Murley_Susan

Susan W. Murley

Partner

  • Co-Managing Partner

Susan Murley is a co-managing partner of the firm, as well as a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. She is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Ms. Murley previously served as chair of the Transactional Department, chair of the Corporate Practice Group and chair of the firm’s Hiring Committee. She is also a former member of the Executive Committee. Ms. Murley joined the firm in 1986.

Ms. Murley has more than 25 years of experience in representing private and public companies in the technology, life sciences and finance sectors, among others. She concentrates her practice primarily in the areas of corporate finance, mergers and acquisition, corporate governance and general corporate counseling. 

Ms. Murley has represented companies and underwriters in more than 75 initial and follow-on public offerings, and has led a number of transactions in the mergers and acquisitions area, the private issuances of securities and license and distribution agreements.

Ms. Murley is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Boston Bar Association.

  • The Boston Globe Ranks WilmerHale Among Top 10 Women-Led Businesses

    The rankings are based on revenue or operating budget and other variables, including number of full-time employees in the state, workplace and management diversity, and innovative projects.

    November 9, 2020
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  • Susan Murley Recognized in Corporate Counsel’s National Women in Law Awards

    WilmerHale Co-Managing Partner Susan Murley was named in Corporate Counsel’s 2018 National Woman in Law Awards, which honor those who have demonstrated a commitment to empowerment of women in law.

    August 15, 2018
    Read More

Experience

  • Public Company Clients

    Akamai Technologies

    Aspect Medical Systems

    BioSphere Medical

    The First Marblehead Corporation

    NxStage Medical

    Idenix Pharmaceuticals

    Sepracor Inc.

  • Representative Transactions

    Many life sciences and high technology industry public offerings for both issuers and underwriters

    Venture capital financing for companies in the biotechnology, medical device and technology industries

    A wide range of merger and acquisition transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions of numerous public and private companies

    Strategic alliances in the life sciences industry

    General corporate and securities law advice to companies and boards of directors

Recognition

  • Named a Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer – independently rated and selected by clients (2023).
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America for corporate governance law (2023–2024).
  • Featured as a part of The Boston Globe’s and The Commonwealth Institute's annual Top Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts from 2013–2020.
  • Recognized by Corporate Counsel’s 2018 National Woman in Law Awards under the Law Firm Transformative Leadership category.
  • Named to Boston Magazine’s inaugural Top Lawyers list in 2021 and 2022 in the area of corporate law.
  • Named among the “Top Women Attorneys in Massachusetts in 2016,” and selected as a “Massachusetts Super Lawyer” for business law in the 2004–2006, 2012–2015 and 2018 issues of Boston Magazine.
  • Named to The National Law Journal’s inaugural list of “Outstanding Women Lawyers” in 2015.
  • Selected as a “Top Women of Law” by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly in September 2011.

Insights & News

Credentials

  • Education

    • JD, University of Virginia School of Law, 1986

    • BA, Tufts University, 1981

      summa cum laude Phi Beta Kappa
  • Admissions

    • Massachusetts

    • England and Wales, Registered Foreign Lawyer

Credentials