2018 Women in Construction: Kathryn Murphy, Murphy, Hesse, Toomey and Lehane, LLP

Name: Kathryn Murphy

Position: Partner

Company: Murphy, Hesse, Toomey and Lehane, LLP

Location: Quincy, Boston, Springfield, MA

Birth place: Massachusetts

Education: University of Massachusetts, Boston, Suffolk University Law

Certifications: Certified Public Accountant, Senior Professional Human Resource (SPHR) 

Why did you decide to be a lawyer? My appreciation for our legal system and my desire to be able to work with and help others through that system.

What are your specialty areas of practice? Employment law with an emphasis on discrimination, sexual harassment and hourly wages. Cases range from various forms of discrimination matters, EEOC and advocacy before administrative agencies and the courts. In addition, business areas such as corporate governance. 

What do you think makes a successful lawyer? A successful lawyer must be knowledgeable, able to listen, hear, be open minded, remain focused on the matters at hand, be candid and remain a partner with his or her clients in finding plans, setting in motion matters, and problem solving by the identification and consideration of many different aspects of a certain decision or outcome.

Hobbies: Chasing my twin nephews around New York City, shows and skiing 

Experience: Financial investigator for Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, intern at a large accounting firm in the tax department, Assistant Attorney General in the Fair Labor Division at the Massachusetts Attorney General Office and prosecutor in criminal and civil rights enforcement of wage and other workplace laws.