Karen W. Murphy

Karen W. Murphy

Pronouns: she, her, hers

Karen Murphy is a partner in Burke’s Oakland office and has been representing public agencies for over 20 years.  She currently serves as the General Counsel of Union Sanitary District, and advises numerous public agencies on a full range of municipal law issues, including Brown Act, Public Records Act, conflict of interest laws, public contract code, code enforcement, contract review, and bidding and claims procedures.  Karen served as the Assistant City Attorney of the City of Brentwood from 2006 to 2011, where she was the primary attorney staffing the Community Development Department and former Redevelopment Agency.  From 1999 to 2006, Karen was an associate with the law firm of McDonough Holland & Allen, PC

Karen also has particular expertise advising public agencies on land use and development, housing and real estate issues.  She advises public agencies on CEQA compliance, the subdivision map act, and land use approval procedures and processing of land use applications for projects ranging from use permits to complex commercial, mixed-use and residential projects.  More recently, she has advised cities on the implementation of California’s new housing laws, including SB 330.  In addition, Karen has negotiated and drafted development agreements and amendments for hotel, residential and mixed-use development projects.

Karen’s real estate experience includes drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, leases, easements, licenses, and disposition and development agreements.

  • J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 1998
  • M.A., Theology, Graduate Theological Union, 1995
  • B.A., cum laude, Duke University, 1992
  • State Bar of California
  • State Bar of Nevada
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California