Contact Audrey M. Airut Murphy

Before proceeding, please note: If you are not a current client of Keating, Bucklin & McCormack, Inc., P.S., please do not include any information in this e-mail that you or someone else considers to be confidential. Keating, Bucklin & McCormack, Inc., P.S. has no duty to keep confidential any of the information you provide via email or otherwise unless you are a client of the firm. You message will not be considered a request for legal advice or hiring a lawyer, and no attorney-client relationship with Keating, Bucklin & McCormack, Inc., P.S. or any lawyer at Keating, Bucklin & McCormack, Inc., P.S. will be established, unlessKeating, Bucklin & McCormack, Inc., P.S. agrees to such a relationship as reflected in an engagement letter or other written agreement.


 

 

Audrey M. Airut Murphy

Senior Associate

Audrey is a Senior Associate at Keating, Bucklin & McCormack, having joined KBM in 2019 while finishing her last year at the University of Washington School of Law, where she worked as Chief Managing Editor of Washington Law Review and earned a CALI award in Persuasive Writing.

Audrey has a passion for representing public entities and their employees and has civil litigation experience of all stages of pre-litigation, trial, and appellate work, litigating numerous cases of various subject matters, such as employment law, contract disputes, tort claims, constitutional claims, premises liability, land use law, and civil rights actions, in both state and federal courts. In addition to her civil litigation and trial work, Audrey also represents public entities and their employees in administrative, school board hearings, and other legal proceedings, providing written and oral advocacy across numerous different legal forums. Nominated with emphasis on her dependability and skill at written persuasion and oral advocacy, Audrey was recognized as the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Outstanding Litigation Associate of 2021.

Profile picture

Representative Cases

Trial Experience. Audrey has trial experience in both state and federal court. Audrey was trial counsel in a King County Superior Court case in November 2024, a Western District of Washington trial in 2024, and King County Superior Court trial in 2023. Audrey has also conducted direct examinations and cross examinations in trials in the Western District of Washington, Tacoma and in Pierce County Superior Court.

Civil Litigation. In addition to trial experience, Audrey has experience as lead counsel and second chair across a variety of different litigation matters. Audrey has obtained numerous full and partial dismissals on dispositive motions in federal and state court based on a variety of procedural and substantive bases across personal injury, employment, jail cases, premises liability, child protective agency liability, civil rights, road design, and constitutional law cases. Audrey has a particular interest and skill in civil procedure, having prepared briefing and offered oral argument that has led to significant value changes in litigation matters leading to favorable settlements and bases for early resolution of matters positioned to go to trial. Audrey has experience across all stages of litigation and pre-litigation, conducting and defending depositions, all stages of discovery, pre-trial work, trial, and post-trial briefing and appellate work.

Appellate Work. Audrey has prepared and contributed to numerous notable appellate court briefings leading to notable legal decisions. Among obtaining other successful federal and state appellate rulings, recent notable appellate work Audrey has engaged in includes contributing amicus curiae briefing regarding a 2022 Supreme Court case setting forth key legal principles pertinent to the Recreational Use Immunity doctrine; preparing pending 2024 Ninth Circuit briefing regarding the contours and limits of parents’ Fourteenth Amendment rights in public school setting after obtaining a lawsuit dismissal with prejudice before the Western District; and filing successful briefing on behalf of a City regarding the incompatibility of simultaneous negligent retention and negligent supervision claims involving employee conduct within the scope of employment, obtaining a crucial 2025 decision published by the Division II Washington Court of Appeals.

Administrative and School District Proceedings. Audrey has successfully defended public school districts in administrative and school board proceedings involving discrimination, retaliation, and various other education-related claims, presenting oral argument, eliciting witness testimony, opening and closing statements, and briefing in more than ten different administrative and school board matters.

Other Proceedings. Audrey has successfully provided legal representation for individual employees, employers, and public entities across various types of legal proceedings such as protective order petitions, trespass orders and superior court appeals, and arbitration disputes. Audrey is comfortable with oral and written advocacy within and outside the courtroom and is eager to provide legal support and advice to public entities and their employees across different legal forums both formal and informal. 

Education, Recognition, and Honors

  • Washington Defense Trial Lawyers 2021 Outstanding Litigation Associate of the Year
  • University of Washington, Seattle—B.A. Law, Societies, & Justice with Honors; French, Cum Laude, 2017
  • University of Washington School of Law—J.D., 2020
  • Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
  • 2018 Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson 1L Appellate Advocacy Competition, Semifinalist
  • CALI Award in Persuasive Writing at the University of Washington School of Law
  • Chief Managing Editor, Washington Law Review

“It was very apparent to me that Stew's skillful representation of our officers was personal to him, they were more than simply another client”

Bill Hamilton, Interim Chief of Police, Kirkland Police Department