Sonia Murphy has extensive litigation experience.  She joined Gilbert LLP after spending six years in one of the most active litigation sections of the U.S. Department of Justice, where her practice included government contracts, government pay and personnel suits, and veteran and other benefit appeals.  Before joining the Department of Justice, Sonia worked at several international law firms and for the U.S. International Trade Commission as an Attorney Advisor to the then-Chairman.  Sonia has represented a diverse range of clients, from major corporations to private citizens.

Sonia joined Gilbert LLP in March 2025.  She serves as Chair of the Firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.

• Representing over a dozen incarcerated individuals, including those in a putative class, in federal court proceedings stemming from allegations that include prolonged torture and systemic withholding of mental and physical healthcare at USP Lee, a federal prison facility in Virginia.
• Representing several religious organizations in federal court, challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s recission of its “sensitive locations” policy, which previously restricted immigration enforcement at houses of worship and other sensitive locations
• Representing Liquidating Trustee in litigation alleging breach of fiduciary duty and tortious interference with contract by directors and officers of a top Fortune 500 company.

Past representative matters include:

• Lead counsel for the Government in 30+ cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the United States Court of International Trade.
• Served as first chair in misdemeanor and felony criminal trials before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
• Successfully argued and obtained judgment in favor of the Government after briefing and oral argument in a government contract protest challenging results of $17.5 million IT services procurement.

• 2002 – J.D., Howard University School of Law
  • Merit Scholar
  • Howard Law Journal
• 1999 – B.A., Spelman College
  • National Dean’s List

• District of Columbia
• Maryland
• U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims
• U.S. Court of International Trade
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

• Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia, Awards Committee Chair, 2019; Immediate Past President, 2017–2018; President, 2016–2017; President-Elect, 2015–2016; Member of Board of Directors, 2012–2015; Treasurer, 2011– 2012
• District of Columbia Bar, Member of Nominations Committee, 2021
• Rainbow In Black, Founder & Program Director, 2024–Present
• The Gender Cool Project, Member of Board of Directors, 2024–Present
• Fair Chance, Former Member of Board of Directors, 2022–2025
• Fair Chance, Advisory Board, 2025
• Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Member of Parents for Transgender Equality National Council, 2022–Present
• Featured in the Washington Lawyers Committee 2025 Pro Bono Week Spotlight
• The National Black Lawyers Top 100