Katie Murphy
Saline,Michigan
Summary
Experienced legal professional with a proven track record of promoting organizational excellence through strategic vision and transformative leadership. Leverages institutional knowledge to align legal strategies with business goals, enhancing operational efficiency, reducing legal, compliance, and public relations risks, and encouraging sustainable organizational change.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate General Counsel
University of Michigan, Office of General Counsel
02.2013 - Current
- Responsible for drafting, reviewing, amending, and modifying gift agreements for all schools, colleges, campuses, and units, averaging over 1,000 agreements annually.
- Serve as an accessible legal resource for all schools, colleges, campuses, and units, as well as the Office of University Development, to secure philanthropic support for students, staff, programming, and operations.
- Facilitate relationships between fundraising, finance, and faculty affairs to provide comprehensive legal analysis ensuring compliance with state and federal law, university policies and procedures, alignment of institutional priorities, and adherence to donor intent.
Tax & Estate Planning Associate
Dykema
08.2008 - 02.2013
- Lead associate for a prominent estate planning partner in Southeast Michigan, responsible for client intake, drafting, explaining, and defending estate planning documents.
- Legal research and writing for tax partners, leading to proficiency in tax law, with specific focus on estate, corporate and partnership taxation.
- Developed legal strategies to protect client interests and resolve disputes, informally through negotiated settlements as well as formally through litigation resulting in published legal opinions.
- Liaison for a merger with a boutique estate planning law firm, responsible for facilitating the integration and alignment of culture and core values.
Corporate & Foundation Relations - Grant Writer
Hospice of Michigan
06.2003 - 08.2005
- Tasked with developing new partnerships with corporations and foundations to secure funding for both programming and general operational support.
- Interacted with internal partners and obtained detailed information about organization's mission and goals to form solid foundation for grant applications.
- Maintained compliance with funder requirements by diligently monitoring project progress and submitting timely reports.
- Contributed to a positive organizational culture by promoting open communication, teamwork, and shared success in fundraising efforts.
Education
J.D. - Law School
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI04.2008
Masters in Social Work - School of Social Work
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI12.2001
Bachelor's in Social Work - Social Work
Miami University
Oxford, OH05.2000
Skills
- Conflict management and resolution
- Negotiation and consensus facilitation
- Cross-functional team leadership
- Ethics and integrity
- Institutional knowledge
- Legal analysis and policy interpretation
- Organizational change management
- Strategic planning & execution
Accomplishments
Initiated and co-led the University's Gift Fund Stewardship and Management Project, a five-year, cross-campus, interdisciplinary effort designed to address legal and compliance risks associated with the underutilization of philanthropic funds. Secured executive leadership support, built collaborative partnerships across academic and administrative units, and drove sustainable organizational change. The ongoing initiative resulted in measurable improvements in fund utilization, enhanced transparency, and long-term risk mitigation aligned with institutional priorities.
Timeline
Associate General Counsel
University of Michigan, Office of General Counsel
02.2013 - Current
Tax & Estate Planning Associate
Dykema
08.2008 - 02.2013
Corporate & Foundation Relations - Grant Writer
Hospice of Michigan
06.2003 - 08.2005
J.D. - Law School
University of Michigan
Masters in Social Work - School of Social Work
University of Michigan
Bachelor's in Social Work - Social Work
Miami University
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