Phillips, Lawrence A.

As an experienced bankruptcy lawyer with extensive knowledge of complex commercial and bankruptcy matters, Robert Phillips brings a valuable perspective and depth to the Simmons Firm's practice. His understanding of the intersection between personal injury mass tort law and federal bankruptcy law is a tremendous asset to our clients that is not found at most law firms. As an example, in 2005 and again in 2006, Robert led teams of lawyers who successfully blocked attempts by solvent asbestos defendants to extend the protection of bankruptcy injunctions to enjoin claims against them as well, resulting in the recovery of millions of dollars for clients otherwise at risk.

Prior to joining the Simmons Firm, Robert worked at a large national law firm and represented numerous large companies and national financial institutions in commercial litigation and bankruptcy matters before trial and appellate courts around the country, including:

• Lead counsel to the financial lending arm of a Big-Three automaker in numerous litigation and bankruptcy matters involving business loans ranging from $1 million to $20 million per matter;
• Lead counsel to a national financial institution in numerous litigation and bankruptcy matters involving real estate and business loans ranging from $1 million to $15 million per matter;
• Part of the core team serving as debtors’ counsel in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case for a publicly traded gaming company;
• Part of the core team serving as counsel to the primary lender in the bankruptcy of a $250 million agribusiness alleged to be a Ponzi scheme defrauding investors and lenders; and
• Either lead counsel or part of the core team serving as counsel to official creditors’ committees or secured lenders in numerous Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases.

Over the last several years, through his work representing asbestos victims in bankruptcy cases and against asbestos personal injury trusts, Robert has helped recover over $500 million on behalf of numerous clients.* He also has served on bankruptcy court-appointed committees representing asbestos victims in several pending and now-resolved asbestos bankruptcy cases, and on advisory committees to established trusts. Robert's mix of skills and experience has led to frequent invitations to speak at business and legal conferences around the globe on a variety of bankruptcy and mass tort subjects.