Bio

Tara M. MurphY, Esq.

Attorney & Owner

I started Neon Esquire, LLC with the goal of becoming a legal advocate for the creative industry, which I saw being neglected or misunderstood by the larger legal community. My goal was to provide the creative class with the specific services they needed combined with the respect they deserved. Through my work I have a creative clientele of social media influencers, photographers, chief-marketing officers, academics, filmmakers, companies in marketing, advertising and designers of everything from objects to luxury fashion. I’ve helped take companies from an idea discussed over a burger to successful businesses by establishing the company entity, creating contracts systems, working with vendors, talent, and employees, resolving disputes, handling negotiations and protecting intellectual property rights.

Before I started my law firm, I worked in the fashion merchandising industry for iconic brands like Kate Spade, Talbot's, Neiman Marcus and Bailey, Banks & Biddle. From the sales floor, to buying and eventually financial planning, I worked with individual designers and major retailers alike. This experience gave me a comprehensive knowledge of how creative and corporate retail industries work.

After almost ten years in merchandising, I decided to attend William Mitchell College of Law. There I focused my studies on intellectual property and business. In 2010, I was admitted into and attended the prestigious Fashion Law Institute at Fordham University’s School of Law in New York City. There, I studied under Professor Susan Scafidi in an intensive studies program about legal issues within the fashion industry. Also during my time at Mitchell, I served as a research assistant to Professor Kenneth Port on his article regarding counterfeit luxury goods and ACTA, which was published by the Cardozo Law Review Journal. I also represented Mitchell in the Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Moot Court Competition and performed over 300 hours of pro bono service with Minnesota Justice Foundation. During that time I was a legal intern for Tubman/Chrysalis’ Safety Project where I worked with women and children who were survivors of domestic violence. After law school I became the Executive Director of MNfashion, a nonprofit created to serve the local design community. I also ran my own creative consulting agency where I did event planning and editorial creative direction for clients like MeetMinneapolis and the American Refugee Committee. During this time I also became licensed to practice law in Minnesota.

I continue to work with Tubman/Chrysalis representing domestic abuse clients pro bono in their OFP and HRO evidentiary hearings. Most recently, I also began working with the Advocates for Human Rights as part of their Rapid Response team assisting those affected by the travel ban at the airport and representing clients at their immigration bond hearings. I’ve also started working with Wills for Heroes, which provides free wills, healthcare directives, and power of attorney documents to first responders and their families.

In my spare time, I enjoy weaving, loving on my three dogs and watching "Parks and Rec" reruns with my husband.

Please feel free to read my full resume here.