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David E. Murphy

David E. Murphy

Senior Associate

David E. Murphy is a Senior Associate at McCandlish Lillard practicing litigation, including employment, business & commercial litigation, post-employment restrictive covenants, personal and business torts, breach of contract, defamation, severance review and analysis, and executive compensation and termination. ย David works primarily in the firmโ€™s Fairfax Office, but represents clients in both state and Federal courts across Virginia and Washington D.C.

David has actively litigated matters from the intake stage through appeal since being admitted to the Virginia Bar in November 2016, and has significant courtroom experience as a trial lawyer and lead counsel in state and federal cases, as well as many successful settlements, mediations, and other pre-trial resolutions. ย In addition to litigating and trying cases with principals, David maintains a busy practice litigating cases as lead counsel.ย  David has further written and argued countless motions before local Courts, along with writing multiple appellate briefs to the Virginia Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Davidโ€™s professional recognitions include being named to The Best Lawyers in Americaยฎ (Employment Law โ€“ Individuals; Litigation โ€“ Labor and Employment) and to Best Virginia Elite Lawyer โ€“ Litigation.ย  David is also a Barrister at the George Mason Inn of Court. Prior to joining McCandlish, David worked as a Litigation Associate at local law firm Charlson Bredehoft Cohen Brown & Nadelhaft, P.C. from 2016-2023.

David is a Fairfax, Virginia native, and knew at the age of fourteen that he would spend his professional career litigating cases in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area.ย  David received his B.A. degree from the University of Pittsburgh cum laude, and subsequently earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

When away from the office, David enjoys spending his time with his family and stays busy pursuing his passions of following professional and collegiate sports, snowboarding, golf, gardening, traveling, and the movies.

Honors +
  • Virginia Elite Lawyer – Litigation (2022-2023)
  • Irish Legal 100
Activities +
  • Fairfax Bar Association
  • Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA)
  • Court Tour Program for students
Notable Cases +
  • John C. Depp, II v. Amber Laura Heard (Fairfax, VA)
  • N. Va. Kitchen Bath & Basement v. Ellis, 299 Va. 615 (2021) ($250,000 statutory racial harassment Judgment and full attorneyโ€™s fees and costs award of $118,651, affirmed on appeal by Va. Supreme Court)
  • N. Va. Kitchen Bath & Basement v. Ellis, 2018 Va. Cir. LEXIS 2721, 2018 Va. Cir. LEXIS 2673 (successfully obtained summary judgment and full defense attorneyโ€™s fees sanctions ($25,900.74) for bad faith litigation under Va. Code ยง 8.01-271.1)
  • JK Moving & Storage, Inc. v. Winmar Constr., Inc., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 194932 (E.D. Va. Nov. 13, 2018) (obtained full damages Judgment and full attorneyโ€™s fees and costs award of $411,410.39)

Education

  • 2016 J.D., The University of Wisconsin Law School
  • 2012 B.A., The University of Pittsburgh

Admissions

  • Virginia
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
  • District of Columbia
  • United States District Court for the District of Columbia
  • Wisconsin

Awards

Noteworthy Updates

News & Highlights

ML ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED BY BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICAยฎ 2025

ALL ML LAWYERS NAMED TO LEGAL ELITE FOR 2023

DAVID E. MURPHY JOINS ML

Client Testimonials

What Our Clients Are Saying

David Murphy is a highly skilled and trustworthy attorney who helped me tremendously in an estate matter.ย  He was diligent and responsive, and it was such a relief knowing that he had my back in this matter.ย  His effectiveness in reaching a fair resolution helped put an end to a lot of sleepless nights and I just felt this burden being lifted from my shoulders, thanks to David and his team.

David Murphy is a highly skilled and trustworthy attorney…

I met David during a challenging period in my career that I had not expected. From the very beginning, he was empathetic, professional and passionate about my cause. His advocacy on my behalf was unwavering, and his approach was instrumental in securing a favorable outcome with my former employer. Throughout the process, he was not only a skilled lawyer but also a supportive and trustworthy ally. I am immensely grateful for his expertise and highly recommend his services to anyone in need of strong legal representation.

I met David during a challenging period in my career that I had not expected…

Working with David Murphy and the McCandlish Lillard team was an exceptional experience. Davidโ€™s expertise and dedication ensured our legal matters were handled seamlessly and professionally. We highly recommend David and his team to anyone seeking quality legal representation.

Working with David Murphy and the McCandlish Lillard…

David Murphy provides 5-star service! His thorough knowledge and professional guidance were exceedingly helpful. Even when our needs extended across the country, he immediately connected us to a resourceful lawyer to assist while he continued to work with our local needs. I highly recommend him. You will not be disappointed.

David Murphy provides 5-star service…

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