Todd Murphy is a Partner with GRSM, located in the firm’s Chicago office. His practice is nationally-based, and involves commercial, toxic and mass tort, product liability, and casualty-related matters, with specialized focus on complex, class, and multi-party litigation. Todd is an experienced litigator, representing his clients in the areas of tort, environmental, product, premises, director and officer, corporate management, employment, and financial liability.
- Representation of an international technology manufacturing conglomerate in defense against claims brought by several dozen plaintiffs and family members regarding the alleged mishandling, monitoring of, and exposure to environmental toxins. In addition to the involvement of numerous plaintiffs and their families, the claims in these matters arose over three decades, at more than a dozen locations, in three states.
- Obtained Not Guilty verdict after jury trial on behalf of Illinois real estate management and ownership entity in matter involving allegations of mold exposure.
- Representation of multi-state property development and management firm against class action allegations stemming from lease administration and multi-tenant property management.
- Representation of an international commercial product manufacturer and distributor in defense of a class action alleging breach of express and implied warranty with regard to product manufacture.
- Successfully obtained finding of no liability at trial on behalf of Minnesota-based product manufacturer with regard to allegations of breach of lease contract and environmental contamination.
- Obtained Not Guilty verdict after jury trial on behalf of Illinois real estate management entity in matter involving allegations of structural defect and personal injury to tenants.
- Representation of heavy equipment and crane leasing and operating company in defense of multi-party construction site injury claims.
- Obtained finding of summary judgment on behalf of California-based insurance broker regarding claims of negligence, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty arising out of allegations of failure to procure insurance.
- Obtained finding of no liability and complete dismissal of all claims on behalf of physicians and group practice with regard to claims of violation of restrictive covenant.
- The forever frontier: PFAS trends can create new areas of focus for companies, Reuters and Westlaw Today (November 2023)
- Looking Ahead: Emerging Trends and Risks in the Life Sciences Sector, Client Presentation (May 2024)
- How to Settle a Case When You Don’t Have all the Answers, GRSM Legal Education Conference, New York and Hartford (May 2019)
- Products Liability and the Sporting Goods Industry; National Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (April 2014)
- Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine; Client Presentation; Chicago, Illinois (March 2013)
- Alternatives to Litigation: Negotiation and Mediation; Client Presentation; Chicago, Illinois (March 2013)
Admissions
- Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Central Districts of Illinois
Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Illinois State Bar
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
- Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
- Defense Research Institute
Education
- J.D., cum laude, The John Marshall Law School, 2003
- Editor, The John Marshall Law Review
- Dean’s Scholarship
- Philip and Edith Baim Scholarship
- Dean’s List
- President, The John Marshall Law School Student Bar Association
- Board of Directors and Decanal Search Committee
- B.A., English/Pre-Medicine, The University of Notre Dame, 1996
- Notre Dame Boxing Team, Monogram Recipient, 1995
Honors
- Illinois Super Lawyer (2011-2014, 2025)
- Illinois Super Lawyers, Illinois Rising Star (2009, 2010)