Phillip focuses his practice in the areas of business reorganization and bankruptcy and commercial payment services. He practices throughout the United States representing secured and unsecured creditors in business workouts, reorganizations and bankruptcies. He has significant experience representing purchasers of assets in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, and other insolvency settings. He also counsels clients regarding payment systems operations and regulations, including stored value cards and gift cards.
Phillip has lectured on bankruptcy law at the University of Minnesota Law School, the Peking University Law Department, and at numerous continuing legal education courses. Prior to joining Gray Plant Mooty, he was a law clerk for Bankruptcy Judges Hartley Nordin and Margaret Mahoney.
Experience
- Representing a committee of unsecured creditors in the Chapter 11 cases of a group of boat manufacturing companies
- Representing a money service business in an out-of-court liquidation of multiple check cashing stores in and around New York City
- Representing a franchisor in purchasing a competing franchisor’s assets in its Florida Chapter 11 case.
- Representing the purchaser of a printing business in a California assignment for the benefit of creditors.
- Representing the purchaser of a computer software and hardware company in a Connecticut Chapter 11 case.
- Representing a secured working capital lender in the Minnesota Chapter 11 case, subsequent Florida Chapter 11 case, and ultimate liquidation of a motorcycle manufacturing company.
- Representing a money service business in the New York Chapter 11 case of a multi-state agent.
- Representing a franchisor in implementing a system-wide gift card program.
- Representing a stored value card company in evaluating a payroll card product.
Publications
Presentations
- “Representing Commercial Landlords in Tenant Bankruptcies,” Minnesota State Bar Association Real Estate Institute, November 2009
- “The Commercial Real Estate Attorney’s Guide to Bankruptcy Law,” Minnesota State Bar Association Real Estate Institute, November 2008
- “Minnesota Mechanic’s Liens in Bankruptcy,” Minnesota State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, September 2008
- “Maximizing the Auction Price—Practical Considerations,” Minnesota State Bar Association Bankruptcy Institute, September 2006
- “Aligning Your Practice With the BAPCA,” National Business Institute, October 2005
- “Hot Topics in Chapter 11,” Minnesota State Bar Association Bankruptcy Institute, August 2005
- “Bankruptcy Overview for the Commercial Lender,” Minnesota Bankers Association, February 2005
- “Minnesota Mechanic’s Liens in Bankruptcy,” Minnesota State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, January 2005
- “Basic Bankruptcy Seminar,” National Business Institute, June 2004
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1982
- University of Nebraska, B.S., 1976, with distinction
Bar Admissions
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, 1984
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1995
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1996
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, 2004
Professional Activities
- Minnesota State Bar Association Bankruptcy Law Section, Past Chair
- American Bar Association, Business Bankruptcy Committee
- Hennepin County Bar Association
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- International Insolvency Organization (INSOL)
- Bankruptcy Practice Committee, appointed by the Chief Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Minnesota, 2009-present
- Turnaround Management Association