Jerome T. Murphy and the Power of Thinking One Step Ahead

Growing up on the southside of Chicago, Jerome Murphy watched three generations of attorneys build their practices on service, community, and results.

His grandfather, father, and uncles showed him what it meant to use the law as a tool for helping people. That foundation shaped everything that followed.

Today, Murphy is a partner with Tressler LLP, a national firm based in Chicago. He serves clients in complex litigation involving governmental tort defense, breach of contract, commercial disputes, toxic tort cases, and personal injury defense. He has tried cases in both state and federal courts and has developed a reputation for preparation that goes deeper than most.

A Lesson That Changed Everything

Early in his practice, Murphy argued a significant motion for a client and lost. The law was not in his favor, but that was not the only problem. He had built his arguments around his client’s strongest position without fully anticipating the opposition’s best counterargument.

“After that, I changed how I prepared for any significant argument, either in trial or appellate court,” Murphy said. “I now script the best counterargument the other side could make and make sure my position preempts that argument, rather than just presenting my own case. This anticipatory form of practice has proven to create favorable results for my clients.”

That shift became the backbone of his practice. Instead of simply presenting his case, Murphy learned to think one step ahead, to see the battlefield from both sides, and to prepare his clients for the strongest attack the other side could mount.

Building a Career on Short-Term Wins

Murphy does not lean on long-term goals. He believes they are the byproduct of satisfying short-term objectives that are reasonable and fair.

“If I come up short, I have the opportunity to be constructively critical, and learning from the experience,” he explained. “Long-term goals are satisfied with the satisfication of the many reasonable short-term goals I set for myself.”

That philosophy extends to how he measures success with clients. He defines success as the earned obtainment of goals, but only when those goals are set realistically from the start. He works with clients to establish clear expectations, knowing that the facts and the law sometimes impose limits.

“My metric of success is my ability to deliver a reasonable objective to my client,” Murphy said. “Goal setting is created in consultation with your client, with a realistic expectations of the limitations that may undermine those goals.”

Recognition and Growth

Murphy earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Illinois in 2011 and graduated cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2014. Since entering practice, he has been recognized by Leading Lawyer as an Emerging Lawyer in 2018, 2019, and 2022, an honor given to less than 2 percent of lawyers under 40 or those practicing fewer than 10 years. He was also selected by his peers in the 2023 and 2024 editions of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Despite the accolades, he maintains a beginner’s mindset.

“I have to remain humble and approach each client and matter as if it’s my first,” Murphy said. “I owe it to all of my subsequent clients to demonstrate the same carefulness and concern I would for my first client. I never presume that I am beyond learning something new, and I maintain an appetite for a better understanding of the law and a better way to serve my clients.”

Gratitude as a Tool

When obstacles arise, Murphy turns to a simple practice. He identifies 10 things for which he is grateful.

“I’m immediately injected with positive energy, perspective and perseverance,” he said.

That discipline reflects a broader belief in the connection between personal well-being and professional performance. Murphy sees them as symbiotic. He needs to be healthy and sound in his personal life to deliver the highest quality results to clients. Professional success, in turn, breeds the confidence to take risks and push boundaries in other areas of life.

Outside the courtroom, Murphy reads widely in philosophy, history, and economics. He hikes the trails in local forest preserves, golfs with friends, and has toured the Hawaiian islands. He stays involved in his church community and travels with family and friends to see historical landmarks across the country.

A Practice Built on Ethics and Preparation

Murphy credits his partners, family and friends in the legal industry, and his law professors for teaching him how to practice ethically. Those influences continue to shape his work at Tressler LLP, where he handles everything from toxic tort litigation to real estate transactions for buyers and sellers.

The qualities he considers most important are diligence, communication, perseverance, flexibility, adaptability, honesty, critical thinking, and hard work. They are not abstract ideals. They are the daily habits that allow him to anticipate the next move, prepare for the toughest argument, and deliver results for the clients who depend on him.

Jerome Murphy remains based in Palos Heights, the same community where his family has lived for decades. He is close with his siblings and enjoys being an uncle. The third-generation attorney continues the work his grandfather began, serving clients with the same care and commitment that inspired him to enter the profession in the first place.