Andrew S. Murphy

Andrew is an accomplished litigator who represents clients facing a wide variety of complex legal disputes — with a particular focus on class and collective actions alleging violations of state and federal wage and hour laws, as well as individual lawsuits alleging violations of restrictive covenants and misappropriation of trade secrets. He has obtained favorable results for clients in multiple state and federal trial and appellate courts, arbitrations, and mediations. And, he has successfully represented clients before a wide variety of administrative agencies, including the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, and the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations.

In addition to his work defending clients in judicial and administrative proceedings, Andrew frequently counsels clients regarding various employment-related questions. He also collaborates often with Taft’s Insurance Recovery and Counseling team to assist clients in navigating complex insurance coverage disputes.

• Obtained dismissal of all claims against alleged joint-employers in putative FLSA collective action, and dismissal of collective action allegations in same case.
• Represented large employer in responding to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Commissioner’s Charge and subsequent investigation.
• Represented large employer in pattern and practice investigation initiated by Department of Justice.
• Obtained reversal of pro bono client’s criminal convictions, and obtained not-guilty verdicts on all counts during subsequent four-day jury trial in same case.
• Obtained summary judgment on Rehabilitation Act and FMLA claims brought against university employer.
• Obtained court approval of favorable class action settlement resolving privacy claims related to a retailer’s Virtual Try-On application.
• Obtained court approval of favorable collective action settlement resolving claims brought by industrial workers under the FLSA.
• Obtained court approval of favorable settlement resolving Illinois Wage Act claims brought by truck drivers in putative class action.
• Obtained voluntary dismissal of putative collective action alleging FLSA and Indiana Wage Payment Statute claims related to manufacturing employer’s timekeeping policies.
• Obtained voluntary dismissal of putative class action brought against a retailer based on its alleged use of facial recognition software.
• Obtained involuntary dismissal with prejudice of tortious interference claims brought against a new employer by the new employee’s old employer, and successfully defended judgment on appeal.

• Speaker, “Employee Rights, Pay Requirements, and Restrictive Covenants: What You Need to Know About Illinois Employment Reforms for 2025,” Taft CLE, December 3, 2024.
• Speaker, “The Shifting Legal Tide Against Using Noncompetes in the Workplace,” Illinois Manufacturers’ Association Live Webinar, July 20, 2023.