Reid Phillips, Brooks Pierce Photo

Reid L. Phillips

Managing Partner

Overview

An experienced trial and appellate attorney, Reid Phillips represents companies and their owners in complex business disputes, including defense of class action lawsuits, malpractice claims, and serious personal injury and death claims.

As managing partner of Brooks Pierce, Reid is responsible for the strategic leadership and overall management of the firm.

My Practices

  • Reid represents businesses and business owners before federal and state courts in lawsuits involving contracts, securities, antitrust, unfair competition, copyright and trademark infringement, and non-compete agreements. His recent experience includes the successful defense of shareholder, customer and employee class action lawsuits in retail, banking, insurance, and manufacturing businesses.

    The 2020 Chambers USA guide states that "Reid Phillips is an accomplished attorney particularly noted for handling business and corporate litigation." A peer notes, "He’s a great trial lawyer.”

    "There is no greater professional satisfaction for a trial lawyer than the return of a jury verdict in favor of our clients."
  • Reid has experience representing legal and accounting professionals in professional liability litigation. 

  • Reid represents banks, business owners and investors in state and federal court litigation and arbitration related to banking, securities and antitrust issues. He has consistently been recognized by top industry publications, including The Best Lawyers in America© and Benchmark Litigation, for his litigation success.

  • Reid defends businesses and product manufacturers before state and federal courts in wrongful death, serious personal injury and products liability claims. 

Credentials

Honors & Recognitions

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers (2003-present)

Recipient of the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award, North Carolina State Bar (2021)

Recognized in Business North Carolina's "Power List" (2021-23)

Winner of the Denise E. Maleska Leadership Service Award, Leadership Greensboro (2018)

Winner of the Distinguished Service Award, Greensboro Bar Association (2018)

Recognized in North Carolina Lawyers Weekly's "Leaders in the Law" (2017)

Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in Commercial Litigation, Banking & Finance Litigation, and Intellectual Property Litigation (1999-2024); Greensboro "Lawyer of the Year" in Banking & Finance Litigation (2015, 2017, 2019, 2023)

Recognized in North Carolina Super Lawyers  (Thomson Reuters) in Business Litigation (2006-2024); Top 100 (2008-2010, 2013-2015, 2018, 2022)

Recognized in Super Lawyers Business Edition for Business Litigation (2015)

Recognized in Business North Carolina’s "Legal Elite" in Litigation (2006, 2012-2015)

Recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Litigation: General Commercial (2008-2023)

Recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a "Local Litigation Star" in Competition/Antitrust, General Commercial, Intellectual Property, Product Liability and Recall, and Securities Law (2016-2023)

Education

University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1977, with honors

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., 1974, with honors; Order of the Golden Fleece; Order of the Holy Grail

Admissions

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

U.S. District Court for the Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts of North Carolina

Newsroom

News

Professional & Civic

Professional & Civic Activities

Vice President, North Carolina Bar Association (2019-2021)

Chair, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro (2015-2017)

Chair, War Memorial Commission (Greensboro Coliseum Complex) (2014 – 2015)

Chair, LeBauer Park Steering Committee (2013 – 2016)

Member, North Carolina Board of Law Examiners (2011-2013)

Chair, Greensboro Metropolitan YMCA (2005-07)

Member, Board of Directors, Weatherspoon Art Museum Association (2009 – 2015)

Master, Joseph Branch Inn of Court

Member, National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel

Chair, Strategic Planning and Emerging Trends Committee, North Carolina Bar Association (2006-2008)

Director, Greensboro Bar Association (1992-93, 2004-06)

President, Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art (1997-98)

About Me

From my parents, I derived my values and learned the virtue of hard work. From my teachers and professors, I learned how to analyze and solve problems. And from my mentors at Brooks Pierce, I learned that diligence and persistence, knowledge of the law, and careful preparation wins cases. I apply each of those things to the work that I do so that, at the end, I can look back and know that the best possible result was achieved by our team.
 
We are fortunate to live in the wonderful communities of the Tar Heel State, built by our predecessors. One of the things I enjoy doing outside of Brooks Pierce is helping Greensboro grow and develop in the ways that will make it always a great place to work, have fun, and enjoy our families. Some of my favorite experiences have been my work on behalf of the Community Foundation, the War Memorial (Greensboro Coliseum) Commission, LeBauer Park, the Greensboro Aquatics Center and Haw River State Park. Through each of those experiences, I've seen our community do great things.

  • 178
    178 wonderful colleagues at Brooks Pierce
  • 215
    215 miles of the Tar River, all kayaked with friends
  • 1789
    1789 – year the University was founded – Go Heels!
Jump to Page

This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. For more information on our cookie use, see our Privacy Policy.