(Research Triangle Park, N.C.) Global intellectual property leader Murgitroyd & Company has continued to grow in a down economy, making a key hire and expanding its U.S. headquarters. Experienced industry veteran John Pickurel has joined Murgitroyd & Company as Senior Corporate Sales Executive. Additionally, the group has signed a lease on 3,700 square feet of new office space in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park to house its expanded U.S. operations.

“With our new hire and office expansion in the U.S., Murgitroyd & Company is making a long-term commitment in one of the largest IP markets in the world,” said Director of Group Operations Edward Murgitroyd. The groups’s new hire and office expansion is designed to support increasing demand for enterprise-class IP services, such as Murgitroyd & Company’s award-winning IP Portal to manage foreign filings for busy in-house intellectual property departments.

With over a decade of experience in business development and client relations in the technology sector, including several years with business intelligence leader SAS, John Pickurel will be working with existing Murgitroyd & Company clients as well as managing its growing prospect pipeline across the United States.

“We have been able to make sustainable operational investments to support our clients where innovation is happening across the globe,” Jamie LeLiever, Business Development Manager for Murgitroyd & Company’s global operations, said. He added that the ability to continue to grow despite an economic downturn is due to the firm’s focus on providing timely, commercially focused IP services for a competitive flat fee.

According to LeLiever, Murgitroyd & Company is adding around 2,700 square feet to its U.S. operations by relocating to the new Carlisle Place building in the Imperial Center Business Park, located in one of the world’s largest and most successful technology business areas, boasting over 140 companies employing more than 42,000 people.

In 2009 Murgitroyd & Company won the 2009 WORLD Leaders International IP Award in the Private Practice Patent Excellence/Litigation category, primarily due to its U.S. business office’s innovative work in developing an IP Portal which consolidates and manages foreign filings for busy in-house IP departments.

For a live web demo of the IP Portal service, email ipportal@murgitroyd.com or call Jamie LeLiever at (919) 806-4258.

About Murgitroyd & Company
Murgitroyd & Company is among the largest and most progressive European Patent & Trademark Attorney Firms, with nearly 100 technical professionals and local representation in 13 offices throughout Europe.  The firm is committed to an active and growing presence in the United States and Japan via its Research Triangle Park, North Carolina office and its Tokyo office providing access to its considerable range and depth in IP-related expertise. Murgitroyd & Company was voted the 2009 WORLD Leaders International IP Award in the Private Practice Patent Excellence/Litigation category for the Europe/Middle East/Africa region; 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 group and ranks it among the top-tiered firms in Europe. For more information, visit www.murgitroyd.com.