Protecting Professionals
Murphy Pearson has a long history and national reputation for successfully defending professionals from a broad range of disciplines. Whether brought into a matter through a liability insurance carrier or directly by the professional, we have successfully defended clients involved in malpractice, disciplinary, and business disputes unique to their fields and provide incisive risk management advice to help prevent and manage potential disputes.
Representing professionals throughout California and Washington State, as well as in United States District and Appellate Courts through the country, we have represented accountants and lawyers of small, medium and large firms, judges, insurance agents, real estate brokers and agents, directors and officers of corporations and boards, architects, engineers, and other licensed professionals.
It’s Personal
When professionals are the subject of a claim, it can be a deeply personal and troubling experience. Reputation management is critical. It’s different than representing a faceless business; allegations of wrong-doing call into question a person’s personal integrity and can have wide-reaching implications for the professional’s future livelihood. We build our defense strategy around the qualities of the individual client, not on public misconceptions of their field. Our experience has consistently shown that juries look at the specific individual involved, and we work thoughtfully and compassionately to represent the human at the center of the dispute.
Making it All Add Up for Accountants
We’ve represented certified public accountants and professional fiduciaries in matters of professional negligence, investigations by professional licensing bodies, and business and professional ethics, as well as in matters related to firm mergers and business transactions.
The Lawyers’ Lawyers
Sometimes referred to as “the lawyers’ lawyers,” the firm’s Professional Liability practice is trusted by attorneys and judges with matters that include defense of malpractice claims. Especially for legal industry clients, who are accustomed to being the legal authority, it can be difficult to assume the role of client. We take a collaborative approach – welcoming and encouraging the client’s participation in their legal strategy.
Real Estate and Design Professionals
Whether instigated by a transaction gone south or an asserted technical misstep, real estate professionals can find themselves bearing the brunt of a third-party dispute. The firm has represented real estate agents and brokers in various matters including errors and omissions, licensing, and disciplinary actions. We’ve also defended design professionals, such as architects and engineers, in claims of malpractice for alleged negligent design and supervision.
Directors and Officers
Corporate and nonprofit boards, homeowner associations and other governing bodies have fiduciary duties that can be complex and often sit at the crossroads of conflicting organizational priorities. Potentially impacting a wide variety of stakeholders, their decision-making and leadership responsibilities can have both organizational and personal implications. Whether a client is accused of an overt act or a failure to act, our attorneys have represented boards, as well as individual directors and officers, in matters including errors and omissions, breach of various duties and other claims.
Medical and Other Licensed Professionals
Many other licensed professionals run the risk of professional liability claims. For doctors, dentists and other medical professionals, the stakes of medical professional liability (or MPL) claims can be especially high when patients or their families raise claims of wrongful death and personal physical injury. While some cases end with early settlement, our decades of trial experience allow us to present often technically complicated medical information to juries and triers of fact to help preserve our clients’ practices and reputations.
