Overview

Kiera Murphy helps companies create calculated plays to tackle commercial disputes, business contract litigation and internal investigation needs. This includes experience presenting oral and written evidence, managing discovery, strategizing on fact development and damages theories, and counseling clients on risk and nonlitigation issues.

Building off her broad experience, she skillfully has produced positive results like the dispositive resolution and settlement of cases. Kiera has worked primarily with clients in the health care, finance and insurance sectors.

Positive Results

Throughout her tenure at the firm, Kiera has delivered favorable outcomes for clients of all types. These include:

  1. Briefing and arguing a motion for default judgment in federal court, resulting in entry of default and default judgment.
  2. Briefing and arguing a motion to quash a nonparty deposition subpoena for a Fortune 500 company, resulting in the federal magistrate judge allowing only one narrowed topic.
  3. Briefing and arguing a motion to dismiss, which resulted in a complete dismissal from the breach-of-contract action.
  4. Briefing and arguing the opposition to a motion to vacate, resulting in denial of the motion.
  5. Appearing as the sole attorney at an evidentiary hearing, with the referee finding no damages owed.
  6. Obtaining orders for protection for six pro bono clients, including three through evidentiary hearing, a dismissal after evidentiary hearing for a seventh client, and a mutual dismissal of dueling petitions for an eighth client.
  7. Counseling a Fortune 35 company on privilege issues, as well as presenting to the company’s entire legal department on dual-purpose communications.
  8. Presenting to the entire legal department of one of the five largest U.S. banks on emerging ESG issues.
  9. Working as the lead associate on a commercial arbitration matter for a Fortune 5 company with 10-figures of damages at issue, with successful resolution of the case.
  10. Working as the sole associate on a commercial arbitration matter through the day before the final hearing, when the client obtained a settlement.
  11. Managing the response to a federal grand jury subpoena requesting a decade of business records, with an ultimate decline to investigate further.

Prior Experience

A two-time summer associate with Faegre Baker Daniels (now Faegre Drinker), Kiera rejoined the firm following a legal externship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. During her externship, Kiera’s work included drafting publicly filed briefs, one of which resulted in a successful motion to dismiss a lawsuit against a federal agency. She also assisted with cases involving terrorism and child exploitation issues.

Kiera gained experience developing risk management strategies, supporting litigation strategy and constructing defensive themes through a judicial externship with the Hon. Paul A. Magnuson of the U.S. District Court of Minnesota, as well as through legal internships with Hormel Foods and Target.

Related Industries

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Minnesota

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Education

University of St. Thomas School of Law
J.D. magna cum laude, with Academic honors (2019)

The College of Saint Scholastica
B.A. in Business Marketing Analytics, summa cum laude (2014)

Leadership & Community

Pro Bono

  • Tubman Safety Project — Volunteer Attorney

Professional Associations

  • The Appellate Project — Chair of Development Committee 
  • Minnesota Korean American Bar Association — Member
  • National Federal Bar Association — Member of Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 2020-23; Co-chair of Diversity and Inclusion Communications Sub-committee, 2022-23; Membership Committee, 2020-22
  • Warren E. Burger American Inn of Court — Member, 2021-22
  • Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association — Member of Awards Committee, 2021-22

Honors

  • Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2020-23
  • Faegre Baker Daniels — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2019