Overview

Anne Marie Murphy is a Principal at Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy LLP, where she practices civil litigation focusing on complex commercial litigation, class actions, consumers’ rights and elder abuse (including both financial abuse and nursing home abuse)—however, her litigation practice is far ranging and includes being the court appointed co-lead counsel for a nationwide securities class action, to litigating against Major League Baseball over the Baseball Antitrust Exemption and representing taxpayers in a suit to stop Governor Schwarzenegger from selling major Californian historic properties and courthouses.

In every year since 2016 Ms. Murphy has been named to Super Lawyers list of the top 100 lawyers in Northern California and its list of the top 50 women lawyers.  In 2017, Ms. Murphy was elected to Litigation Counsel of America as a Fellow.  In each year since 2017 Ms. Murphy has been named to the Irish Legal 100.  In 2015 Ms. Murphy was named to the Daily Journal’s list of the top 100 women lawyers in California, as well as its inaugural list of the top 25 plaintiff attorneys in California. 

Ms. Murphy received her Bachelor of Arts in Science &Technology from Vassar College. She received her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. While attending Georgetown, she worked full time as a Legislative Assistant in the U.S. Senate.

After graduating from law school, she practiced law in San Francisco, handling a caseload ranging from complex commercial litigation to regulatory approvals of mergers and acquisitions of regulated utilities. She also worked on a pro bono basis for the AIDS Legal Referral Panel.

In Komarova v. National Credit Acceptance, Inc., Ms. Murphy obtained a jury verdict against a credit card collection agency following a two-week trial in January 2008. The jury found for the plaintiff both on her intentional infliction of emotional distress and California Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claims, resulting in both a compensatory and punitive damages award. On appeal, several important issues of first impression were decided in the Plaintiff’s favor, as reflected in the published decision: Komarova v. National Credit Acceptance, Inc., 175 Cal. App. 4th 324 (Cal. App. 1st Dist. 2009).

Ms. Murphy has practiced extensively in the area of elder abuse, handling many notable cases, including jury trials, against nursing homes and those who have taken financial advantage of seniors. Ms. Murphy’s jury trial experience also includes business disputes, real estate disputes and probate and trust matters.  Ms. Murphy has also acted as co-lead counsel in several consumer class actions which have returned millions of dollars to consumers across the country.  Ms. Murphy has argued before the Ninth Circuit as well as the Joint Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. 

Ms. Murphy is a long-standing member of Consumer Attorneys of California, the American Association for Justice, the San Mateo County Bar Association, the San Mateo Trial Lawyers Association, and is a lifetime member of California Women Lawyers.

Ms. Murphy serves on the Board of Directors of Consumer Attorneys of California ‘s Executive Committee (CAOC) and is currently CAOC’s Treasurer and has been Co-Chair of CAOC’s Convention (2022), Co-Chair of the Donald L. Galine Tahoe Seminars (2010-2017), Co-Chair of the CAOC Class Action Seminar (2014-2015), Co-Chair of the CAOC Class Action and Mass Torts Seminar (2016), and Chair of the CAOC Sonoma Seminar (2016, 2018-2023). Ms. Murphy was elected to the CAOC Board of Governors in 2009 and again in 2010. In 2010, Ms. Murphy was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of CAOC; she was then elected to the Board of Directors every year since 2011. Ms. Murphy was Chair of the CAOC Women’s Caucus in 2014. In 2015 and from 2020-throught the present she has served on the Executive Committee of CAOC. In 2011, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2020-2023 she received the CAOC Presidential Award of Merit.

In 2010, Ms. Murphy was appointed as a Commissioner on the California Commission on Access to Justice (now CalATJ). The Commission plays a vital role in bringing together the three branches of government, judges, lawyers and civic and business leaders to find long-term solutions to the chronic lack of legal assistance available to low-income and vulnerable Californians. Ms. Murphy continues to serve on the CalATJ.

Ms. Murphy has provided frequent commentary on consumer rights issues, including binding mandatory consumer arbitration, and has appeared on local as well as national news broadcasts including ABC 7 On Your Side (Cable 7), View From The Bay, Ring of Fire and Good Morning America (ABC). In addition, Ms. Murphy frequently lectures on trial practice, as well as substantive areas of law, including elder abuse, consumer rights and arbitration.

Ms. Murphy's articles include:    

“Financial elder abuse: Holding institutions liable for aiding and abetting abuse,” The Forum Magazine (CAOC), May/June 2019, Vol. 49 No. 3; "Same Road, Different Stops" (Elder Abuse Litigation), The Docket, San Mateo County Bar Association, Volume 49, No. 1, Jan/Feb 2013. “Upcoming Changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure”, Plaintiff Magazine, October 2015.  “Pennies From Heaven” (re Cy Pres), San Francisco Daily Journal, November 22, 2013; Ms. Murphy also provides on-going blog commentary on consumer issues and elder abuse issue on CPM’s Advocates for Justice Blog.

Ms. Murphy was profiled by Plaintiff Magazine in 2016 “Profile: Anne Marie Murphy She made the transition from defense, enjoyed some early success and never looked back.”  She was also profiled by Forum Magazine in 2015 “Volunteer spotlight – Anne Marie Murphy.”

Ms. Murphy’s speaking engagements include: Panelist: "Elder Abuse Litigation," San Mateo County Bar Association, 2011; "Elder Abuse Litigation," State Bar of California Annual Convention, 2010; "Handling Cases Involving Physical and Financial Elder Abuse," CYLA, State Bar of California Webinar, 2010; "Winning Cases in Securities Arbitration," State Bar of California Annual Convention, 2010; "Securities Arbitration," CYLA, State Bar of California Webinar 2010; "Winning Trials through Motions in limine," 2010; Moderator, "Preparing for Trial," Consumer Attorneys of California, 2011; Moderator, “CSI Effect” CAOC Tahoe 2012; Panelist, “Financial Elder Abuse Litigation: Assessing, Preparing and Presenting Claims”, Legal Assistance for Seniors (“LAS”) 2012 Annual Conference; “Credit Counseling Class Actions and the CROA”, CAOC Beaver Creek Conference 2012; Elder Abuse Litigation: Getting To Verdict Or Settlement In Tough Economic Times And Checklists For Settlement," CAOC 51st Annual Convention 2012; "Ethical Issues in Lawyer Communications," San Mateo County Bar Association 2013; “Elder Abuse Litigation: Sharpening Skills in Physical and Financial Abuse Cases” LAS 2013 Annual Conference; “PAPANTONIO: THE CONSERVATIVE WAR ON CONSUMER PROTECTIONS (VIDEO),” broadcast, Ring of Fire, August 4, 2013; “Is Major League Baseball the ONLY Business to Have an Antitrust Exemption?” Santa Clara University, September 27, 2013; “Ethical Issues Emerging From The Patient-Client Relationship” CAOC Annual Convention, San Francisco, November 16, 2013; Co-Chair/Moderator CAOC 2014 Class Action Seminar; Co-Chair/Moderator CAOC Political Training, May 5, 2014; “Cy Pres in Class Action Settlements: How to Do It Right and Benefit Legal Service”, Impact Fund Webinar, July 28, 2014; Moderator, “Dos and Don’ts in the Courtroom” CAOC 53rd Annual Convention, San Francisco November 14, 2014; “CCRC Litigation” California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR) Annual Convention, Monterey, November 21, 2014; “Elder Law and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)” CAOC Hawaii Seminar, December 1, 2014; Co-Chair CAOC/SFTLA/BASF 2015 Class Action Seminar, February 10, 2015; “Continuing Care Retirement Communities: Current Developments,” California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR) Annual Convention, November 2015; “Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,” CAOC 2015 Hawaii Seminar, November 30, 2015; CAOC Class Action and Mass Torts 2016 Seminar, San Francisco, Co-Chair and Moderator; “Why aren’t more female lawyers making it to trial?.” SFTLA, January 7, 2016; “Trial Skills: The Ins And Outs Of Handling Witnesses (Roundtable Discussion),” CAOC 2016 Sonoma Seminar, Moderator; Co-Chair of the CAOC 2016 Sonoma Seminar; “Continuing Care Retirement Communities: Continuing Care Contracts/Frequently Asked Questions” CANHR Webinar, April 20, 2016; Presentation to CANHR CCRC Panel, April 30, 2016; Litigating in Probate Versus Civil Court: Factors to Consider, Legal Assistance for Seniors Conference, May 17, 2016; Transparency in Supply Chains Litigation: Plaintiff, Defense and Human rights perspectives, July 28, 2016, Sponsored by the California State Bar Antitrust, UCL and Privacy Law Section; Elder Abuse a Growing Epidemic, CAOC Annual Convention, San Francisco, November 12, 2016; Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) Litigation, Plenary Session, CANHR Annual Conference, Monterey, November 19, 2016; “Litigating Human Rights Cases Under the UCL,” CAOC Hawaii Seminar, Maui, November 28, 2016; “Litigating Human Rights Class Actions,” CAOC/SFTLA Class Action Seminar, San Francisco, February 7, 2017; Preparing for the First Day of Trial, SFTLA Seminar, February 21, 2017; “New Developments in Elder Abuse Litigation”, May 9, 2017, SFTLA Elder Abuse Round Table, San Francisco, CA; “Lithium Ion Battery Litigation: Unsafe at 30,000 Feet,” CAOC 2017 Tahoe Seminar, June 24, 2017; “The Difference Between Elder Abuse and Med-Mal Claims” CAOC 2018 Convention, San Francisco, November 2018; “Undue Influence: Trust Litigation” CAOC Maui Conference, November 2018; CAOC Sonoma Seminar 2019 “Financial Elder Abuse: holding institutions liable for aiding and abetting abuse”; CAOC Maui Conference, November 2019, “Using FOIA and Public Records Act Requests”; CANHR Conference, 2020, “Litigating the COVID-19 Case”; CAOC Unconventional Convention 2020, “Litigating the  COVID-19 Case Once Selected”; CAOC Sonoma Seminar, 2021, Chair of Conference and Moderator of Masters Panel; CAOC Palm Springs Seminar, 2021, “Behind Locked Doors: Elder Abuse and Neglect in California Nursing Homes”; CANHR Webinar May 2021, “CCRCs and Estate Planning.”

Ms. Murphy is involved in several community organizations in the Bay Area. Among other community activities, Ms. Murphy served on the Board of Directors of Seven Tepees Youth Program, and as the Secretary and is now on its Advisory Board. Seven Tepees is a non-profit serving promising urban youth in San Francisco, which provides comprehensive services to youth from 5th to 12th grade, including mentoring, academic support and college and career counseling.

In 2015 Ms. Murphy joined the Board of Directors of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (“CANHR”) and is currently its President. CANHR is one of the largest and most respected non-profits in the country devoted to the protection of senior citizens. For the past 30 years, CANHR has educated and supported consumers and advocates regarding the rights of California seniors, through direct advocacy, community education, legislation and litigation.

In 2008, Ms. Murphy was selected as a finalist for the 2008 Consumer Attorney of the Year Award by CAOC. From 2009-2012 Ms. Murphy was selected as a Northern California “Rising Star” by Northern California Super Lawyers and San Francisco Magazine.  In 2013 and in each year since, Ms. Murphy was selected as a Northern California “Super Lawyer” by Northern California Super Lawyers and San Francisco Magazine.  Starting in 2016 she was selected to the Super Lawyer’s list of top 100 lawyers in Northern California and its list of top 50 women lawyers in Northern California.

In May 2015, the Daily Journal named Ms. Murphy in its Top Women Lawyers edition as one of the “100 leading women lawyers in California.”  That same year the Daily Journal named Ms. Murphy to its inaugural list of the top 25 plaintiff attorneys in California. In 2021, Ms. Murphy was named to Lawdragon’s list of 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers.

Ms. Murphy is AV-Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell.  Ms. Murphy is rated 10/10 by AVVO.

Anne Marie Murphy
Rated by Super Lawyers


loading ...

News

News

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Blog Posts

Honors & Awards

Honors & Recognitions

The Daily Journal Top 100 Women Lawyers in California, Top 25 Plaintiff Attorneys in California

Selected as a finalist for the 2008 Consumer Attorney of the Year Award by CAOC;

Selected as a Northern California “Super Lawyer” by Northern California Super Lawyers and San Francisco Magazine, 2013 to present

Selected as a Northern California “Rising Star” by Northern California Super Lawyers and San Francisco Magazine, 2009—2012

Elected to Litigation Counsel of America as a Fellow, 2017

Irish Legal 100

Appointed to the California Commission on Access to Justice, 2010 to present

2014 Chair of the CAOC Women’s Caucus

Seven Tepees Youth Program, Advisory Board

Affiliations

Affiliations

Consumer Attorneys of California, Board of Directors

California Commission on Access to Justice, Commissioner

California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (“CANHR”), Board of Directors, Secretary

American Association for Justice, Member

San Mateo County Bar Association, Member

San Mateo Trial Lawyers Association, Member

California Women Lawyers, Lifetime Member

California Young Lawyers Association (CYLA), Board of Directors, 2009-2011

San Mateo County Barristers,  Board of Directors, 2008-2009

Irish American Bar Association of Northern California, Member

Community Involvement

Board of Directors of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (“CANHR”), (2015—Present)
Since 1983, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR), a statewide nonprofit 501(c)(3) advocacy organization, has been dedicated to improving the choices, care and quality of life for California’s long term care consumers.  CANHR is a leading advocate for the rights of senior citizens in California.  In 2017 Ms. Murphy was elected Secretary of the Board, in 2019 she was elected President of the Board.

Board of Directors of Seven Tepees Youth Program, (2009-2013), Advisory Board (2014—Present)
Seven Tepees is a non-profit serving promising urban youth in San Francisco, which provides comprehensive services to youth from 5th to 12th grade, including mentoring, academic support and college and career counseling.  Ms. Murphy served both on the Board of Directors and as Secretary of the Board.  She now serves on the Advisory Board.

San Bruno Youth BaseballVolunteer, (2016-2017)

St. Roberts School, Volunteer, (2015-present)

Vassar College, (2022-present)

Education

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D.

Vassar College, B.A.

Jump to Page

By using this site, you agree to our updated Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use.