John G. Murphy

Partner

Montréal
[email protected]
514.954.3155

John is a partner at BLG in Montréal.

John is a dynamic business leader and has served as a strategic advisor to some of BLG’s longstanding clients and promoted commitment to the community through his involvement with several boards and organizations.

He has spent his entire legal career at BLG as a leading lawyer with a successful practice advising a wide variety of clients in the construction industry or involved in major infrastructure projects.

Throughout that time, he has also held significant leadership positions within the firm, including as National Managing Partner and CEO (2018-2025) of BLG, as member of the Partnership Board, the National Management Committee and as the Managing Partner of the Montréal office.

John provides legal services through a Law Corporation.

Experience

  • Strategic advisor on the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) project.
  • Signature on the Saint Lawrence Construction G.P. Advising the Construction Consortium (SSLC) in a variety of matters including its claim for additional compensation and delay as the construction of the New Champlain Bridge in Montreal, Québec was being performed.
  • Lead counsel on an arbitration involving a significant real estate development project in Ontario.

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • President, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, 2021-2022
  • Fellow, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, 2014-present
  • Regional Managing Partner and Member, BLG National Management Committee, 2006-2017
  • Regional Managing Partner and Chair, Regional Management Committee (Montréal Office), 2006-2017
  • Member of the BLG’s Partnership Board, 2004-2014, 2018-2025 and Chair of BLG’s Partnership Board, 2006

Community Involvement

  • President, Beaconsfield Golf Club, 2025-present
  • Member of the Board and honourary secretary, Beaconsfield Golf Club, 2021-2025
  • Honorary Chair, St. Patrick’s Society of Montreal Annual Charity Ball, 2025
  • Member of the Board Pillars Trust Fund Inc., 2013-2021
  • Member of the Board, Adaptive Sports Foundation, 2015-2019
  • Member of the Board, 21CCC, 2015-2018
  • Member of the Board, Catholic Action Montréal, 2016-2019
  • Member of the Board, Sacred Heart School of Montréal, 2008-2016

Awards & Recognition

  • Recognized in the 2025 edition (and since 2008) of Best Lawyers in Canada® (Construction Law)
  • Recognized in the 2025 edition (and since 2015) of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Construction Law)
  • Recognized in the 2025 (since 2020), 2018 and 2017 editions of Benchmark Canada – The Definitive Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a Local Litigation Star: Québec and a Litigation Star: General Commercial, Product Liability
  • Recognized in the 2025 edition (and since 2020) of The Lexpert®/ROB Special Edition on Canada’s Leading Infrastructure Lawyers

Bar Admission & Education

  • Québec, 1990
  • Certificate, Harvard Law School Executive Program, 2020 Sector Leadership Master Class
  • Certificate, Institute of Corporate Directors, 2013
  • Certificate, Harvard Law School Executive Program, 2010 Leadership in Law Firms
  • LLB, Université de Sherbrooke, 1989
  • B.Comm, McGill University, 1986