Overview
Phil is a partner in the Vorys Akron office in the litigation group. His practice focuses on oil and gas litigation, toxic tort litigation and litigation in a variety of areas including environmental, bankruptcy, probate, product liability and general contract and commercial litigation.
Career highlights include:
- representing client in arbitration of contract dispute involving design and construction of plant emission control system
- representing client in jury trial in contract dispute involving breach of environmental warranties
- representing energy clients in litigation throughout eastern Ohio in matters involving the exploration and production of the Utica shale and other mineral resources
- representing client before the Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission in appeal involving PSD air permit for cracker plant
- serving as national coordinating counsel for a Fortune 500 company in toxic tort litigation
- obtaining a jury verdict in excess of $14 million in a case brought by a non-profit organization against former trustees and officers
- representing creditors and Chapter 11 debtors in bankruptcy reorganizations and adversary proceedings
- pro bono representation of veterans before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
- participation in numerous jury trial, bench trial and arbitrations throughout Ohio
Phil is a member of the Akron and Ohio State Bar Associations.
Phil has presented seminars on trial practice, regulation of oil and gas development and toxic tort litigation.
Honors & Recognitions
Columbus CEO, Top Lawyers in Columbus, 2010-2014, 2017-2018
Ohio Super Lawyers, General Litigation, 2008, 2012-2015
The Best Lawyers in America, Akron Bet-the-Company Litigation "Lawyer of the Year", 2014, 2017
The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2007-2023; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, 2023; Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2010-2021; Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2005-2007
Fellow of the Columbus Bar Foundation since 1995
Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated
News & Insights
News
Events
Publications
Services
Industries
Education
The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law, J.D., 1988, Order of the Coif
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, B.A., 1985, Phi Beta Kappa
Bar & Court Admissions
- Ohio
- Admitted to practice law only in the states listed above.
Judicial Clerkships
- The Honorable J. Craig Wright, Ohio Supreme Court, 1988-1989
- The Honorable John D. Holschuh, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, 1989-1991