Reid represents businesses and business owners before federal and state courts in complex litigation 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 and manufacturing businesses.

The 2019 Chambers USA guide states that "Reid Phillips...possesses particular experience in class action defense, among other areas of practice. A peer notes, ‘He’s a great trial lawyer.’”

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Reid has experience representing legal and accounting professionals in professional liability litigation. 

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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 in these areas. 

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

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

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

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

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

Listed 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 (1999-2020); Greensboro "Lawyer of the Year" in Banking & Finance Litigation (2015, 2017, 2019)

Recognized in North Carolina Super Lawyers  (Thomson Reuters) in Business Litigation (2006-2019); Top 100 (2008-2010, 2013-2015, 2018)

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

Recognized by his peers for inclusion 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 (2008-2019)

Recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a "Local Litigation Star" in Antitrust, General Commercial, Intellectual Property, Product Liability and Securities Law (2016-2019)

Vice President, North Carolina Bar Association Board of Governors (2019-Present)

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)

Presenter, "Evolution of a Firm," GGI Best Practices Conference, Quebec City, Canada, October 2018

Co-author (with Susan Young), "Is It Time For Your Company To Hire In-House Counsel?" Business North Carolina Law Journal, September 2018 

Presenter, "Civil Motions - Law Update and Practice Pointers," CLE presentation, American College of Trial Lawyers NC Chapter meeting, Charleston, SC, March 2018

Presenter, "Discovery Limits: Protective Orders and Motions in Limine," CLE for Legal Aid attorneys, Greensboro, NC, November 2017

 

Francis Quarles:  “I see no virtue where I smell no sweat.” 
 
From my parents, I learned the virtue of hard work. From my mentors at Brooks Pierce, I learned that diligence and persistence, knowledge of the law, and careful preparation wins cases. I apply those things to every matter I handle so that, at the conclusion, I can always look back and know that the best possible result was achieved for our clients.
 
I am fortunate to live in a wonderful community. 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, play 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.

Juries are right most of the time – the lawyer’s job is to give them the facts they need to get there. I approach every trial, not as war, but as an opportunity to present, in the most compelling way possible, the relevant facts and the law that will lead to the very best result for my clients.

Recent Publications & Media

Speaking Engagements

Recognitions

Brooks Pierce has been named a “Highly Recommended” law firm for general litigation and “...(read more)
The 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America © recognized 55 Brooks Pierce attorneys as industry...(read more)
Nine Brooks Pierce practice areas and 18 of the firm’s attorneys are ranked among the best in North...(read more)
Forty-four Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized in the 2019 edition of North Carolina Super...(read more)
Brooks Pierce has been named a “Highly Recommended” law firm for general litigation and “...(read more)
The 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America © recognized 55 Brooks Pierce attorneys as industry...(read more)
Seven Brooks Pierce practice areas and 21 of the firm’s attorneys are ranked among the best in...(read more)
Thirty-eight Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized in the 2018 edition of North Carolina...(read more)
Brooks Pierce has been named a “Highly Recommended” law firm in North Carolina in the 2018 edition...(read more)
The 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America © recognized 54 Brooks Pierce attorneys as industry...(read more)
Thirty-eight Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized in the 2017 edition of North Carolina...(read more)
Brooks Pierce has been named a “Highly Recommended” law firm in North Carolina in the 2017 edition...(read more)
The 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in America © recognized 50 Brooks Pierce attorneys as industry...(read more)
17 attorneys and six practice areas are recognized in the 2016 law firm guide Six Brooks Pierce...(read more)
Benchmark Litigation, a trusted independent research organization, named Brooks Pierce the 2016 "...(read more)
Thirty-six Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized in the 2016 edition of North Carolina Super...(read more)
Brooks Pierce has been named a “ Highly Recommended ” law firm in North Carolina in the 2016...(read more)
Brooks Pierce is pleased to announce that 26 of the firm’s attorneys have been named to the 2015...(read more)
The 2016 edition of The Best Lawyers in America © recognized 48 Brooks Pierce attorneys as industry...(read more)
13 attorneys and six practice areas are recognized in the 2015 law firm guide (Greensboro, N.C.)...(read more)
Thirty-six Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized in the 2015 edition of North Carolina Super...(read more)
Sixteen Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in the 2015...(read more)
Brooks Pierce is pleased to announce that 27 of the firm’s attorneys have been named to the 2014...(read more)
Brooks Pierce has been named a “Highly Recommended” law firm in North Carolina in the 2015 edition...(read more)
The 2015 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© recognized 46 Brooks Pierce attorneys as industry...(read more)
Seven Brooks Pierce practice areas and 14 of the firm’s attorneys are ranked among the best in...(read more)
Brooks Pierce is pleased to announce that 39 lawyers, representing 46% of the firm’s attorneys,...(read more)
Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP is pleased to announce that 46 lawyers were...(read more)
Brooks Pierce is ranked among the best law firms in North Carolina in the 2013 edition of Chambers...(read more)
Business North Carolina magazine publishes annually the "Legal Elite," lawyers throughout the state...(read more)
Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP is pleased to announce that 45 lawyers,...(read more)
Brooks Pierce is ranked among the best law firms in North Carolina in the 2012 edition of Chambers...(read more)
Brooks Pierce is pleased to announce that 38 lawyers, representing 43% of the firm’s attorneys,...(read more)
Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP is pleased to announce that 34 lawyers,...(read more)
Brooks Pierce is ranked among the best law firms in North Carolina in the 2011 edition of Chambers...(read more)
Brooks Pierce is ranked among the best law firms in North Carolina in the 2009 edition of Chambers...(read more)
Eighteen Brooks Pierce Attorneys Named as North Carolina Super Lawyers Brooks, Pierce, McLendon,...(read more)
Three attorneys recognized in "Top 100" North Carolina Super Lawyers Brooks Pierce is pleased to...(read more)

Recent Publications & Media

Is It Time For Your Company to Hire In-House Counsel?

Insight
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September 4, 2018
Your company has seen nice growth over the past five years – revenues are up, you are employing more people and you see new opportunities ahead. You are beginning your budget planning for next year. Your eye lights on the six figure line item that...(read more)

Reid Phillips Quoted by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly

Firm News
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July 11, 2018
Brooks Pierce managing partner Reid Phillips was quoted by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly in an article on the recent ruling by the North Carolina Court of Appeals in Cordaro v. Harrington Bank, FSB . Phillips and fellow Brooks Pierce attorney Will...(read more)

Brooks Pierce Managing Partner Published in News & Record

Firm News
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January 16, 2018
Reid Phillips, managing partner of Brooks Pierce, recently wrote a column for the News & Record focusing on the unique values that make Greensboro a special community. Using the history of Greensboro, and its residents, Phillips focused on three...(read more)

Reid Phillips Pens Column for Greensboro News & Record

Firm News
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January 6, 2017
Reid Phillips, managing partner of Brooks Pierce and chairman of the board of directors for the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, wrote a column for the Greensboro News & Record highlighting some of the smaller, less well-known efforts...(read more)

Brooks Pierce Donates 63 Computers to Local Charities

Firm News
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March 8, 2016
Brooks Pierce has donated 63 of its used desktop computers to nonprofit organizations across the state. Brooks Pierce distributed the computers to 16 charities in the Triad and Triangle. Thirty of the desktops have been donated to Handy Capable, an...(read more)
Reid Phillips, Managing Partner

Reid Phillips Named Managing Partner of Brooks Pierce

Firm News
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January 1, 2016
Brooks Pierce has named Reid Phillips as the firm’s managing partner, effective January 1. He follows Ed Winslow , who had led the firm since 2000. Phillips, one of the state’s top litigators, has served on the firm’s management committee since 2003...(read more)
Reid Phillips

Reid Phillips Elected Chairman of War Memorial Commission

Firm News
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September 4, 2014
At its September meeting at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, the War Memorial Commission unanimously elected Brooks Pierce Partner Reid Phillips as its new chairman. The War Memorial Commission, appointed by the Greensboro City Council, serves as...(read more)
Flowering Dogwood Branch

Brooks Pierce Attorneys Participate in Public Service Day

Firm News
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April 4, 2008
The North Carolina Bar Association's first statewide Public Service Day was held Friday, April 4, 2008. More than 700 lawyers volunteered to provide free legal information at eight call centers statewide. Brooks Pierce attorney Kearns Davis chaired...(read more)