MEET OUR ATTORNEYS

Richard B. Murphy

Founder

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The firm’s founder and managing member, is well-known for his firsthand knowledge of every phase of the construction industry. He has focused his 25-year legal career on representing all participants in commercial and residential construction projects.

Over the years, Mr. Murphy has been involved in some of Arizona’s most high-profile construction projects, including litigation over the construction of a major league baseball stadium, one of the world’s largest solar generating stations, water and waste water treatment plants, courthouses, federal and state projects, hospitals, resorts, office buildings and shopping centers. His peers have also selected him as an arbitrator and mediator for a variety of construction disputes.

Mr. Murphy’s administrative practice includes frequent appearances in proceedings before the Registrar of Contractors, including the successful prosecution and defense of license complaints. His busy surety practice includes defending contractor license bond claims, motor vehicle dealer license bond claims, and other surety defense work involving these types of bonds and conservator, executor and other court bonds.

Michael A. Cordier

Member

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Michael has a diverse transactional/litigation practice representing clients in the real estate and construction industries, and other businesses seeking general counsel assistance. He understands the daily business and legal concerns of his clients and has earned a reputation for finding the proper balance between the legal issues and his clients’ business objectives, which allows him to craft efficient, creative and economical solutions to the complex issues his clients encounter.

Michael represents the firm’s real estate owner, developer and contractor clients in a myriad of construction disputes, litigating construction issues through the administrative, trial and appellate process, and various alternative dispute resolution procedures throughout the State of Arizona.

Alicia M. Casale

Member

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Alicia provides valuable insight and experience to the firm’s business practice, having spent over ten years serving as general counsel to a multi-restaurant owner and operator. During this tenure, Casale handled business purchase agreements, real estate acquisitions, lease negotiations and company formations. She also handled human resource and employment law issues including hiring and termination protocol, sensitivity training and E-verify compliance.

Ms. Casale also provides critical support to the firm’s real estate and construction law practices. Outside of the firm Ms. Casale continues her work in Arizona’s vibrant restaurant industry, serving as a trusted legal and business advisor to owner-operators.

Jennifer J. Axel

Member

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Jen is a creative and no-nonsense commercial litigator to whom her clients turn for high-stakes litigation. Jen is a results-oriented attorney who effectively guides clients as they navigate through all stages of complex commercial litigation, whether in federal or state courts, or any number of arbitration forums. Jen works with companies – large and small – to manage the pitfalls of litigation, including electronic discovery, depositions, motion practice, trials and appeals.

Chase E. Halsey

Partner

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Chase focuses primarily on construction litigation matters, including the enforcement and defense of bond, lien and indemnity claims and the resolution of construction contract disputes. His clients include owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, architects, engineers and sureties. Mr. Halsey also handles general commercial litigation matters at the firm.

Russell "Rusty" Rea

Of Counsel

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Russell is of counsel to Murphy Cordier PLC specializing in the areas of eminent domain, real estate valuation and acquisition, easements and rights-of-way, land use and zoning, water-rights, and real estate-related, commercial, and personal-injury defense litigation. Rusty has extensive experience counseling clients with respect to a wide array of legal issues and problems. Rusty’s primary focus is with real property-related matters.

William Scott Jenkins

Partner

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After practicing law for the past 37 years in the State of Arizona, 31 years as a principal shareholder of the law firm of Myers & Jenkins P.C., Scott joined Murphy Cordier PLC as a partner on April 17, 2017. As of January 1, 2020, Scott has taken Senior Counsel status with the firm. Scott brings extensive experience in most facets of real estate law, including the acquisition and sale of commercial and residential real estate, commercial and residential landlord/tenant law, commercial and residential leasing, easements and rights of way, and general real estate litigation.

Scott also has extensive experience in representing secured and unsecured creditors in complex civil and bankruptcy matters, including mortgage defaults, breach of contract actions and commercial torts. Scott also has substantial experience in representing clients involving shareholder, partnership and membership disputes and any resulting civil litigation.