About Murphy’s Law

Joseph Murphy is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Murphy’s Law, PLLC, a Washington-based law firm focused on sophisticated estate, tax, and business planning for individuals, families, and closely held businesses.

With more than 20 years of legal and advisory experience, Joe brings a rare combination of advanced tax training, financial sophistication, and real-world business judgment to his clients’ most important planning decisions. His practice concentrates on estate and trust planning, estate tax minimization, complex real estate transactions, LLC and entity structuring, probate administration, and business succession planning, particularly for high-net-worth individuals and multistate property owners.

Before founding Murphy’s Law, PLLC, Joe practiced with established Pacific Northwest law firms, including Williams Kastner and McNeice Wheeler, PLLC, advising clients across litigation, trusts and estates, probate, and business law matters. He has also served as General Counsel and strategic business advisor to operating companies, giving him a practical, executive-level perspective that informs his legal advice today. Earlier in his career, Joe worked extensively in estate planning and financial advisory roles, further strengthening his ability to integrate legal, tax, and financial considerations into cohesive planning strategies.

Joe holds an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law, a Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Gonzaga University. His formal training in finance and taxation allows him to approach legal planning through both a legal and economic lens, designing strategies that are technically rigorous, financially sound, and aligned with clients’ long-term objectives. His work frequently involves Washington estate tax planning, gifting strategies, real estate ownership structures, and closely held business planning.

In addition to his legal practice, Joe is deeply committed to education, healthcare, and community service. He founded the Roothaan Scholarship Fund at Gonzaga University, supporting students through higher education, and has served on the Providence Mt. St. Vincent Foundation Board, helping advance mission-driven healthcare initiatives. He is also a long-standing board member and co-founder of the Pink Shamrock Foundation, which supports underserved women facing breast cancer.

Joe is known for his direct, thoughtful, and collaborative approach, helping clients navigate complex legal issues with clarity and confidence. He founded Murphy’s Law, PLLC to provide highly personalized, strategic counsel, turning what can go wrong into what goes right.