David E. Murphy is a Senior Associate at McCandlish Lillard practicing litigation, including employment, business & commercial litigation, post-employment restrictive covenants, personal and business torts, breach of contract, defamation, severance review and analysis, and executive compensation and termination.  David works primarily in the firm’s Fairfax Office, but represents clients in both state and Federal courts across Virginia and Washington D.C.

David has actively litigated matters from the intake stage through appeal since being admitted to the Virginia Bar in November 2016, and has significant courtroom experience as a trial lawyer and lead counsel in state and federal cases, as well as many successful settlements, mediations, and other pre-trial resolutions.  In addition to litigating and trying cases with principals, David maintains a busy practice litigating cases as lead counsel.  David has further written and argued countless motions before local Courts, along with writing multiple appellate briefs to the Virginia Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

David’s professional recognitions include being named to The Best Lawyers in America^® (Employment Law – Individuals; Litigation – Labor and Employment) and to Best Virginia Elite Lawyer – Litigation.  David is also a Barrister at the George Mason Inn of Court. Prior to joining McCandlish, David worked as a Litigation Associate at local law firm Charlson Bredehoft Cohen Brown & Nadelhaft, P.C. from 2016-2023.

David is a Fairfax, Virginia native, and knew at the age of fourteen that he would spend his professional career litigating cases in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area.  David received his B.A. degree from the University of Pittsburgh cum laude, and subsequently earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

When away from the office, David enjoys spending his time with his family and stays busy pursuing his passions of following professional and collegiate sports, snowboarding, golf, gardening, traveling, and the movies.