Maureen Murphy

About Maureen Murphy

Privacy problems that physicians face, particularly ones raised by information technology, hold special interest for Maureen Murphy. Murphy, a partner at Gowling WLG in Ottawa, helps clients put privacy policies in place, respond to access requests and get through data breaches. Murphy aims for a proactive, practical approach to compliance.

That privacy work sits alongside health law and medical defence. Murphy leads the firm's Medical Defence, General Counsel practice group in Canada and acts as counsel to the Canadian Medical Protective Association. Contested matters have taken the partner before the Federal Court, the Superior Court of Justice and a variety of administrative tribunals.

It's a practice with a science background behind it: Murphy majored in biochemistry at the University of Guelph before law school at the University of Ottawa, and was called in Ontario in 2002. Teaching is part of the picture too. Murphy co-instructs an LLM course at Osgoode Hall Law School on Information Technology and Privacy in Health Law and often speaks about the medical-legal questions that come up when technology enters medical practice. Best Lawyers has recognized Murphy since 2014.

Away from the office, Murphy volunteers with Go Capital Artistic Swimming Club. Earlier community roles included a seat on the Carleton University Research Ethics Board and several years on a committee at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club.