Courtney E. Murphy

Courtney Murphy is a partner in WSHB’s New York City office and a highly accomplished litigator, nationally recognized for her results-driven representation of insurers and corporate clients. She has extensive experience handling complex first-party property and liability coverage disputes, high-stakes litigation, and arbitrations. As a trusted lead trial counsel and arbitrator, Courtney is sought after for her strategic insight and in-depth expertise in insurance, reinsurance, and subrogation across both domestic and international matters.

Her national practice encompasses navigating clients through insurance claims arising from catastrophic property losses and business interruption events, including those caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, flooding, fire, and other natural disasters. She is also well-versed in boiler/machinery and builders' risk claims. Her expertise in geotechnical issues is often instrumental in resolving disputes involving alleged design, material, or construction defects.

Courtney also serves as an arbitrator in significant insurance matters, including high-profile coverage disputes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Outside of work, she enjoys running, golfing, photography, skiing, cheering on the New York Jets, and attending Broadway shows with her daughter.

• Secured dismissal of a COVID-19 property insurance claim on behalf of a policyholder who owns and operates a casino who sought coverage for business interruption and other losses due to the COVID-19 virus and government orders. The court upheld the pathogenic biological material or substance exclusion and ruled that COVID-19 did not cause physical damage. The appellate court affirmed the dismissal.
• Secured a defense verdict in a multi-million-dollar, first-party property case where the corporate policyholder sought recovery for catastrophic water loss and damage to its five-story commercial property located in the Detroit Business District. Courtney successfully argued that the policyholder failed to comply with the policy's Protective Safeguard Endorsement, and all claims were dismissed. Additionally, various costs were reimbursed to the insurer due to an offer of judgment filed before trial.
• Successfully defended against a multi-million-dollar claim filed against a large market of insurers for loss arising out of a purported explosion at a manufacturing facility.

Education

• New York Law School (J.D., 1994)
• Fordham University (B.A., 1990)

Licensed to Practice in

• New York
• New Jersey
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
• U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut

Events, Seminars & Speaking Engagements

• “Recent Trends in D&O and Fiduciary Liability Insurance Coverage in the United States,” Worldwide Property D&F Forum, Lloyd’s Market Association, Virtual Event, November 11, 2025
• "Catastrophes, Contingencies & Claims," Property Insurance Claims Group (PICG) Seminar, London, United Kingdom, March 11, 2025

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• Brooklyn Bar Association
• The Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
• New York State Bar Association
• New York State Trial Lawyers Association