Mr. Murphy is co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of Murphy & McGonigle, P.C. Over the last 30 years, Mr. Murphy has defended public companies and financial institutions as lead trial counsel in high-stakes litigation in trial and appellate courts throughout the U.S.

Mr. Murphy advises innovative companies on the regulatory aspects of various business models leveraging blockchain technology. He is a thought leader and frequent speaker on blockchain, digital assets, Decentralized Finance and related topics.

Mr. Murphy also advises clients across the spectrum of the financial services industry with respect to compliance with the constantly evolving banking and securities laws, rules and regulations.  He also represents companies involved in investigations initiated by state and federal regulatory authorities, including banking regulators, and the SEC, CFTC, DOJ, FINRA and state Attorneys General.

Mr. Murphy has served as lead trial counsel to a number of large banks in a variety of litigation and government investigations concerning Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities issues.  And he has served as lead counsel for National Securities Exchanges in several High Frequency Trading class actions.

Mr. Murphy has been named a Securities Regulation "Lawyer of the Year" in 2014, 2016, 2020 and 2022 by Best Lawyers in America®.  Mr. Murphy has been awarded Martindale Hubbell's highest rating, AV Preeminent (5.0/5.0).

Practice Areas

• FinTech & Blockchain
• Securities & Complex Commercial Litigation
• Regulatory Enforcement Defense
• Broker-Dealer Advisory & Counseling

Awards and Recognition

• Lawyer of the Year and Nine Lawyers Recognized in Best Lawyers in America 2021
  (08/20/2020)
  
• James Murphy Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’; Eight Others Earn Best Lawyers in America Recognition
  (08/15/2019)
  
• Nine Murphy & McGonigle Lawyers, 10 Practices Earn Honors in 2019 Best Lawyers in America
  (08/15/2018)
  
• Murphy & McGonigle Chairman James Murphy Receives "Lawyer of the Year" Recognition in The Best Lawyers in America
  PR Newswire | (08/27/2013)
  
• Murphy & McGonigle Partners Recognized Among The Best Lawyers in America® for 2013
  (11/20/2012)
  

Publications

• What To Know About The First Wave Of CARES Act Litigation
  Law 360 | (10/15/2020)
  
• Preparing For A CMBS Litigation Wave Amid COVID-19
  Law 360 | (09/01/2020)
  

Seminars and Presentations

• CMBS Litigation Wave? The COVID-19 Fallout
  08/11/2020 | (08/05/2020)
  
• PPP Litigation Impacting SBA Lenders
  05/21/2020 | (06/02/2020)
  
• Keynote Speaker: The Future of U.S. Regulation of CryptoAssets, Blockchain EXPO North America 2019, Santa Clara, CA
  11/13/2019 - 11/14/2019 | (11/13/2019)
  
• Keynote Speaker: The Future of U.S. Regulation in the Crypto Space, Blockchain Expo Global, London, England
  04/25/2019 - 04/26/2019 | (04/25/2019)
  
• Keynote Speaker: The Future of U.S. Regulation in the Crypto Space, Blockchain EXPO North America 2018, Santa Clara, CA
  11/28/2018 - 11/29/2018 | (11/28/2018)
  
• POLYCON18 - Identity in a Tokenized World: KYC, AML and Verification on the Blockchain, Nassau, Bahamas
  02/28/2018 - 03/03/2018 | (02/28/2018)
  

In the News

• Murphy & McGonigle Announces Leadership Transition
  (06/28/2021)
  
• The Most-Read Securities Law360 Guests Of 2020
  Law 360 | (12/24/2020)
  
• Who’s on the Block
  (05/30/2019)
  
• 2nd Circ. Affirms Dismissal Of US Bank's Untimely RMBS Suit
  Law 360 | (02/06/2019)
  
• Chairman James Murphy Delivers Keynote at Blockchain Expo North America
  (12/04/2018)
  
• A Message from the Chairman
  (2017)
  
• An Interview with James Murphy
  Lawyer Monthly | (12/12/2016)
  
• Barclays, Exchanges Get High-Frequency Trading Suits Nixed
  Law 360 | (08/26/2015)
  
• Murphy & McGonigle Expands Presence in New York City
  PR Newswire | (03/26/2014)
  
• Insurers Lose Bid to Revive $1.8B MBS Suit in Top NY Court
  Law 360 | (02/25/2014)
  
• Murphy & McGonigle Boutique Is Recognized as Successfully Competing Against Megafirms in Securities Law Arena
  (03/15/2013)
  
• Insurers Can't Replead Case Over $2B In MBS: Judge
  Law 360 | (02/28/2012)
  
• New Law Firm Taps Growing Market
  NBC 12 | (06/28/2010)
  
• New Boutique Firm Formed: 15 Lawyers from LeClairRyan Form Murphy & McGonigle, P.C.
  The National Law Journal | (06/04/2010)
  
• Manhattan Federal Judge Dismisses $186 Billion 'Cash Sweep' Class Action Against Brokerages
  Law.com | (07/28/2009)
  

Education

• J.D., Vanderbilt University School of Law, 1988
• B.A., Economics, University of Virginia, 1985

Admissions

• New York
• Virginia
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia
• U.S. District Court, Central District of California
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York