About Michael D.
Michael D. Murphy earned his law degree at the University of Missouri School of Law. He arrived in the profession grounded in traditional legal training and a Midwestern law school education that emphasizes practical skills as well as doctrine. That academic foundation set the stage for a career that crosses state lines and firm boundaries.
Murphy’s early post-law school work included a stint at Osburn, Hine & Yates, LLC in 2016. That experience gave him exposure to firm life and client work in a small-firm setting. He moved from that environment into larger firm practice, a transition that broadened the range of matters he handled and the teams he worked alongside.
He is admitted to practice in Colorado, Texas and Missouri. Those three jurisdictions shape much of his day-to-day practice. Acting across state lines means managing different procedural rules and statutory landscapes. Colleagues and clients often call on him to coordinate matters that involve more than one state system.
At Spencer Fane LLP he works on matters that require an understanding of local law and an ability to align strategies across jurisdictions. His time in both smaller and larger firms has left him comfortable in varied practice settings. He frequently collaborates with lawyers in other offices to address client needs that do not stop at a single state border.
Murphy’s professional path is straightforward rather than flashy. He built experience through predictable steps: law school, early firm practice, and then work at a broader regional firm. That path allowed him to develop practical courtroom and transactional instincts, while also learning how to manage the logistical and ethical complexities that come with multi-state representation.
Outside courtrooms and conference rooms he is one of several attorneys at Spencer Fane LLP who handle matters touching Colorado, Texas and Missouri law. His work requires attention to detail, steady case management and clear client communication. He currently practices at Spencer Fane LLP, focusing on matters that span Colorado, Texas and Missouri.
