Professional Services Consulting
About J. Murphy Strategies
John Murphy applies his unique skill set and management experience to help both private companies and nonprofit organizations create business strategies — and identify, grow and nurture the leaders who will execute them.
With an emphasis on the professional services sector, J. Murphy Strategies partners with clients to offer:
Cultivating Leadership
- Coaching for senior executives
- Succession planning
- Lateral integration of key management personnel
- Talent recruitment and executive on-boarding
Building Teams
- Attracting and motivating high-performers
- Maintaining a values-driven culture
- Role definition and team processes
- Instilling ethical decision-making
- Civic engagement
Optimizing Performance
- Crisis management and conflict resolution
- Navigating civic and political dynamics
- Facilitating strategic goals and objectives
- Organizational planning and communication
- Negotiation and economic development
About John Murphy
For four decades, John has been a transformative leader, both in the Kansas City civic community and in the legal industry, where he is best known for his tenure as chairman of Shook, Hardy & Bacon.
Before his retirement from Shook in 2019, he drove significant growth and innovation for the region’s largest law firm, including award-winning diversity and inclusion initiatives, geographic expansion and creative pricing platforms recognized by the Association of Corporate Counsel, among others.
John has been instrumental in the upward trajectory of the Kansas City region through his active involvement with the Kansas City Area Development Council, the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, KC Rising, Starlight Theatre and the United Way of Greater Kansas City.
Education
- J.D., Washington and Lee University College of Law, 1979
- B.A., University of Connecticut, 1976 Phi Beta Kappa
Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America (2010-2019)
- Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers (2005-2010; 2013-2019)
- Most Powerful 250 Business Leaders in Greater Kansas City, Ingram’s
- Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys (2009-2011)
- 50 Kansans You Should Know, Ingram’s
- 100 Managing Partners You Need to Know, Lawdragon
- Power 100 Guide to the Business Elite, Kansas City Business Journal
- United Way of Greater Kansas City, Former Board Chair
- KC Rising, Former Co-Chair
- Starlight Theatre
- Former Board Chair
- Co-Chair, 2019 Starlight Gala
- Kansas City Area Development Council, Former Member of Executive Committee
- Civic Council of Greater Kansas City
- Co-Facilitator, Kansas City Tomorrow, 2020-present
- Member
- Lakemary Center Endowment Association, Former Board Chair and Honorary Trustee
- Catholic Education Foundation, Former Board Member
- Economic Development Corporation, Former Board Member
- Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Former Board Member