Peter J. Murphy

Peter Murphy is a partner in the firm's Employment and Labor  and School Law practice groups. An accomplished counselor and litigator, Peter helps public- and private-sector clients anticipate and respond to the increasingly complex body of state and federal laws governing the employer-employee relationship. He provides persistent, forward-thinking counsel that helps educational institutions, healthcare companies, insurers and other entities minimize the likelihood of disputes. When employee claims and lawsuits do arise, Peter draws on his negotiating skills and courtroom experience to resolve conflicts quickly and judiciously. 

Peter has successfully litigated workplace disputes involving many of today’s most pressing and rapidly evolving issues, including:

• Discrimination based on implicit bias with respect to gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, the results of background checks, and other factors
• Class and collective actions based on wage and hour compliance
• Conflicts between employees’ free-speech rights and employers’ rights to monitor and discipline personnel based on social media activity

Peter advises clients at every step, including:

Dispute avoidance counseling and training. Peter understands that the easiest — and most cost-effective — lawsuit to defend is the one that is never filed. Whether through a quick phone call or more extensive counseling, he regularly advises clients on the development, documentation and dissemination of workplace policies and handbooks; Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance (including reasonable accommodations); employee discipline, termination and performance management; and compliance with state and federal education laws and regulations, among other areas.

In addition to his risk-mitigation counsel, Peter routinely represents clients before administrative agencies such as the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

Litigation and arbitration. As a trusted litigator for public and private schools, colleges and universities, and other educational institutions, Peter has successfully represented clients in court and settlement negotiations, before American Arbitration Association panels, and in other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) forums. He has handled matters as diverse as breach of contract claims, teacher terminations under § 10-151, Title IX claims brought by students and employees, due-process hearings and related appeals to federal courts, and claims brought by parents or other members of the community.