A civil litigation and appellate firm
We are dedicated to managing cases economically and efficiently to accomplish our clients’ objectives. Our attorneys handle a variety of litigated and appellate matters and frequently try cases before juries and courts throughout the Pacific Northwest. We also handle appeals in state and federal courts, drawing on years of judicial clerkship and courtroom experience in regional appellate courts.
Our lawyers understand the practical realities of litigation as well as our clients’ needs and objectives. We strive to achieve favorable results through experienced, effective legal representation.
We welcome you to explore our website or contact us for additional information.
JAMES P. MURPHY

James P. Murphy
James Murphy was admitted to the Washington Bar in 1988 and the Oregon Bar in 2006 and continues to have an extremely active civil trial and litigation defense practice in the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Murphy has extensive experience representing and defending institutional clients through trial in state and federal courts throughout Washington and Oregon in employment / employer liability, products liability, insurance coverage, complex litigation, business litigation, lender and financial institution disputes, personal injury, environmental, and construction defect cases.
Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Murphy served as an appellate clerk with the Washington State Court of Appeals Division I with the Honorable Walter E. Webster, Jr. Mr. Murphy is admitted to the Washington and Oregon State Bar Associations, United States District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Washington and the District of Oregon, United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Murphy graduated magna cum laude in 1988 from Gonzaga University School of Law. Mr. Murphy is a founder and partner of Murphy, Armstrong & Felton LLP.
Education
Gonzaga University School of Law JD, Magna Cum Laude 1988
Seattle University B.A., 1985
Professional Associations
Litigation Section of the Washington State Bar;
Washington State Defense Trial Lawyers Association;
King County Bar Association;
Defense Research Institute
e-mail: jpm@maflegal.com
BRIAN C. ARMSTRONG

Brian Armstrong
Brian Armstrong focuses his practice on civil litigation and appeals in State and Federal Courts in Washington and Oregon. He represents a wide variety of clients in disputes, litigation, and appeals involving employment law/employer liability, products liability, personal injury, premises liability, insurance coverage, business litigation, professional liability, contractor liability/construction defect
litigation, and common carrier liability.
Brian regularly represents employers in the defense of litigated employment/employer liability claims. He assists clients with employment and personnel issues and disputes occurring in the workplace and defends claims and charges of discrimination and unfair employment practices brought before local, state, and federal agencies. He also works with clients to review, create, and implement employment/HR policies and employee handbooks, and provides training and seminars on employment law topics.
Brian also has an active appellate practice. He has successfully prosecuted and defended state and federal court appeals in various areas, including workplace safety/catastrophic injury, municipal liability, insurance coverage, guardianship, probate, and the protection of vulnerable adults. Prior to entering private practice, Brian served for two years as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Mary Kay Becker of Division One of the Washington State Court of Appeals. Brian is an active member of the Appellate Section of the King County Bar Association and has presented continuing legal education seminars on appellate practice and advocacy.
Education
Seattle University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2001
University of Washington, B.A., Japan Studies, 1993 – Jackson School of International Studies
Professional Associations
Washington State Bar Association;
Federal Bar Association – Western District of Washington;
King County Bar Association;
King County Bar Association Appellate Section;
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
e-mail: bca@maflegal.com
KATHERINE L. FELTON

Kate Felton
Katherine Felton was admitted to the Washington Bar in 2000. She advises and defends business entities, institutions, and individuals throughout the Pacific Northwest in complex, multi-party litigation including business disputes, employer liability, environmental contamination, cost-recovery and contribution liability under federal and state law, natural resource damages liability under federal and state law, products liability, and professional and fiduciary liability. She has also defended clients in multi-party litigation involving claims of invasion of privacy, vicarious liability, the Fair Debt Collection and Fair Credit Reporting Acts, and the Federal Debt collection Procedures Act. In addition, she represents clients performing voluntary remediation of contaminated sites under government agency oversight and advises clients on matters of environmental regulatory compliance.
Ms. Felton is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and the King County Bar Association. She is a former Chair of the Environmental Law Section of the King County Bar Association and previously served as a board member of the King County Chapter of Washington Women Lawyers. Ms. Felton graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. in Economics in 1996. She obtained her J.D. from the University of Oregon in 2000
Education
University of Oregon, School of Law, J.D., 2000
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Environmental Law &
Litigation, 1999-2000
Recipient, Kathryn Fenning Owens Scholarship
Princeton University, B.A., Economics, 1996
Professional Association
Washington State Bar Association
Member, Litigation and Environmental & Land Use section
King County Bar Association,
Member Chair, Environmental Law section, 2009-10
Vice-Chair, Environmental Law section, 2008-09
Legislative Chair, Environmental Law section, 2007-08 CLE
Chair, Environmental Law section, 2005-07
e-mail: klf@maflegal.com