Meet the Attorneys
Of Counsel
Michael R. Murphy
Michael R. Murphy is a trial attorney practicing primarily in the area of personal injury litigation (plaintiff and defense). He has practiced throughout Northern Arizona for over 35 years, handling numerous jury and bench trials, both in Superior Court and Federal District Court. Mr. Murphy is certified by the State Bar of Arizona as a Specialist in the area of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation.
Honors/Memberships:
- Selected into “The Super Lawyers of the Southwest.”
- "Member of the Year", State Bar of Arizona 1998.
- Past President of the State Bar of Arizona.
- Past President of the Yavapai County Bar Association.
- Former Board Member, State Bar Board of Governors.
- Board Member, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel (1990-1996).
- Past Member, Commission for Appellate Court Appointments.
- Past Member, Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness.
- Selected into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, International Society of Barristers, Defense Trial Lawyers Association and the International Association of Defense Counsel.
- Founding fellow of the Arizona Bar Foundation.
Mr. Murphy received his B.A. from Loyola University in Los Angeles in 1969 and his Juris Doctorate (cum laude) from Arizona State University in 1972. He was admitted to the Arizona Bar and the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona in 1972 , as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 1973. He can be reached at mmurphy@mshwlaw.com.
Robert E. Schmitt
Robert E. Schmitt has been a trial attorney for 30 years practicing primarily in the area of personal injury litigation. He has significant experience in representing both plaintiffs and defendants and has been lead counsel in approximately 75 trials. Mr. Schmitt is certified by the State Bar of Arizona as a Specialist in the area of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation.
Honors/Memberships:
- Past President of the State Bar of Arizona
- Member of the Year, State Bar of Arizona, 1994.
- Selected into “The Best Lawyers in America.”
- Selected into the “Super Lawyers of the Southwest.”
- Past Member of State Bar Board of Governors.
- Member, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel Board of Directors (1990-2002).
- Member, Commission for Appellate Court Appointments (1999-present).
- Member, Advisory Committee on Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Certification.
- Past Member, Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness.
- Selected into the American College of Trial Lawyers, American Board of Trial Advocates and the International Association of Defense Counsel.
- Faculty member at the Arizona College of Trial Advocacy (1987-present).
- Founding fellow of the Arizona Bar Foundation.
- Also admitted to practice in the courts of the State of California.
Mr. Schmitt received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1968 and his Juris Doctorate in 1973 from Arizona State University. He is admitted to practice before the United States District Court, District of Arizona and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Schmitt has been married to his wife, Dianne, for over 35 years and is the proud father of five and grandfather of 12 and counting. Mr. Schmitt can be reached at rschmitt@mshwlaw.com.
Milton W. Hathaway, Jr.
Milton W. Hathaway, Jr. is a litigation attorney practicing primarily in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death, municipal liability, employment law, medical malpractice and product liability.
Mr. Hathaway received his Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University where he graduated cum laude in 1975, and his Juris Doctor degree in 1978 from the University of Arizona in Tucson. He was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona in 1978. Mr. Hathaway is a member of the State Bar of Arizona and Yavapai County Bar Association and has been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell as an AV rated lawyer. He is admitted to practice before the United States District Court, District of Arizona and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Honors/Memberships
- Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award, Insurance.
- Case Note Writer, Arizona Law Review.
- Civil Trial Judge, pro tem, Maricopa County Superior Court (1989-1998, 2003 - present).
- Director, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel (1988-1998).
- President, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel (2007-2008)
Mr. Hathaway joined Murphy, Schmitt, Hathaway & Wilson in 2002 following a four year residency in Hong Kong and Singapore with his wife, Meredith. While in Singapore, he was actively involved in The American Club, serving as Chairperson of the Rules Committee, elected member of the General Committee and was also elected Secretary of this organization. He also served as Director of the donor/recipient program, FriendshipWorks, The American Association of Singapore. Mr. Hathaway can be reached at mhathaway@mshwlaw.com.
Dan A. Wilson
Dan A. Wilson practices in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death, insurance law and civil appellate practice. Mr. Wilson first became associated with the firm in 1988 after moving to Prescott from Casa Grande, Arizona, and has become the Managing Member of the firm.
Mr. Wilson received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arizona in 1983. He graduated, summa cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University in 1978. Mr. Wilson is a member of the State Bar of Arizona and Yavapai County Bar Association and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court, District of Arizona and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Mr. Wilson was born in Shelbyville, Illinois on July 5, 1955. He resides in Prescott, Arizona with his wife Linda and their two daughters. He can be reached at dwilson@mshwlaw.com.
Andrew J. Becke
Andrew J. Becke practices primarily in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death, appellate practice, and professional licensure and discipline. Mr. Becke received his Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University in 1999 and graduated cum laude from Arizona State University College of Law in 2007 with pro bono distinction. Mr. Becke is a member of the State Bar of Arizona.
Honors/Memberships
- Law Clerk to Vice Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch, Arizona Supreme Court, 2007-2008 term.
- Executive Managing Editor, Arizona State Law Journal (2006-2007).
- Author, Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Arizona’s Notice of Claim Requirements and Statute of Limitations Since the Abrogation of State Sovereign Immunity, 39 Ariz. St. L.J. 247 (2007).
- Public Member, Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners in Medicine and Surgery (2004-2007).
- Extern with The Honorable James A. Teilborg, United States District Court for the District of Arizona (2006).
- President, ASU Student Chapter, Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
- Pedrick Scholar and Dean’s Award winner, ASU College of Law.
Mr. Becke was raised in Cottonwood, Arizona. He currently resides in Prescott with his wife, Patricia, and his two sons, Daniel and Ian. He can be reached at abecke@mshwlaw.com.
OF COUNSEL
Selmer D. Lutey
Selmer (Sal) D. Lutey primarily practices in the areas of estate planning, wills, trusts, probate, business, and real estate law.
Honors/Memberships:
- Past President of the State Bar of Arizona.
- Past Member of State Bar Board of Governors.
- Former Lawyer Delegate to Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference.
- Past President of the Yavapai County Bar Association.
- Judge Pro Tem, Arizona Court of Appeals.
- Past Member of the Taxation Advisory Commission of the State Bar of Arizona.
- Former Member Arizona Supreme Court Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee.
- Former Member and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the State Bar Client Protection Fund.
- Founding fellow of the Arizona Bar Foundation.
- Former Member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board.
- Past District Chairman of the Boy Scouts of America Old Capitol District.
- Former President of the Prescott Rotary Club.
- Licensed Realtor, State of Arizona.
Mr. Lutey received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting in 1965 and a Masters Degree in Business Administration in 1967 from the University of Utah. He received his law degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1971 and was admitted to the Arizona Bar and the United States Tax Court the same year, as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2001. Mr. Lutey’s outside interests include fly-fishing and shooting sports, and he has traveled to many destinations including Africa and South America in pursuit of those interests. He can be reached at slutey@mshwlaw.com.