JOHN A. MUPRHY
ATTORNEY & CO-FOUNDER
John A. Murphy is licensed to practice law in Rhode Island, and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. John’s practice has focused on land use regulation, zoning, business law, real estate, estate planning, probate, and alternative dispute resolution. John is a co-founder of Morneau & Murphy.
John A. Murphy entered Boston College Law School in 1970, following in the footsteps of Neale D. Murphy, his father. After graduating in 1973, and passing the Bar exam, John clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Edward W. Day.
In 1975, Mr. Murphy was recruited by Rhode Island Attorney General Julius C. Michaelson. He worked in the criminal division and handled many trials and appeals. Notable among the matters handled by John was the Supreme Court’s rejection of an appeal filed by organized crime figure Raymond L.S. Patriarca. As a special assistant, John continued for several years, under successor attorneys general, to represent the state in the post-trial proceedings in the Bonded Vault robbery case. That work included representing the state in an extensive series of appeals and ancillary proceedings in state and federal courts, culminating in the U.S. Supreme Court’s upholding of the guilty verdicts obtained at trial.
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John Murphy
Murphy Prior & Infantolino Office,, Jamestown, RI
John A. Murphy with his daughter Emily Murphy in Murphy Prior & Infantolino Office, Jamestown, RI
JOHN'S HISTORY
In the late 1970s, John joined the highly respected firm of Winograd, Shine & Zacks in Providence, focusing his practice on civil litigation. Eventually, the firm opened an office in Jamestown, which John staffed, with his father acting “of counsel.”
After eleven years with Winograd, Shine & Zacks, P.C., John started a law partnership with his Boston College Law School classmate, John B. Murphy, with offices in Providence and Jamestown. Neale D. Murphy was “of counsel” to the firm until his death in 2003, at age 99.
In 1990, Richard N. Morneau joined the firm, and Morneau & Murphy came into existence. After 28 years of practice together, John A. Murphy and John B. mourned the loss of their partner, Richard, when he died in 2018.
Emily J. Murphy joined the firm in 2000, and Christian Infantolino joined in 2014. They are now co-managers of the firm’s Jamestown office. As to the firm’s future, John A. Murphy and John B. are confident in passing their legacy to Emily and Christian Infantolino.
John A. Murphy has begun transitioning to an “of counsel” role within the firm. Morneau & Murphy continues its practice with the same values that John A. Murphy and John B. founded the firm upon, focusing upon building lasting relationships with clients by providing high-quality legal services in an efficient and timely manner.
John is a former President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. He is the author of Acceptance of Guilty Pleas in State Court Criminal Proceedings, published in the Boston College Law Review. John has authored articles in the Rhode Island Bar Journal, and the book entitled “Murphy Was A Lawyer...and a Quahogger”.
John plays court tennis and has served as president, on several occasions, of the National Tennis Club in Newport, Rhode Island. He serves in a leadership capacity in many community and charitable organizations. Since 2012, John has served as Town Moderator, an elective office within the Town of Jamestown. When he is not busy working, John enjoys traveling and spending time at home in Jamestown with his family.