Gregory L. Murphy
Mr. Murphy is a partner in the Vorys Washington, D.C. office and a member of the litigation group. He has a broad national litigation practice, appearing before numerous federal and state trial courts and arguing appeals before federal appellate and state supreme courts. Mr. Murphy has tried and defended issues ranging from complex commercial and corporate business claims to employment, personal injury, domestic and criminal cases. During his career he has represented major corporations in disputes with the government, including congressional officials charged with alleged improprieties. Mr. Murphy has defended alleged white-collar criminals and represented individuals in cases involving sensitive personal rights (such as the right-to-die decisions against government intervention), multi-million dollar personal injuries, wrongful death, and employment grievances. In addition to litigation, Mr. Murphy also has a substantial practice in contract negotiations, including employment and personnel-related matters in a variety of industries such as film, sports, journalism and entertainment.
Career highlights include:
- Defending a major corporation from an age discrimination claim in its hiring practices
- Obtaining a multi-million dollar wrongful death claim verdict, which involved no economic damages and was over five times higher than any award in the state’s history for solace and grief alone
- Successfully defending a major sub-cabinet official of the executive branch wrongfully accused by the government of taking gratuities
- Serving as outside trial counsel for the Justice Department in a major antitrust case
- Successfully defending an internet service provider’s intellectual property from an infringement claim against its browser technology
- Defending a guardian’s obligation to withdraw artificial life support from her husband, who was in a persistent vegetative state, and thus defeating the state’s interference with that decision
- Successfully defending several individuals, including athletes, against internationally high profile criminal charges
Mr. Murphy is a member of the American Bar Association and Foundation, the Virginia State Bar, the Virginia Bar Association and Foundation, the Washington, D.C. Bar and the Federal Bar Association.
Mr. Murphy has spoken on a wide range of topics, including the effect of the press on juries in high profile cases, the power and the role of the press in reporting trials, the rules of professional conduct, right-to-die issues, the battered spouse syndrome, and trying damage issues in wrongful death claims. These topics were presented at various group meetings, including the New York Bar Symposium, the National Press Association, the Federal Bar Association, the Virginia State Bar, the Ohio State Bar Association, and various local and state bar associations. Mr. Murphy has also been a legal commentator on television news shows on FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, Court TV and others, as well as a guest on The McLaughlin Group and other news shows.
Mr. Murphy received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, and his B.A. from Stanford University.
Mr. Murphy clerked for the Honorable Albert V. Bryan, Sr. in the U. S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, and for the Honorable Albert V. Bryan, Jr., in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Mr. Murphy’s publications include materials and articles he developed in connection with his numerous seminars and speaking engagements before a variety of professional associations, legal forums and television new programs.
Professional and Community Activities
- City of Alexandria, VA, Senior Services Board
- American Bar Foundation, Delegation to China for meeting on the Rule of Law, 2006
- INOVA Health Systems, Board of Trustees, 1997-2007
- George Mason School of Law, American Inns of Court, Master, 1989-2000
- Alexandria Hospital, Chairman, 1992-1995; Board of Trustees, 1987-1997
- Alexandria Health Services Corporation, Executive Committee, 1990-1997
- Virginia Hospital Association, Regional Council Trustee, 1993-1996
- Stanford/Washington Speakers Forum, Chairman, 1985-1995
- Virginia State Bar’s 8th District Grievance Committee, Chair, 1983-1986
- Alexandria Bar Association, Board of Directors, 1978-1981
- George Washington University Legal Assistant Program, Faculty, 1973-1978
Honors & Awards
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference, Member, since 1987
- Fellow of the American Bar Foundation since 2004
- Fellow of the Virginia Bar Foundation since 2004
- Julia Johns Award of Distinction Recipient/Community Service Award, 1996
- Stanford University, recipient of Distinguished Service Award, 1992