Peter Murphy represents public and private sector employers in a broad array of cases, with a focus on cases involving claims of discrimination, wrongful termination, first amendment retaliation, and other labor and employment disputes. Peter has successfully represented clients before state and federal courts, including the Connecticut Appellate Court and the Connecticut Supreme Court, as well as before administrative agencies such as the State Department of Education, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In addition, Peter advises employers on issues such as employee discipline, disability accommodations, and internal investigations, and provides training and seminar presentations on those issues.
Peter is an adjunct professor for the first year Moot Court class at the University of Connecticut School of Law, and has been appointed to the Criminal Justice Act panel for the United States District Court in Connecticut. Prior to joining Shipman & Goodwin, Peter served as a law clerk to the Honorable Flemming L. Norcott, Jr., of the Connecticut Supreme Court, and to the Honorable Christopher F. Droney of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.
- Listed as a Connecticut Super Lawyer Rising Star®: Schools & Education; 2010-2012
- O'Connell, Flaherty & Attmore Scholar; First Year Honors Program
- Sarah N. Cohen and Elizabeth S. Bossler Scholarship
- Class of 1970 Scholar
- Articles Editor, Connecticut Law Review
- Connecticut Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section: Co-Chair, Federal Practice Committee (2008-2009) and Co-Chair, Education Law Committee (2010-2012)
- Hartford County Bar Association
Recapitalization of a Significiant Public Company As Special Connecticut Counsel In Elimination of Dual Classes of Stock and Related Shareholder Litigation
Shipman & Goodwin acted as Connecticut counsel to a special committee of the Board of Directors of a significant public company based in Connecticut in connection with a recapitalization of the company’s two classes of common stock, one class of publicly traded non-voting shares and a second class of privately held voting shares, into a single class of publicly traded voting common stock. The recapitalization was accomplished by an amendment of the company’s certificate of incorporation following approval by the company’s shareholders. The firm advised the special committee and the Board on matters of Connecticut law and in particular on the application of the Connecticut anti-takeover statutes to the transaction. The firm was also co-defense counsel for the company in a suit brought by a shareholder claiming that the recapitalization transaction violated the Connecticut anti-takeover statute and seeking to enjoin the transaction. The court dismissed all of the shareholder’s claims after an expedited trial on the merits.