Attorneys

Brian Phillips, founding shareholder, entered the private practice of law in 1999 and has represented numerous clients throughout the United States in matters with a white collar focus, including state and federal tax matters (civil controversy, criminal, and collection defense), criminal matters in state and federal courts, asset forfeiture proceedings, as well as the defense of professional licenses held by many of his clients.

Mr. Phillips also holds the position of Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Florida where he teaches Procedures in Tax Fraud Cases in the acclaimed LL.M. in Taxation program and at Barry University where he teaches White Collar Crime and Income Tax I at the J.D. level.

Brian Phillips is a graduate of the McCallie School (1981), Vanderbilt University (B.S., 1985), the University of Tennessee (J.D. and M.B.A., 1989), and the University of Florida (LL.M. in Taxation, 1990).  He served as Executive Research Editor of the Tennessee Law Review.

Mr. Phillips served in the United States Department of Justice as a Trial Attorney in the Tax Division (Honors Program) (1990-1994) and as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Middle District of Florida (1994-1999).  During his tenure, Mr. Phillips handled civil and criminal tax matters, served as the lead Asset Forfeiture attorney in the Orlando office of the

United States Attorney, and prosecuted a large number of white collar criminal cases.

Mr. Phillips is a member of the Tennessee and Florida Bars and is also admitted generally in the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, as well as the United States Tax Court.  He has been admitted pro hac vice in numerous other federal judicial districts as well.

Active in the Orlando Arts scene, Mr. Phillips holds and has held a several positions in the Central Florida community.

• President and Director, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre
• Director, Orlando Opera
• President and Director, University Club of Orlando
• President, University Club of Orlando Foundation

In addition to numerous civil and criminal trials in state and Federal courts, Mr. Phillips’ reported cases include:

United States v. Kowalik, 809 F.Supp. 1571 (S.D.Fla. 1992); Boca Airport, Inc. v. United States, 838 F.Supp 576 (S.D. Fla. 1993); Boca Airport, Inc., v. United States, 840 F.Supp. 120 (S.D.Fla. 1992); Macks v. Clinton, 843 F.Supp. 1440 (M.D.Fla. 1993); United Petro/Energy Corp. v. United States, 846 F.Supp. 993 (S.D.Fla. 1994); United States v. Stoecklin 848 F.Supp. 1521 (M.D.Fla. 1994); Kowalik v. Morris, 1993, WL, 484949, 72 A.F.T.R.2d 93-5888, 93-2 USTC P 50, 575 (S.D.Fla., Aug 23, 1993) (No. 92-7209-CIV-MARCUS); Macks v. Clinton, 1993 WL 597112, 72 F.R.T.R.2d 93-6046 (M.D.Fla., Sep 01, 1993 No. 91-1069-CIV-J-20); In re Wines, 122 B.R. 804 (Bankr.S.D.Fla., 1991), modified, 1992 WL 200602, Bankr.L.Rep. P 74, 674 (S.D.Fla., Apr 08, 1992) (No. 91-0433-CIV-MARCUS); Matter of Commonweal, Inc., 171 B.R. 405, 74 A.F.T.R.2d 94-6039, 94-2 USTC P 50,477 (Bankr.M.D.Fla., Aug 12, 1994) (No. 92-6411-8B1, 92-583); U.S. v. Nuyens, 17 F.Supp. 2d 1303 (M.D.Fl. 1998); Noel v. U.S., 12 F. Supp. 2d 1300 (M.D.Fl. 1998); U.S. v. Johnston, 13 F. Supp. 2d 1316 (M.D.Fl. 1998); Cragan v. Campellone, 910 So.2d 363 (Fla. 5th D.C.A. 2005); Edward T. Byrd Co. v. WPSC Venture I, 66 So. 3d 979 (Fla. 5th D.C.A. 2011); and United States v. Tobin, 676 F.3d 1264 (11th Cir. 2012).