Atty. John Clark Murphy
John Murphy focuses his practice on eminent domain, inverse condemnation and other complex real estate trials. He represents a wide variety of public agencies, corporations, and landowners.
Eminent Domain & More Attorney · Serving Costa Mesa, CA · 46+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About John Clark Murphy at a Glance
John Clark Murphy is a Partner based in Costa Mesa, California, practicing at Murphy & Evertz. They have 46+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1980. Their practice focuses on real estate, zoning, estate litigation, and litigation. Admitted to practice in California U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California U.S. District Court, Southern Distric (1980). Educated at University of Southern California School of Law (J.D., 1980) and Brown University University of California, Riverside (B.A., 1976). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serves clients in Costa Mesa, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About John Clark Murphy
- John Murphy focuses his practice on eminent domain, inverse condemnation and other complex real estate trials
- He represents a wide variety of public agencies, corporations, and landowners
- Mr. Murphy and his firm have earned its clients over $275 Million in eminent domain awards over the past six years
- His firm has won arguably the highest condemnation awards in the State in each of the past four years
- Its 2017 judgment against the County of San Bernardino totals $48 Million
- He has been chosen repeatedly for inclusion in the definitive legal directory, Best Lawyers in America - - most recently for 2017 - - in two practice areas: eminent domain law and real estate law
- From 2006 – 2017, the Los Angeles Times has featured Mr. Murphy in its articles, “Southern California’s Best Lawyers.” Los Angeles magazine has listed him repeatedly in Southern California Super Lawyers
- Orange Coast magazine named him in its September, 2007 – 2015 features, “Top Attorneys in Orange County.” Best Lawyers in America, the nation’s oldest and most respected legal peer-review publication, honored Mr. Murphy in 2012 as its “Orange County Litigation – Real Estate Lawyer of The Year.” Mr. Murphy was also named one of the “Top 50 in Orange County” lawyers for 2012 by Southern California’s Super Lawyers magazine
- Mr. Murphy has served as lead trial counsel in numerous significant, successful jury trials
- He speaks regularly on eminent domain issues and his cases have garnered significant press coverage
- He has been the subject of three Los Angeles Daily Journal profiles and has been featured on the cover of both Verdicts and Settlements and the Daily Journal
- John also won one of the largest jury verdicts ($14.6 million) ever obtained in Marin County Superior Court
- In 2006, Mr. Murphy was elected a Fellow of the American Bar Association
- He has been consistently accorded an “AV-Preeminent” rating by Martindale Hubbell
- In 2017, the State Bar of California’s Real Property Section awarded Mr. Murphy a seat on its executive committee
- Mr. Murphy has managed, or played a lead role in, several major public agency acquisition projects
- These agencies include: Orange County Flood Control District (2008 – Present) Los Angeles Unified School District (2009 – Present) Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (2013 – Present) Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (2003 – Present) Orange County Transportation Corridor Agencies (1996 – 2007) Riverside County (2007 – Present) Riverside County Economic Development Agency (2007 – Present) San Diego Unified Port District (2015 – Present) City of Los Angeles Department of Airports (LAWA) (2004 – 2007) City of Newport Beach (2007 – 2008)
- and Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority (1998 – 2003)
- Mr. Murphy spoke on trial tactics in eminent domain at the American Law Institute – Continuing Legal Education (ALI-CLE) 34th Annual Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation Conference in San Diego in 2017
- He has also spoken at the January, 2006 23rd Annual ALI-ABA National Eminent Domain Conference in San Diego
- the 2009, 26th ALI-ABA National Eminent Domain Conference in Miami, Florida
- the 2012, 29th ALI-ABA Eminent Domain Conference in San Diego
- and the 2015, 32nd Annual National Eminent Domain Conference in San Francisco
- He serves as Co-Chairman of the annual CLE International Southern California seminar on eminent domain
- He has spoken frequently at Appraisal Institute seminars, and authored an article for the Appraisal Journal
- Over the past ten years, Mr. Murphy has spoken at over 15 International Right of Way Association seminars and programs
- Most recently, he spoke at the IRWA’s 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Annual International Education Conferences in Indianapolis, Calgary, Atlanta, Seattle, West Virginia, and Hartford, Connecticut
- Mr. Murphy has authored a chapter on condemnation for the California Continuing Education of the Bar
- treatise, “Ground Lease Practice,” and he also authored a chapter of the American Bar Association text book on expert witnesses, “Litigators on Experts.” Mr. Murphy is the former president of Chapter 67 of the International Right of Way Association (2000) and former member of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Bar Foundation
- He is a past President of the Warren J. Ferguson Chapter of the American Inns of Court and has served on the Board of Visitors of the Chapman University Law School
- He is also a member of Lambda Alpha, and an affiliate member of the Appraisal Institute
- Mr. Murphy received his J.D. from the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law in 1980
- and his B.A., with honors, from the University of California, Riverside in 1976
Practice Areas Explained
John Clark Murphy's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases John Clark Murphy handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Costa Mesa.
Real Estate Law in Costa Mesa
Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.
John Clark Murphy is one of 313,729 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in California →
Land Use & Zoning in Costa Mesa
John Clark Murphy is one of 39,875 zoning attorneys indexed nationally. Browse zoning attorneys in California →
Estate & Trust Litigation in Costa Mesa
John Clark Murphy is one of 19,876 estate litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse estate litigation attorneys in California →
Civil Litigation in Costa Mesa
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
John Clark Murphy is one of 450,751 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Costa Mesa
Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Costa Mesa are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Costa Mesa Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Costa Mesa-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Costa Mesa or all attorneys in California.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Costa Mesa Choose John Clark Murphy
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish John Clark Murphy's practice in the field of real estate, zoning, estate litigation, and litigation.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
John Clark Murphy brings 46+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering real estate, zoning, and estate litigation, John Clark Murphy can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Costa Mesa
A Costa Mesa-based practice means John Clark Murphy attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues John Clark Murphy Handles in Costa Mesa
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters John Clark Murphy has experience with under California law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact John Clark Murphy directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
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How People Find John Clark Murphy Online
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John Clark Murphy's Practice Areas & Specializations
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