WilmerHale is pleased to announce that Patrick T. Murphy has joined the law firm’s Palo Alto office as Counsel in its Securities Department. Murphy returns to private practice after serving for eight years with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), most recently as a Branch Chief in the San Francisco Regional Office.
During his tenure at the SEC, Murphy supervised attorneys and accountants in the investigation and litigation of matters in the Division of Enforcement. He was responsible for leading some of the most significant enforcement matters in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, including the first options backdating case in the country, the prosecution of complex financial frauds, investment advisor and broker-dealer misconduct, insider trading, offering frauds and market manipulation schemes.
“Patrick’s government background will enhance our preeminent securities law practice and bring additional SEC enforcement expertise to the Palo Alto office,” said Curtis L. Mo, partner-in-charge at WilmerHale Palo Alto.
With the addition of Murphy, WilmerHale continues to build its litigation and securities enforcement practice on the West Coast. Jonathan Shapiro, also located in the firm’s Palo Alto office, has been representing clients in a wide range of securities litigation and enforcement matters for more than 10 years. In September of last year, WilmerHale expanded into Los Angeles with the addition of Randall Lee, the former Regional Director of the Pacific Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prior to the SEC, Lee was an Assistant United States Attorney in Los Angeles and served as a Deputy Chief in the Major Frauds Section of the US Attorney’s Office. Mr. Lee’s significant high-level government experience has provided unprecedented frontline insight to clients facing serious government investigations and regulatory scrutiny.
WilmerHale’s securities practice is well-known for being one of the best in the nation. With more than 225 lawyers, the practice is among the largest and most diverse of its kind. The firm has successfully resolved some of the most significant and complex securities investigations and litigation over the last two decades, and the practice has established itself as a leading defender of companies charged with violations of securities laws and market misconduct. The department also offers sophisticated regulatory compliance advice and corporate governance counseling to companies and other financial market participants in the United States and Europe, and is highly regarded for the representation of investment management and broker-dealer businesses.
“We are thrilled that Patrick has joined us and will assist our clients in handling their most important securities enforcement, litigation and compliance matters,” said Randall Lee. “He demonstrated excellent judgment and dedication to his work while at the SEC.”
“I am excited to collaborate with all the exceptional professionals at WilmerHale,” said Patrick T. Murphy. “I look forward to helping to extend the firm’s reputation for excellence in securities matters to the West Coast.”
Prior to his government service, Murphy was in private practice in San Francisco and New York. Murphy received his JD from Columbia University School of Law and his AB from Brown University. He is admitted to the bar in California and New York.