Sheila Murphy

Sheila is a certified executive coach, award-winning legal leader, and the CEO of Focus Forward Consulting. With over 20 years of experience in corporate America and law firms, Sheila specializes in empowering legal professionals—including General Counsels, legal executives, and law firm attorneys—to achieve transformational success in their careers, compensation, and confidence. Her mission is to help her clients master the skills needed to become impactful leaders, trusted advisors, and rainmakers.

Before founding Focus Forward Consulting, Sheila served as Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel at MetLife, a Fortune 50 company, where she earned accolades for her leadership, innovation, and commitment to advancing others. During her tenure, she served as an executive sponsor of the U.S. Women’s Business Network, co-chaired the Legal Affairs Academy, and drove diversity and professional development initiatives on a global scale.

Sheila brings a unique perspective to her work, informed by her deep understanding of corporate dynamics, leadership excellence, and market demands. She collaborates with attorneys at all career stages—whether they’re in-house counsel seeking to advance into leadership roles or law firm attorneys building profitable books of business. Sheila’s expertise also extends to coaching General Counsels and their teams to create organizational capacity, lead with vision, and deliver meaningful results.

As the author of the forthcoming book Rainmaker Power Moves: The Attorney’s Playbook for Building a Book of Business, Sheila provides actionable strategies to help lawyers achieve sustained business success. Her coaching and consulting approach combines candid feedback, practical tools, and access to valuable networks, enabling her clients to unlock opportunities, amplify their unique strengths, and take charge of their professional destinies.

A sought-after speaker and trainer, Sheila delivers workshops and keynotes on talent development, leadership, business growth, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Passionate about elevating women and underrepresented groups in the legal industry, Sheila is dedicated to reshaping the profession by empowering all legal professionals to reach their highest potential.

Sheila holds a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and certifications from the International Coaching Federation and Co-Active Leadership Institute. Her leadership and coaching have earned her numerous accolades, including the Women, Influence, Power in Law Lifetime Achievement Award and the Benchmark Litigation In-House Award.

With a powerful combination of experience, insight, and a commitment to transformational growth, Sheila equips her clients with the tools they need to succeed and thrive.