Strategic Litigation Solutions
for Your Business

Who We Are

Phillips Legal has a mission to provide its clients with an advantage through innovative, practical, and cost-effective solutions to your litigation needs. The firm brings many years of big-law experience representing the most sophisticated clients to a more personalized platform, providing clients with trial-tested skill and using cutting-edge technology.

When you find yourself needing help in the courtroom, Phillips Legal has a proven track record of handling business and real estate disputes and appeals.

Contact

James Phillips

Welcome to Phillips Legal

James (“JP”) Phillips, the founding attorney at Phillips Legal, has developed a deep expertise in complex commercial litigation and appeals with an emphasis on breach of contract and business tort actions, including trade secret and non-compete disputes, business breakups, consumer protection violations, fraud, and theft. He has also handled numerous matters involving financial services and real estate litigation.

His experience covers all phases of litigation, serving as trial counsel, arguing motions before state and federal courts, and handling appeals. This background allows Mr. Phillips to evaluate his clients’ cases with a critical eye towards developing strategies for cost-effective resolution through settlement or aggressive, contested litigation.

Mr. Phillips has an uncanny ability to distill the most complex problems into easily understood concepts, highlighting his persuasion skills that have yielded consistently exceptional results in the most difficult cases.

Business litigation
Real estate litigation
Appeals

Our Practice Areas

Phillips Legal has extensive experience handling all phases of litigation and appeals. Highly regarded in civil and business litigation, Phillips Legal assists clients with matters such as:

Trials

Trials

Appeals

Appeals

Breach of Contract

Breach of Contract

Non-Compete agreements

Non-Compete Agreements

Trade Secret Misappropriation

Trade Secret Misappropriation

Unfair Competition

Unfair Competition

Breach of Fiduciary Duty

Breach of Fiduciary Duty

Civil Theft

Civil Theft

Fraud

Fraud

Business Breakups

Business Breakup

Consumer Protection Actions

Consumer Protection Actions

Vendor Disputes

Vendor Disputes

Customer Payment Disputes

Customer Payment Dispute

Legal Malpractice

Legal Malpractice

Attorney Fees Disputes

Attorney Fees Disputes

Executive Compensation Disputes

Executive Compensation Disputes

Real Estate Litigation

Real Estate Litigation

Representative Cases

Our Results

Won a $1.3 million jury verdict for national insulation contracting company against former employees for violation of their non-competition agreements and defeated claim by one former employee seeking about $500,000 in allegedly owed bonuses

Prevailed in two-week arbitration defending malpractice claims seeking $7.8 million against international law firm arising from representation of departing employees in breach of fiduciary duty and trade secrets case and recovered $750,000 for firm in unpaid fees and costs

Successfully argued five straight appeals since Feb. 2014 with most recent victory involving a dispute between a former employer and employee where the Court of Appeals reversed much of the lower court’s bench trial ruling and reduced the employee’s award by over 85%

Secured summary judgment ruling in Colorado federal district court for a business on claims by former independent contractor for tortious interference with contract and civil conspiracy seeking six-figure damages

Prevailed on multiple dispositive motions that resulted in dismissal of all claims in two actions against law firm related to its handling of settlement proceeds from the Phillips v. AWH patent infringement case; argued appeal that resulted in affirmed summary judgment ruling

Trial counsel during arbitration hearing that resulted in a six-figure recovery for terminated executive seeking unpaid bonus and severance from his former employer

Served as the law clerk to the Honorable Sandra I. Rothenberg of the Colorado Court of Appeals that included reviewing trial court records and preparing draft opinions in 50 cases

James Phillips

Background

Work Experience


Phillips Legal
Shareholder, 2015 – present

Bryan Cave
Counsel, 2012-2015

Holme Roberts & Owen
Sr. Associate, 2006-2011

Musgrave & Theis
Associate, 2005-2006

Netzorg McKeever Koclanes & Bernhardt
Associate, 2002-2005

Colorado Court of Appeals
Law Clerk to the Hon. Sandra I. Rothenberg, 2001-2002

Awards & Publications


Colorado Super Lawyers 2017-present
Top 100, 2023-2024
Rising Star, 2010-2015

Employment Law: Disparate Treatment Employment Discrimination
77 Denv. U. L. Rev. 483 (2000)

Professional Involvement


Thompson Marsh Inn of Court
President, 2017-2018
President-Elect, 2017
Treasurer, 2016
Secretary, 2015
Officer, since 2011

Faculty of Federal Advocates
Member

CBA High School Mock Trial
Volunteer coach for Northfield High School, 2015-2016

DBA Young Lawyers Division
Executive Council, 2008-2012

Education


University of Denver College of Law
Juris Doctor, 2001

  • Denver University Law Review, Symposium Editor

University of Notre Dame
B.A. Economics, 1997

  • Cum laude

The Blog

  • James Phillips
    Fraud

    Court of Appeals Explores Anti-SLAPP Statute

    May 11, 2023

    Court of Appeals Explores Anti-SLAPP Statute. The Colorado Court of Appeals in Creekside Endodontics, LLC v. Sullivan (2022COA145) examined Colorado’s Anti-SLAPP statute to strike down a defamation claim. The defendant was a patient at the plaintiff’s endodontics practice. Following a procedure at the plaintiff’s clinic,…

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  • James Phillips

    Unilateral Addition of Arbitration Clause Enforceable

    May 10, 2023

    Unilateral Addition of Arbitration Clause Enforceable. The Colorado Court of Appeals in Macasero v. ENT Credit Union (2023COA40) addressed a party’s ability to add an arbitration clause to a contract through constructive electronic notice. The plaintiff took out an auto loan. The terms of the…

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  • James Phillips

    Accrual of Debt Action Upon Borrower Bankruptcy Discharge

    May 09, 2023

    The Colorado Supreme Court (2023CO17) in the case of US Bank NA v. Silvernagel addressed when the statute of limitations accrues on a debt where a borrower with a mortgage loan secured by a deed of trust on the borrower’s property is discharged in bankruptcy.…

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The Facts

3374

Cases filed in Colorado federal district court in 2022

32

Colorado federal district court cases tried to verdict in 2022

119

Summary judgment motions granted by the Colorado federal district court in 2022

95

Percentage pretrial settlements

Get in Touch

(720) 465-5056|jphillips@phillipslegalpc.com

2701 Lawrence St., Suite 106 Denver CO 80205


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