Melissa Murphy, a partner at Porter Wright, has a passion for helping people. From her days as a beach lifeguard to practicing law, that passion has stayed strong. However, over the last few years, Murphy’s passion has developed into litigating very large, complicated cases, often revolving around restrictive covenant and trade secret law. For her, the cases are among the most exciting to litigate because they offer the opportunity to solve complex problems, and to assemble teams to provide the best representation possible.
“Court cases — especially if a client has been personally sued — are probably one of the most stressful experiences they are ever going to have,” Murphy says. “It is emotionally trying; in many cases, the most trying experience of someone’s life. For many clients, they feel like their character has been wrongfully, and personally, attacked for all the world to see. And so, my job is to walk our clients through every detail of the legal process and help them see that they are going to be OK.”
In fact, Murphy says, it is the relationships that are developed through complex cases that have kept her practicing law.
“Like many young lawyers, I graduated from law school with a passion for the law. But now, I’m in my 15th year of practicing and what keeps me energized is the people,” she says. “When you are shepherding someone’s litigation, you really get to know them and I have been fortunate to help some amazing people, strengthen existing relationships and develop new ones.”
Murphy, who has practiced in Tampa since 2018, joined Porter Wright alongside six of her colleagues in 2023, creating the firm’s second office in Florida. The team handles complex commercial litigation cases and represents clients across many industries.
An important part of the litigation process is putting together the right team to solve a client’s problem. “Lots of lawyers know and understand the law, but what really makes the excellent lawyers stand out is their ability to put together a team that functions effectively to deliver for the client.”
Murphy says building an effective team is key. “Generally, on a team, everyone is at the top of their game and potentially has an ego. But for me, I want people who can check their ego and do what has to be done to serve our clients,” she says. In one case, it may mean bringing on an attorney who is an adept writer. In another, it may mean bringing in a seasoned attorney who excels at oral arguments in court. Sometimes it may mean bringing on a younger attorney who can provide a fresh perspective.