Jill G. Murphy leads the firm’s real estate practice as Partner, where she collaborates with investors, businesses, and developers in navigating the dynamic real estate market in Austin and throughout the country. Jill advises on leasing, disposition, acquisition, and financing of commercial properties. She advises clients on title review, easement creation, loan document preparation, and investor funded development opportunities.

Jill serves at outside real estate counsel for a variety of established businesses, including multi-location hospitality groups, fast-casual restaurants, a rapidly growing cookie delivery company, medical clinics, and an international graphic-design platform. In addition to practicing here in Texas, Jill is also actively licensed in New York, where she provides enforceability opinions for lending transactions.

Supplementing her private practice, Jill also serves is an Adjunct Professor at The University of Texas School of Law, where she teaches Commercial Leasing. Her class focuses on the practical skills of drafting and reviewing case studies of lease transactions in a variety of markets and asset classes.

Born in New Orleans, Jill received her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University in 2003. Thereafter, she moved to New York City to attend the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. While in law school, Jill served as law clerk to the Honorable David B. Cohen, Civil Court of the City of New York. After graduation, she practiced before the Surrogates Court of the City of New York, the Civil Court of the City of New York, and the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

A resident of Austin for the past twelve years, Jill and her husband, Chuck, have two children. When Jill is not on the sidelines watching her children play sports, she can be found dining around locally in search of her next favorite meal.

J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, 2007

B.S., cum laude, Texas A&M University, 2003 (Political Science)

Professional Associations:

Austin Bar Association, Real Estate Section

Travis County Women Lawyers Association, Mentoring Program Committee

State Bar of Texas, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section

Real Estate Council of Austin

Austin Monitor, Strategic Advisory Council

Admissions: New York, Texas, Mississippi (eligible to practice)

Honors and Recognition:

Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow

Austin Monthly Magazine Top Attorneys List, Real Estate: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

Texas Rising Star 2022 (Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters)

Texas Bar College: 2022, 2023, 2024

Speaker: Texas Land Conservation Conference (2023); Mortgage Lending Institute (2023)

Representative Transactions:

Represented Seller in sale of 200 acre ranch to national home builder

Represented Purchaser in acquisition of two ground lease restaurant sites with adjoining garage facility

Represented Purchaser in acquisition and ground lease assumption of corporate daycare franchise

Represented Seller in sale of 50 acre farm to food service distributor for industrial distribution facility

Jointly represented manufacturing company in its asset sale, including 3 owner operated properties.

Represented local municipality as landlord for its city owned commercial spaces.

Outside leasing counsel for several retail tenants, including a national food delivery company, natural health store, and fast-casual hamburger chain.

Notable leases negotiated:

•  37,000 ft² office lease and build out for international software developer.

• Multi-location medical practice group

• non-profit industrial distribution facility

• 60,000 ft2 (again the square root 2) two tenant industrial warehouse

• 12 Single tenant ground leases for retail franchise operator

• Class A  mixed use shopping center with restaurant, office, and retail tenants

• Multi-location lease amendments in conjunction with acquisition of restaurant merger