Stephen is the founder and owner of Peace Like a River Mediation Services, LLC, where he has conducted court-connected mediations, workers’ compensation mediations, Christian conciliations and conflict coaching since 1999. He has over 38 years of experience as an attorney, and over 22 years of experience as a mediator. He is a lawyer and the owner of his law firm, Murphy & Garner, LLC. He has been a frequent continuing legal education speaker on the topic of mediation.
Stephen has been married to his wife, Terri, for over 37 years. They are members of Midway Baptist Church in Villa Rica, GA, where he serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, President of the Corporation, Chairman of the Leadership Advisory Team, and is a member the Finance Committee. He is currently in the process of setting up and training a Peace Sowers Team at his church.
He has participated in the Summer Professional Skills Program at Pepperdine University School of Law on several occasions, and recently underwent training for mediations on the Zoom platform in the course Strategic and Best Practices for Remote Mediation. While he prefers in-person conflict coaching and mediation sessions, he is comfortable utilizing the Zoom platform, which he has done many times.
Stephen’s credentials include: Registered Civil Mediator with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution; Member of The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals and The Georgia Academy of Mediators & Arbitrators; and recognition by Super Lawyers for Georgia 2017-2022.