Leo J. Murphy

Background

About Leo J. Murphy

I am a full-time mediator in the San Francisco Bay Area. After sharing with clients the unpredictability of jury verdicts for my entire career as a lawyer, the transition from advocacy to mediation has been a distinct pleasure. Helping parties resolve their disputes before reaching a courtroom provides professional satisfaction that rivals winning at trial. As a litigator, I practiced with firmness tempered by courtesy and calm. Doing so discouraged acrimony and made it possible for me to have productive negotiations with opposing counsel. I conduct mediation the same way. I believe that my approach improves the chances of reaching a settlement. Whenever possible, I encourage opposing parties to put minor differences out of their minds so they can devote their attention to issues that really matter. I make a point of conferring with counsel thoroughly before convening mediation sessions because doing so tends to expedite settlements. I am a good listener and facilitator. I gained decades of experience representing clients in litigation and in mediation in California and other states. I represented individuals, as well as businesses ranging in size from sole proprietorships and startups to public companies. I represented defendants as well as plaintiffs. Over the years, I represented my clients in litigation involving product liability, personal injury, aviation accidents, construction defects, contract disputes, design-professional negligence, discrimination, environmental contamination, insurance coverage, international trade, real estate disputes, and subrogation. One of my longtime clients manufactured products in the U.S. and in Europe and sold them worldwide. I coordinated the defense of all product liability claims against the company. In doing so, I learned what insurers need to authorize settlements or send cases to trial. As a young lawyer, I tried criminal cases to San Francisco juries as an assistant district attorney. I began my career by serving as a federal judicial law clerk in the Southern District of New York.