LOS ANGELES (May 16, 2011) – James M.A. Murphy recently joined Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP, one of California’s leading full-service law firms, as a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. Murphy will be a part of the firm’s Family Wealth & Exempt Organizations practice group.
Luce Forward’s Family Wealth and Exempt Organizations practice addresses four general areas of client concerns: estate and tax planning, the responsibilities of fiduciaries in the probate and trust process, dispute resolution in the estates and trusts context, and the start-up and operation of nonprofit organizations. Murphy will focus primarily on trusts and estates, taxation and employee benefits, working closely with Luce Forward Partners Mary F. Gillick and Carol K. Kao.
“As Luce Forward continues to grow and strengthen its practices and offices throughout California, Mr. Murphy’s vast experience will be a valuable asset to our already successful trust and estates group,” said Kurt L. Kicklighter, Luce Forward’s Managing Partner. “We know Mr. Murphy will provide Luce Forward clients with the same high-level counsel and confidential services that our firm has always been known for. He is a much welcomed addition to our firm; we are very pleased that he is joining us.”
Prior to joining Luce Forward, Murphy was a partner at Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP in Los Angeles where he also practiced trust and estates, taxation and employee benefits. Earlier in his career he worked with Rosenfeld, Meyer & Susman LLP in Beverly Hills. Murphy completed his undergraduate education at Harvard College (A.B., magna cum laude) and received his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.
Luce Forward’s Family Wealth and Exempt Organizations practice works with high net-worth individuals and frequently handles complex estate plans and sophisticated tax challenges. The group has been ranked nationally by Chambers USA in the Wealth Management category for the past four years and has been cited as having “one of the finest reputations in the West.”
Founded in 1873, Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP is a full-service California law firm with offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel Valley/Del Mar, Orange County, and Rancho Santa Fe. For more information, visit www.luce.com.
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