) European Patent and Trademark Attorney firm Murgitroyd & Company is solidifying its Research Triangle Park, North Carolina presence through two key hires. The new staff additions are a result of growing interest in the firm’s foreign IP filing services among U.S. in-house corporate counsel and private practice firms.

Group Operations Director and European Patent Attorney, Edward Murgitroyd has hired Jamie LeLiever as Business Development Manager and Katie Efland as General Manager, IP Portal. Efland will be working with clients to make sure they are receiving value and quality with the foreign filing service while LeLiever will be managing the firm’s client relationships in addition to pursuing new business opportunities in North America.

“Our new IP Portal service is popular in the U.S. with clients looking for an innovative solution for foreign IP filings,” Murgitroyd said. “The IP Portal provides accurate quotes, and simplifies reporting and billing. Our clients benefit from our ISO accreditation and our significant buying power around the world, to ensure quality work at the best price.”

“We are fully committed to the long-term growth in the RTP market, and we have plans to hire more staff in the near term to support further IP Portal expansion,” added Murgitroyd.

This additional staff will include more qualified paralegals like Efland, who is N.C. State Bar-certified paralegal and has worked in IP for over ten years, <!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –> most recently at Moore & Van Allen, one of the largest law firms in the Southeast. She is a member of the Research Triangle Paralegal Association, and chairs that organization’s Public Relations Committee. Efland is a lifelong North Carolinian and 1992 graduate of Appalachian State University. She is married to husband Lindsay with whom she is raising two pre-teen daughters.

“Murgitroyd & Company’s Raleigh office is an innovative organization with the experience of a well-developed law firm behind them, and I’m excited to help technology and life sciences companies get IP protection overseas,” she said.

An East Carolina University graduate, LeLiever’s business development background includes a position as President and Co-founder of the digital media production company Mediplay, Inc. in 2004, establishing the nation’s first personalized point-of-care digital signage system for the healthcare industry. He is also a member of the Triangle Intellectual Property Law Association, Council for Entrepreneurial Development and American Marketing Association. LeLiever and wife Christina live in Raleigh.

“As an entrepreneur, Murgitroyd really stood out to me because of its unique business model, being that it’s publicly traded, ISO 9001:2008 accredited and does not operate on billable hours,” LeLiever said, adding, “I’m not the only one taking notice, even during the recession, year-on-year revenue from US clients increased by $1.3M.”
Murgitroyd & Company will be hosting an IP lunch-and-learn with special guest John Yates, Principle Examiner for the European Patent Office, at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center Thursday, October 29. A ten-year veteran at the EPO, Mr. Yates will be speaking on issues such as upcoming EPO rule changes, what you can and cannot do in making amendments, and EPO Opposition proceedings and best practices. For more information or to register for this event, visit www.regonline.com/epo or call Jamie LeLiever at (919) 806-4258.

Murgitroyd & Company is among the largest and most progressive European Patent & Trademark Attorney firms, with close to 100 technical staffers and local representation in 12 offices throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, and Italy as well as direct representation for The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Monaco and Switzerland. The firm is committed to an active and growing presence in the United States via its Research Triangle Park, North Carolina office providing access to its considerable range and depth in IP-related expertise. Murgitroyd & Company has been selected as a finalist for a World Leaders International IP Award; has won the 2009 Managing Intellectual Property Magazines Scottish IP Firm of the year Award; has been upgraded to the ISO 9001:2008 accreditation level; and the Legal 500 recommends the firm and ranks it among the top-tiered firms in Europe. For more information, visit www.murgitroyd.com.