Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 Sheela Murthy - Ernst & Young - United States

Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009
Road to Palm Springs

Sheela Murthy

Murthy Law Firm
Owings Mills, Md.

Growing up in poverty in India, Sheela Murthy studied law against her parent’s wishes, since practicing law was not considered a path to prosperity in her native country. But Murthy wanted to fight for a better life for others, and when she became a US citizen years later, she realized that goal by founding a law firm dedicated to helping other immigrants achieve the American dream. Today, Murthy Law Firm is one of the leading immigration law firms in the country.

After receiving her law degree from Harvard Law School, Murthy initially worked for a large Wall Street law firm as she began the process of becoming a US citizen. But she felt betrayed and distressed by the lack of concern displayed by the immigration lawyer she had hired to help her.

In 1994, she decided to start her own law firm, breaking new ground by adopting the unheard-of approach of giving away free legal information through the internet to build credibility with clients and show them they had a strong advocate on their side.

The thriving firm now employs more than 63 lawyers and staff. Its website receives more than 10 times the visitors of the world’s top 10 law firms combined, and more than 60,000 people subscribe to its weekly bulletin. The firm also has been recognized for its outstanding contribution to charities through the Murthy Foundation.

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