T. Jefferson Murphy – Mediator | Attorney

Qualifications

Certified and court appointed mediator for civil, commercial, and domestic disputes, with over 100 hours of training via the Institute for Continuing Legal Education, the Center for Dispute Resolution, and the Oakland Mediation Center

Mediation Philosophy

Each mediation should be designed to meet the specific needs of the parties and their counsel. Reaching a successful settlement requires a positive approach in helping the parties consider the objective strengths and weaknesses of their positions. It is a mediator’s role to build consensus, not pass judgment, based on the individual facts of a case.

Mediation Training

• 40 Hours General Civil Mediation
• 40 Hours Domestic Relations Mediation
• 15 Hours Domestic Relations Course
• 8 Hours Advanced Civil Mediation Training
• 6 Hours Domestic Violence Protocol Screening Training
• Certified Family Law Practice Training Program - Institute of Continuing Legal Education
• Fundamentals of Divorce Practice and Procedure
• Handling Property Division and Spousal Support
• Handling Child Custody, Child Support and Parenting Time

Areas of Expertise and Representative Matters

Jeff has extensive experience in commercial contract negotiation, product liability litigation, business and asset acquisition and divesture, family law – divorce/child custody, health care services, environmental and multi-party complex antitrust matters. He has assisted companies in the establishment of comprehensive corporate compliance programs and codes of conduct, and provided legal opinions on corporate structure and management, franchising, acquisition and divestiture of domestic and foreign businesses, assets and licenses. He has successfully mediated commercial contract disputes; real estate purchase option disputes; divorce, child custody and school choice dispute, and insurance coverage disputes.

Professional Background

• Thomas M. Cooley School of Law – Adjunct Professor, Antitrust and Trade Regulation (1995 - 1997)
• T.J. Murphy & Associates – Corporate Compliance Consultants (1994 – 1997)
• The Upjohn Company – Corporate Compliance Counsel - Chief Counsel for Healthcare Services, Inc.; Agricultural Chemical Division; Animal Health Division; Asgrow Seed Company; Laboratory Procedures, Inc.; Cobb Breeding Company (1973 – 1994)
• Townley Updike Carter & Rodgers (1969 – 1973)

Professional Associations

• State Bar of Michigan
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
  • Business Law Section
  • Family Law Section
• Kalamazoo County Family Law Bar Association

Community Organizations

• Kalamazoo Foster Care Review Board (2005 - present)
• Board of Directors – Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (2003 – present)
• Board of Directors – Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, Inc. (1989 - 2003); President (1998 - 2000)
• Board of Directors – Kalamazoo Cultural Center (2000 - present); President (2000 – 2005
• Board of Directors – Fontana Chamber Arts (1999 - present); Vice Chairman (2002 – 2004)
• Board of Directors – Torch Club International, Kalamazoo Chapter (2007 - present)

Education

• Fordham University School of Law
• Columbia University Graduate School of Business (Finance)
• Le Moyne College, (English and Philosophy)

Brenda F. Murphy – Associate

Brenda Fettig Murphy has over twenty five years of interviewing and qualitative research experience. She owned a full service market research company, Harrington Market Research, for eleven years. Murphy has consulted and worked with business, consumer and individual clients from CEOs of large companies to first time mothers-to-be to non-profit agency directors and volunteers.

People describe Murphy as "being very creative". This creativity, coupled with her interviewing skills, have served her well in conducting IDIs (In-Depth-Interviews) and focus groups with hundreds of people on topics ranging from medical and personal healthcare issues, financial topics, refrigerator preferences to their feelings about corporate "citizenship".

She has also been trained in neurolinguistic programming. Murphy has elicited clients' issues and needs for research projects and designed questionnaires on topics ranging from high school students' aspirations to corporate community image studies. She has also written reports and presented study findings.

Her formal education includes a B.A in Chemistry from Trinity College in Washington, D.C. and an M.A. in Mathematics Education from Columbia University Teachers College in New York City.