As a partner for more than two decades, Phillips has represented scores of clients in appeals to state and federal appellate courts on a wide variety of commercial, personal injury, regulatory and constitutional issues. Among the cases he has successfully argued on appeal are:

• Werner Enterprises, Inc. v. Blake, 719 S.W.3d 525 (Tex. 2025)
• Pohl v. Cheatham, 718 S.W.3d 173 (Tex. 2025)
• Virlar v. Puente, 664 S.W.3d 53 (Tex. 2023)
• HouseCanary, Inc. v. Title Source, Inc., 622 S.W.3d 254 (Tex. 2021)
• Public Utility Comm’n of Texas v. Texas Industrial Energy Consumers, 620 S.W.3d 418 (Tex. 2021)
• Credit Suisse AG v. Claymore Holdings, LLC, 610 S.W.3d 808 (Tex. 2020)
• Pinto Technology Ventures, L.P. v. Sheldon, 526 S.W.3d 428 (Tex. 2017)
• Dacus v. Parker,466 S.W.3d 820 (Tex. 2015)
• Klumb v. Houston Municipal Employees Pension Systems, 458 S.W.3d 1 (Tex. 2015)
• Union Carbide Corp. v. Synatszke, 438 S.W.3d 39 (Tex. 2014)
• State of Texas v. Public Utility Commission, 344 S.W.3d 349 (Tex. 2011)
• BP America, Inc. v. Marshall, 342 S.W.3d 59 (Tex. 2011)
• TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. v. Combs, 340 S.W.3d 432 (Tex. 2011)
• Gonzalez v. Guilbot, 315 S.W.3d 533 (Tex. 2010)
• Houston Municipal Employees Pension System v. Ferrell, 248 S.W.3d 151 (Tex. 2007)
•  Repsol Oil and Gas USA, LLC v. Matrix Petroleum, LLC, 708 S.W.3d 641 (Tex. App.—San Antonio, 2023, settled before petition for review filed)
• Texas Railroad Comm’n v. Opiela, 681 S.W.3d 397 (Tex .App.—Austin 2023, pet. dism’d after settlement)
• Total Petrochemicals & Rfg. USA, Inc. v. Kinder Morgan Petcoke, LP, 658 S.W.3d 647 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Sept. 15, 2022, pet. denied)
• Freyer v. Lyft, Inc., 639 S.W 3d 772 (Tex. App.—Dallas Dec. 13, 2021, no pet.)
• Sansom v. Texas Railroad Commission, 2021 WL 2006312 (Tex. App.—Austin May 20, 2021, no pet.)
• BBB Industries, LLC v. Cardone Industries, Inc., 2019 WL 2042233 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth May 9, 2019, pet. denied)(mem.op.), cert. denied, 141 S. Ct. 559 (2020)
• Huff Energy Fund, L.P. v. Longview Energy Co., 482 S.W.3d 187 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2015), aff’d, 533 S.W.3d 866 (Tex. 2017)
• Guillory v. Seaton LLC,470 S.W.3d 237 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2015, pet. denied)
• ConocoPhillips v. Noble Energy, 462 S.W.3d 255 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015), aff’d, 532 S.W.3d 771 (Tex. 2017)
• XTO Energy, Inc. v. Smith Production, Inc., 282 S.W.3d 672 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2009, pet. granted, voluntarily dism’d by petitioner)

Other cases in which he has represented a successful appellate party include:

• Burke v. Houston PT BAC Office Limited Partnership, 2025 WL 3683861 (Tex. Dec. 19, 2025)
• Tenaris Bay City, Inc. v. Ellisor, 718 S.W.3d 193 (Tex. 2025)
• Westwood Motorcars, LLC v. Virtuology, LLC, 689 S.W.3d 879 (Tex. 2024)
• Gregory v. Chohan, 670 S.W.3d 546 (Tex. 2023)
• Total Energies E&P USA, Inc. v. MP Gulf of Mexico, LLC, 667 S.W.3d 694 (Tex. 2023)
• Signature Industrial Services, LLC v. International Paper Co., 638 S.W.3d 179 (Tex. 2022)
• Landry’s v. Animal legal Defense Fund, 631 S.W.3d 40 (Tex. 2021)
• Carowest Land, Ltd. v. City of New Braunfels, 615 S.W.3d 156 (Tex. 2020)
• ConocoPhillips v. Ramirez, 599 S.W.3d 296 (Tex., 2020), cert. denied, 141 S.Ct. 453 (2020)
• Mosley v. Texas Health and Human Services Comm’n, 593 S.W.3d 250 (Tex. 2019)
• Texas Mutual Ins. Co. v. Chicas, 593 S.W.3d 284 (Tex. 2019)
• Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC v. Carduco, Inc., 583 S.W.3d 553 (Tex. 2019)
• Sky View at Las Palmas v. Mendez, 555 S.W.3d 101 (Tex. 2018)
• City of Houston v. Houston Municipal Employees Pension System, 549 S.W.3d 566 (Tex. 2018)
• EXLP Leasing LLC v. Galveston County Central Appraisal District, 554 S.W.3d 572 (Tex. 2018)
• Texas State Bd. of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists v. Texas Medical Ass'n, 511 S.W.3d 28 (Tex. 2017)
• Ochsner v. Ochsner, 517 S.W.3d 717 (Tex. 2016)
• In re Longview Energy Co., 464 S.W.3d 353 (Tex. 2015)
• Texas Student Housing Authority v. Brazos County Appraisal District, 460 S.W.3d 137 (Tex. 2015)
• Waste Management of Texas, Inc. v. Texas Disposal Systems Landfill, Inc., 434 S.W.3d 142 (Tex. 2014)
• Paradigm Oil, Inc. v. Retamco Operating Co., 372 S.W.3d 177 (Tex. 2012)
• Enbridge Pipeline (East Texas) L.P. v. Avinger Timber LLC, 386 S.W.3d 256 (Tex. 2012)
• Hemyari v. Stephens, 355 S.W.3d 623 (Tex. 2011) (per curiam)
• Basic Capital Management v. Dynex Commercial, Inc., 348 S.W.3d 894 (Tex. 2011)
• Merck & Co., Inc. v. Garza, 347 S.W.3d 256 (Tex. 2011)
• Grohman v. Kahlig, 318 S.W.3d 882 (Tex. 2010) (per curiam)
• Grant Thornton LLP v. Prospect High Income Fund, 314 S.W.3d 913 (Tex. 2010)
• In re United Services Automobile Association, 307 S.W.3d 299 (Tex. 2010) (orig. proceeding)
• In re Southwestern Bell Tele. Co. L.P., 235 S.W.3d 619 (Tex. 2007) (orig. proceeding)
• In re Castillo, 201 S.W.3d 682 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam) (orig. proceeding)
• Hoover Slovacek LLP v. Walton, 206 S.W.3d 557 (Tex. 2006) (on rehr’g)
• Ex parte James Richard “Rick” Perry, 483 S.W.3d 884 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016)
• In re Volkswagen Clean Diesel Litigation, 516 S.W.3d 704 (Tex. Jud. MDL Panel 2016)
• Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch v. Claymore Holding, LLC, 2025 WL 2966471 (Tex. App. – Dallas Oct. 21, 2025, no pet. hist.)
• Green v. Century Oak Wind Project, LLC, 2024 WL 5081686 (Tex. App.—Eastland Dec. 12, 2024 pet. denied)
• MCR Oil Tools, LLC v. Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., 692 S.W.3d 859 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2024, pet. denied)
• Jones v. City of Houston, 2024 WL 1513883 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] April 24, 2024, pet. denied)
• Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch v. Claymore Holdings, LLC, 2023 WL 198841 (Tex. App.—Dallas Feb. 14, 2023, pet. denied)
• Jetall Companies, Inc. v. Sonder Holdings, Inc., 2022 WL 17684340 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Dec. 15, 2022, no pet.)
• Rancho Viejo Cattle Co., Ltd. v. ANB Cattle Co., Ltd., 2021 WL 4443709 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Sept. 29, 2021, no pet.)
• Harris County Hosp. Dist. v. Public Utility Commission, 557 S.W.3d370 (Tex. App.—Austin 2019, pet. denied), cert. denied, 142 S. Ct. 101 (2021)
• Gant v. Abbott, 574 S.W.3d625, (Tex. App.—Austin Apr. 24, 2019, no pet.)
• Grant v. Pivot Technology Solutions, Ltd., 556 S.W.3d 865 (Tex. App.—Austin 2018, pet. denied)
• Lee v. Dallas County Democratic Party, 2018 WL 4501448 (Tex. App.—Dallas Sept. 20, 2018, no pet.)
• In re Eddins, 2017 WL 3634245 (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 24, 2017) (mem. op.) (orig. proceeding)
• Valentine v. Interactive Brokers LLC, 2017 WL 3597735 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 22, 2017, pet. denied)
• Tractor Supply Co. of Texas, L.P. v. McGowan, 2016 WL 1722873 (Tex. App.—Waco Apr. 28, 2016, pet. denied)
• City of Houston v. Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund, 502 S.W.3d 469 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2016, no pet.)
• Associated Air Center LP v. Tary Network Ltd., 2015 WL 970664 (Tex. App.—Dallas March 4, 2015, no pet.)
• Teladoc, Inc. v. Texas Medical Board, 453 S.W.3d 606 (Tex. App.—Austin 2014, pet. denied)
• In re Choudhri, 2014 WL 2854875 Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] June 3, 2014) (orig. proceeding)
• In re Sugarland Anesthesia PLLC, 2013 WL 6569026 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Dec. 12, 2013) (orig. proceeding)
• Hendrick Medical Center v. Tex. Podiatric Medical Assn., 392 S.W.3d 294 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2012, no pet.)
• 2055 Inc. and Coates v. McTague, 2009 WL 2506342 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2009, no pet.)
• Casserlie v. Shell Oil Co., 902 N.E.2d 1 (Ohio 2009)
• CenterPoint Energy, Inc. v. Miller County Circuit Court, 276 S.W.3d 231 (Ark. 2008)
• Sherwin-Williams Co. v. State, 951 A.2d 428 (R.I. 2008)

Finally, he has successfully represented Amici in several important cases, including:

• Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC, in In re Occidental Chemical Corp. 561 S.W.3d 146 (Tex. 2018)
• Conference of Chief Justices in Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co., 556 U.S. 868 (2009); ODonnell v. Harris County, Texas, 882 F.3d 528 (5th Cir. 2018); and Kansas Judicial Watch v. Stout, 562 F.3d 1240 (10th Cir. 2009)
• Texas Association of Business in Texas Commission on Environmental Quality v. Bosque River Coalition, 413 S.W.3d 403 (Tex. 2013); and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality v. City of Waco, 413 S.W.3d 409 (Tex. 2013)
• Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in Texas Mutual Insurance Co. v. Ruttiger, 381 S.W.3d 430 (Tex. 2012)
• Texas Association of Realtors in Wind Mountain Ranch LLC v. City of Temple, 333 S.W.3d 580 (Tex. 2010)
• Shell Oil Company and Motiva Enterprises LLC in ExxonMobil Corp. v. Gill, 299 S.W.3d 124 (Tex. 2009)
• NextEra Energy Resources, LLC in Public Utility Comm'n v. City of Harlingen, 311 S.W.3d 610 (Tex. App.–Austin 2010, no pet.)

Academic Appointments

• Spurgeon E. Bell Distinguished Visiting Professor at South Texas College of Law, Houston, 2004-2005 (Supreme Court Seminar, First Amendment, and State Constitutional Law)
• Distinguished Visiting Professor, Dedman School of Law, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Fall 2004 (Supreme Court Seminar)
• Visiting Lecturer, South Texas College of Law Summer Abroad Programs, Durham, England, Summer 2003 (ADR, Recent Constitutional Issues); Istanbul, Turkey, Summer 1999 (ADR,  Comparative Evidence)

  Law Review Articles

• “The Merits of Merit Selection,” 32 Harv. J. L. Pub. Pol 67 (2009)
• “Judicial Recusal in a Post-White World,” 55 Drake L. Rev. 691 (2007)
• “The Constitutional Right to a Remedy,” 78 NYU L. Rev. 1309 (2003)
• “State Supreme Courts: Local Courts in a Global World,” 38 Tex. Int’l L.J. 557 (2003)