About Thomas
Thomas Murphy earned a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri–Columbia before turning to the law. He completed his legal studies at Marquette University Law School, receiving his J.D. in 2014. His time in journalism shaped an attention to clear writing and precise fact-gathering that he carried into law school and beyond.
After law school, Murphy built a practice grounded in the courts of Wisconsin and in federal appellate work. He is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and is also authorized to appear before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Those admissions have allowed him to work on matters that travel between state trial courts and federal appellate review.
His background in journalism shows through in how he approaches legal writing and client communication. He favors plain language over legalese. He prepares briefs with an eye for narrative and a concern for what will persuade judges. That approach guides routine filings as well as appellate pleadings, and it informs how he prepares witnesses and clients for hearings.
Murphy maintains memberships in the Waukesha State Bar and the American Bar Association. He participates in bar activities and continuing education programs to stay current on changes in both state rules and federal appellate procedure. His professional memberships give him access to resources and discussions that shape practice on issues that come before the Federal Circuit and Wisconsin courts.
Colleagues describe Murphy as methodical in trial preparation and exacting in appellate briefing. He balances thorough factual development at the trial level with an emphasis on legal clarity when matters are appealed. He has represented clients in district-level proceedings and in appeals that require attention to procedural nuance at the federal appellate level.
Outside the courtroom, Murphy brings the investigative instincts of a journalist to document review and case strategy. He tends to prioritize documents and testimony that clarify a case’s central facts. That discipline often shortens discovery disputes and focuses motion practice on decisive issues.
He currently practices in Wisconsin and appears before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He handles trial- and appellate-level matters across those jurisdictions and continues to draw on his journalism training in crafting written work for courts and clients.
