Marc S. Murphy
Marc Murphy has been a courtroom attorney for his entire career, prosecuting and defending in the most challenging, high-profile and complex commercial and white collar criminal cases in Kentucky and Indiana.
As Chair of Stites' White Collar Practice Group and a Member of the firm's Class Action Practice Group, Mr. Murphy's practice consists of representing individuals and corporations in complex commercial litigation and white collar criminal matters, such as antitrust, environmental crimes, healthcare fraud and tax fraud. He defends individuals in high profile general criminal matters and accepts appointments by the courts for indigent representation as a public service. He has substantial experience in federal and administrative litigation and in federal and state grand jury investigations.
Mr. Murphy's success as a trial attorney has been widely-reported. He has tried two murder prosecutions to complete acquittals. He accepts capital crime appointments from the Jefferson County Public Defender. He is a frequent lecturer on crime and justice issues, and is a regular source and analyst for television and print publications.
Four ex-coal mine officials cleared in Kentucky fraud trial
by Dylan Lovan, The Washington Post, November 17, 2021
Breonna Taylor Case Is Formidable Test for an Ascendant Attorney General
by Campbell Robertson and Rick Rojas, The New York Times, September 24, 2020
Kentucky's self-defense laws negated possible homicide charges in Breonna Taylor's death
by Andrew Wolfson, Courier Journal, September 24, 2020
Project CommUNITY: How a white Louisville attorney became a strong voice for Black lives
by Betty Winston Bayé, WLKY, August 7, 2020
Pepper fined $100K, placed on probation for five years in money laundering case
by Justin Story, Bowling Green Daily News, July 2, 2020
Pandemic to Protests: How newly elected Governor Andy Beshear has effectively united and prepared Kentuckians for the times we live in
by Cat Garcia, Medium, June 8, 2020
End of an era: One of Louisville's most renowned law offices is no more
by Andy Wolfson, Courier Journal, August 2, 2019
Breakfast of Champions
Louisville Courier Journal's Editorial Cartoonist
Featured on KET Louisville Life, February 2015
White Collar Practice Group, Chair
Diversity Committee, Member
Metro Louisville Legal Aid Campaign, Chairman
Kentucky Juvenile Justice Commission, appointed by the Governor, Chairman
Metro Louisville Library Task Force, appointed by the Mayor
Louisville Neighborhood Institute and Community Design Center Member
Kentucky Youth Association, Member
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Service Award
Nativity Academy, inner-city school serving at-risk youth, Head Basketball Coach
University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law
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Law Review, Manuscript Editor
cum laude
University of Notre Dame
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Phi Beta Kappa
In 1995, Marc was appointed by the Governor of Kentucky as Jefferson County/Louisville's Commonwealth's Attorney, the chief prosecutor and law enforcement officer of the largest city in the state. His service in Latin America and in Europe as a Judge Advocate General trial counsel and Assistant Staff Judge Advocate earned him Meritorious Service Medals. During that time, in addition to trial prosecution, he conducted murder investigations in El Salvador, Panama and Germany. After his Judge Advocate General service, Mr. Murphy was a felony prosecutor in Indiana, and, while in private practice there, served as a Judge Pro-Tem. He has taught criminal law, trial practice and business litigation for Florida State University and the University of Louisville.
Outside the firm, Mr. Murphy is active in numerous community groups. His involvement includes Metro Louisville Legal Aid Campaign, the Kentucky Juvenile Justice Commission, the Metro Louisville Library Task Force, the Louisville Neighborhood Institute and Community Design Center and the Kentucky Youth Association. He is the head basketball coach for Nativity Academy, an inner-city school serving at-risk youth. Marc is an accomplished illustrator and his editorial cartoons are a regular feature of the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated
Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White Collar (2008-23)
Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year (2018)
Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2008-20)
Chambers USA "America's Leading Lawyers for Business," Litigation: General Commercial (2013, 2014)
Louisville Magazine's"Top Lawyers" for Litigation (2008) and for White Collar Criminal Defense (2013, 2014, 2016)
. . . an incredibly well-prepared and talented commercial litigator.
. . . highly recommended . . .
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 98 of its lawyers are included in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Additionally, 11 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 19 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2022 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 93 lawyers are included in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Additionally, 11 attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 14 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2021 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 82 lawyers are included in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 45 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2020
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2020 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 42 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 32 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 13 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.
Best Lawyers in America Honors 75 Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2020
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Best Lawyers in America© 2020 has recognized 75 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as selected by their peers in 49 areas of practice. Forty-three of those attorneys selected have been honored for 10 consecutive years or more.
Investiture of the Jefferson District Court Term, Commonwealth of Kentucky
The Mayor's Gallery, 4th Floor, Suite 402, Metro Hall, 527 West Jefferson Street, Louisville, KY
Stites & Harbison attorney Marc S. Murphy will be the keynote speaker at the investiture ceremony for the seventeen Jefferson County District Court Judges presented by the 30th Judicial District of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 42 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2019
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2019 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 42 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 33 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and nine attorneys to the Rising Stars list.
Best Lawyers in America honors 72 Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2019