Philip B. Phillips

Partner

Overview

Philip B. (“Phil”) Phillips is an employment lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP and the managing partner of the firm’s Detroit office. He is a member of the firm's Management Committee, the Labor & Employment Practice and Automotive Industry Team. He counsels and represents business clients across the country in all aspects of labor and employment law, including employment compliance policies and programs, FLSA wage and hour collective actions and multi-plaintiff employment litigation defense, non-competition and trade secrets matters, collective bargaining and labor arbitrations. He represents clients before administrative agencies, including the EEOC, NLRB, OFCCP, DOL and numerous state civil rights agencies.

Philip is a frequent speaker on labor and employment law topics.

Philip has successfully handled class actions, arguments before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the Michigan Court of Appeals and numerous courts across the country.

Representative Experience

REPRESENTATIVE CLASS/COLLECTIVE ACTIONS:

  • Representation of Tier I automotive supplier in FLSA wage and hour collective action
  • Representation of major retailer in ADA accessibility compliance class action   
  • Representation of Tier I automotive supplier in age discrimination and promotion class action
  • Representation of Tier I automotive supplier in age discrimination RIF collective action   
  • Representation of supplier in multi-Plaintiff harassment case

Prior to joining Foley, Philip was an associate at a major Detroit-based law firm and he also served as an assistant prosecuting attorney with the Saginaw County (Michigan) Prosecutor’s Office.

Education

Phlip obtained his J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law, where he served as class president. He also earned a master's degree in public administration (M.P.A.) from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Emory University.

Recognition

Philip was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2012 – 2016 Michigan Super Lawyers® lists, and was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the fields of Litigation – Labor and Employment (2013 – 2023) and Employment Law – Management (2017 - 2022).

Admissions and Professional Memberships

Philip is a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Federal Bar Association and Wolverine Bar Association. He is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.