Overview
Michael P. Murphy focuses his practice in the area of environmental law, including litigating enforcement matters before state and federal courts and administrative agencies, assisting clients with environmental compliance questions involving federal and state environmental statutes and regulations, and assisting clients in permitting, rule-making, and regulatory relief.
He also has experience in the defense of a wide variety of cases, including those involving:
- premises liability
- automobile accidents
- school bus accidents
- construction injuries
- contract disputes
- insurance coverage
- wrongful death
- products liability
- property damage
Mr. Murphy spent his first five years with HeplerBroom in its Edwardsville, Illinois, office, practicing in Madison and St. Clair Counties, as well as in counties throughout Southern Illinois. In 2009, he joined the firm’s Central Illinois office in Springfield.
He has acted as lead counsel and as part of the trial team in jury and non-jury trials. He has prevailed on motions for summary judgment in both federal and state courts. Mr. Murphy has argued and prevailed in appeals in both the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the Illinois Appellate Court for the Third District. He has also prepared briefs in several appeals in the Illinois appellate courts and the Supreme Court of Illinois that resulted in decisions in favor of the firm’s clients.
Education
- Southern Illinois University School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 2004
- Western Illinois University, B.A. in Communication, magna cum laude, 2001
LAW SCHOOL HONORS/INVOLVEMENT
- Valedictorian
- Award for Academic Excellence
- Southern Illinois University Law Journal
- Judicial Clerkship Extern, United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Honorable Michael M. Mihm
Admissions & Affiliations
- Illinois
- Missouri
- United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
- United States District Courts for the
- Central District of Illinois
- Northern District of Illinois
- Southern District of Illinois
Professional Associations
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Vice-Chair, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section Council
- Lincoln-Douglas Inn of Court
- Sangamon County Bar Association
Other Professional/Civic Involvement
- Chatham (IL) Area Chamber of Commerce
- Board of Directors
- Chemical Industry Council of Illinois
- Board of Directors
Practices
Results
Honors
Honors & Awards
- Illinois Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyer (2015-2022)
- Illinois Super Lawyers (2021-2024)
- Rising Star (2011-2019)
- Named one of 2015 “40 Business Leaders Under Forty” by the Springfield Business Journal.
Insights
News
Events & Speaking Engagements
- “Environmental Hot Topics,” Three Rivers Manufacturers’ Association webinar (2021).
- “Environmental Violations and Enforcement,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education webinar (2021). (Co-presenter)
- “Latest Developments on Environmental Justice,” Chemical Industry Council of Illinois’ January Enforcement Seminar (virtual) (2021). (Co-presenter)
- “Environmental Enforcement: Avoid if Possible, Navigate if Necessary,” Environmental Basics Conference sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Springfield IL, 2019). (Co-presenter)
- “Illinois’ Time-Limited Water Quality Standards,” HalfMoon Education Inc., Illinois Water Laws and Regulations Seminar (Naperville IL, 2019).
- “The Long Lost Public Notice Requirement: Illinois’ Settlements Entail NPDES Permit Enforcement Actions,” Illinois State Bar Association’s 18th Annual Environmental Law Conference (Chicago, 2019).
- “Public Notice for NPDES Settlements in Illinois,” Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group, Water Basics seminar (Springfield IL, 2017).
- “Proving and Disproving Damages in Personal Injury Cases: Impaired Earning Capacity (from the defense perspective),” Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education seminar (January 31, 2014).
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Blog Posts
Publications
- “U.S. Supreme Court Limits USEPA Authority in West Virginia v. EPA,” Environmental Law: The Newsletter of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Section on Environmental Law, Vol. 53 No. 1 (October 2022). (Co-author)
- “What Do Recent Environmental Enforcement Decisions Mean for Your Company?” The Illinois Manufacturer (Fourth Quarter 2019). (Co-author)
- “Illinois Courts Should Reject Medical Monitoring Claims for Uninjured Plaintiffs,” IDC Quarterly (March 2014).
- “Let the Broker Beware: Illinois Appellate Court Affirms $23.8 Million Verdict Against Freight Broker,” In Transit (Defense Research Institute Trucking Law Committee’s newsletter) (August 2011). (Co-author)
- “Juror Questions During Trial: An Idea Whose Time Has Come Again,” Illinois Bar Journal, June 2011. (Co-author)
- “The Interplay of Spoliation of Evidence and Subsequent Remedial Measures,” Trials and Tribulations (Defense Research Institute Trial Tactics Committee’s newsletter) (Winter 2009).
- “Doing Federal Time,” The Whisper (Defense Research Institute Young Lawyers Committee’s newsletter) (January 2009).
- “Settling Defendants Will Not Appear on Illinois Verdict Forms,” In Transit (Defense Research Institute Trucking Law Committee’s newsletter) (January 2009). (Co-author)
- “Spoliation of Evidence and Subsequent Remedial Measures,” The Whisper (Defense Research Institute Young Lawyers Committee’s newsletter) (December 2007).
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