David E. Murphy
PrincipalDavid E. Murphy is a Principal 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. David works primarily in the firm’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. David’s busy litigation practice as lead counsel has included drafting and arguing countless motions before local Courts, along with drafting and orally arguing multiple appellate cases in both Federal and state appellate courts in Virginia and Washington DC.
David’s professional recognitions include being annually named to Best Lawyers in America (Employment Law- Individuals; Litigation- Labor and Employment; and Commercial Litigation) from 2025 through the present, and being a Master of the Bench at the George Mason American Inn of Court. Prior to joining McCandlish, David worked as a Litigation Associate at local law firm Charlson Bredehoft Cohen Brown & Nadelhaft, P.C. between 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. 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.
- Best Lawyers in America: Employment Law- Individuals (2025-2027)
- Best Lawyers in America: Litigation- Labor and Employment (2025-2027)
- Best Lawyers in America: Commercial Litigation (2025-2027)
- Barrister- George Mason American Inn of Court
- Fairfax Bar Association/Fairfax Law Foundation
- Co-Chair- Law Related Education Committee
- Member
- Virginia Bar Association- Member
- Obtained full scope of requested relief through Summary Judgment and full attorney’s fees jury verdict in homeowners association restrictive covenants litigation (Courtland Farm Consevancy Lots Homeowners Association, Inc. v. Courtland Farm Manor/Cliff Thomas/Donna Thomas, Case No. CL 119413 (2024))
- Successfully negotiated dismissal with prejudice of two Executives from tort action against employer (XCorp Solutions, Inc. v. Akima, LLC, Case No. CL-2300-4006) (2024)).
- Obtained Summary Judgment for Plaintiff, including a $2.27 million Judgment and Attorney’s Fees Order (Chainani v. Meiya Group Global Corporation, Case No. CL 22-2546 (2023))
- 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 attorney’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 attorney’s fees sanctions ($25,900.74) for bad faith litigation under Va. Code § 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 attorney’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
Practice Areas
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
DAVID MURPHY PRESENTS ON NUTS & BOLTS OF PLAINTIFF’S EMPLOYMENT LAW
DAVID E. MURPHY JOINS ML
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ML ATTORNEYS NAMED TO LEGAL ELITE FOR 2025
ML ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED BY BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA® 2027
Client Testimonials
What Our Clients Are Saying
David Murphy is a highly skilled and trustworthy attorney who helped me tremendously in an estate matter. He was diligent and responsive, and it was such a relief knowing that he had my back in this matter. 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. David’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…