Founding Partner
FordMurray founding partner Michael Murray’s global perspective was forged early on, growing up in a military family and traveling the world as a small child. Having lived in Germany, Korea, and the United Kingdom, Michael learned at a young age the universal values held across borders and cultures.
“The more you travel, the more people you meet, you realize people are the same everywhere you go,” Michael said. “For the most part, people are kind. For the most part, people want to help. We are all in this together.”
Practice Areas
Michael takes this philosophy into his immigration practice, where he has devoted his career to working with hospitals, health centers, research institutions, and institutions of higher education. Whether obtaining work visas or assisting employees through the Permanent Residence process, Michael is a trusted advisor who can be counted on to find efficient, practical solutions that work for your organization.
The most fulfilling part of his job is the ability to focus on the positive outcomes for all parties involved, Michael said. “We are in a unique position as lawyers because everybody wins. We help talented people with critically needed skillsets join the organizations and communities who need them.” Michael’s focus on healthcare and higher education immigration law have provided him with an opportunity to improve communities and strengthen America, for which he is very grateful.
Recently, Michael worked with a Pediatrician who wanted to continue her medical practice in the United States and feared for her safety should she return to her country of origin. Michael worked with her in this high-pressure situation to secure an H-1B visa under the Conrad-30 visa program. The physician is now operating a flourishing practice in a medically underserved community and applying for permanent residence.
In addition to working with healthcare facilities, Michael has assisted numerous private and public schools to establish F-1 Foreign Student Programs. He provides training and counseling on SEVIS compliance. Michael is also an expert in the field of I-9 compliance. He has defended companies in government initiated I-9 investigations and regularly works with employers to conduct internal I-9 audits and training.
Responsive, Attentive Counsel
Michael prides himself on being accessible, listening to client needs, and working at the pace of business. FordMurray’s laser sharp focus on customer experience ensures clients the responsive, attentive service needed in today’s constantly changing immigration landscape.
Before establishing FordMurray with Russell Ford, Michael practiced at large national law firms in Boston and New York where he represented leading American financial institutions and international conglomerates.
Since 2021, Michael has served as Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law at the University of Maine Law School. Teaching immigration law allows Michael to sharpen his knowledge of the field as well as give back to the legal community and next generation of lawyers.
Michael has been published in Forbes, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, New Hampshire Business Review, School Administrator Magazine, the American Hospital Association and the Portland Press Herald on immigration law topics. He has also been an invited speaker at the University of New Hampshire, Bowdoin College, Bates College, Maine Law School, the Maine Human Resources Convention and the Maine International Trade Center.
In addition to being a trusted counsel, Michael is an accomplished nature and landscape photographer. He enjoys getting into nature with his family, kayaking on Flagstaff Lake, and playing in his weekly basketball league with his partner, Russell Ford.
Michael’s words to live by: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” Mark Twain
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” Dalai Lama
Education
- Stanford University, J.D., 1999
- Sarah Lawrence College, B.A., 1996
Bar & Court Admissions
- Maine
Memberships
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
- NAFSA: Association of International Educators
Awards
- Katahdin Counsel, Honoring Pro Bono Legal Services in Maine (2012)
