Brian Murphy

Partner; Chair of the Corporate and Commercial Transactions and Real Estate Practice Groups

Brian Murphy is a partner at Couch White, LLP and chairs the Corporate and Commercial Transactions and Real Estate practice groups at the firm. In his practice, he plays the role of “first call” transactional counsel for growing businesses and leads bet-the-company deals spanning first fundraise to sale. He also advises family-owned enterprises on critical succession planning matters.

Couch White’s M&A practice was founded by Brian and has steadily grown year-over-year with a focus on mid-market and lower mid-market transactions. During 2025 alone, Couch White’s M&A practice consummated nearly a dozen transactions comprising approximately $500 million in deal value across various sectors. Transactions have been on both the buy-side and sell-side and many have been in new or quickly evolving industries, such as FinTech, energy, construction and financial services.

Brian has been recognized as a corporate transactions industry leader in the 2025 Chambers & Partners USA Guide for Upstate New York Corporate/M&A and by Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers for his work in corporate law. Brian has also been recognized as an Economic Development Trailblazer by City & State New York for his contributions to the New York and Upstate New York business ecosystems.

Brian is a member of Couch White’s Executive Leadership Committee, which oversees the firm’s strategic planning. Prior to joining Couch White in 2014, Brian practiced in the New York office of Milbank LLP and worked for the United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division.

• New York State Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Upstate Capital
• Entrepreneurs’ Organization of Albany
• The Fifty Group

• University of Notre Dame, B.A., 2005, magna cum laude
• University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 2009, cum laude