Biography

Phil is a veteran corporate attorney who specializes in complex mergers and acquisitions and handles a wide variety of business transactions. Due to the longstanding nature of his relationships with many clients, Phil is often contacted in a general outside counsel capacity to advise on material developments in the clients’ business or industries as they arise.

Phil has developed and is best known for his deep knowledge in the insurance, construction, energy, and financial services industries. His clients include investment advisors and brokers and participants in the technology, wine, hospitality, media, and gaming industries. His work has addressed every facet of business law, including acquisitions, financings, executive compensation, antitrust, governance, and nonprofit work. Phil regularly works on complex shareholder, partnership, and operating agreements and enjoys the challenge of finding common ground for the different interests of the investors and management. The depth and breadth of his experience makes him an exceptionally knowledgeable, effective advisor to his clients.

Clients value the way Phil leads the legal work for them, whether as a strategist, counselor, or negotiator. He identifies and focuses on the key points that are critical to the deal and avoids devoting time, effort, and client expense on secondary issues. He applies his expertise in a calm, clear, highly result-oriented manner, and avoids over-lawyering, fixating over boilerplate, and other unproductive distractions. Phil has represented many of his clients for 30 years or more and has been told his approach is unlike any corporate attorney they’ve ever worked with.

Thanks to Phil’s unique approach, his clients achieve their business objectives with a minimum of contention, duplicative effort, or unnecessary expense. Consistent with the remainder of Farella’s business practice, he staffs his projects leanly for greater efficiency and prides himself on responsiveness.

Phil is the former chair of Farella's Commercial Department and served on the firm’s Partnership Admission Committee. He continues to serve on the firm’s Compensation Committee. Throughout his career, he has taken pride in assisting with the career development of junior attorneys and managing toward a truly diverse workforce.

Phil is the California liaison to the Corporate Laws Committee of the American Bar Association and is a former co-chair of the Corporations Committee of the Business Law Section of the California State Bar Association. He is the former author of The California Corporation: Legal Aspects of Organization and Operation, 31-3rd C.P.S. (BNA).

Distinctions

  • Super Lawyers, Northern California, 2004-2006

Firm Highlights

News

State Bar of California Board of Trustees Approves Plan to Pilot Portfolio Bar Exam

Sarah Good, a member of the State Bar of California Board of Trustees, spoke to KQED Newscast about the Board of Trustees's proposal to pilot a Portfolio Bar Exam.

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Publication

An Introduction to DAFs and Overview of the Newly Proposed DAF Regulations

Welcome to EO Radio Show - Your Nonprofit Legal Resource. I’m Cynthia Rowland, and episode 62 describes new proposed regulations important to the administration of donor advised funds. The Internal Revenue Service and the...

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Publication

Wind Energy Project Approvals and Tax Credits Look To Outpace Macroeconomic and Supply Chain Headwinds in 2024

A snapshot of the renewable wind industry on October 31, 2023, captures many of the current challenges and opportunities for the industry and regulatory agencies heading into 2024.  That day, the world’s largest offshore...

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Event

In-House Counsel Conference 2024

Sushila Chanana is speaking on artificial intelligence law at the Bar Association of San Francisco's In-House Counsel Conference 2024. To register for the event, please click  here .

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Event

2024 Environmental & Energy, Mass Torts, and Products Liability Litigation Committees' Joint Regional CLE Program

Sarah Bell will moderate the panel "PFAS: Everything Everywhere All at Once"  at the American Bar Association's 2024 Environmental & Energy, Mass Torts, and Products Liability Litigation Committees' Joint Regional CLE Program. Session Overview: PFAS...

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News

Farella Braun + Martel Earns 2024 Best Law Firms® Rankings

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News

Proposal for Bar Exam Alternative Goes to California Supreme Court

Sarah Good, a member of the State Bar of California Board of Trustees, was quoted in The Recorder article, "Proposal for Bar Exam Alternative Goes to California Supreme Court." Read the article here (subscription...

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Publication

It Wasn’t Me, It Was the AI: Intellectual Property and Data Privacy Concerns With Nonprofits’ Use of Artificial Intelligence Systems

In today's rapidly changing technological landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is making headlines and being discussed constantly. To be sure, AI provides a powerful tool to nonprofits in creating content and exploiting for countless cost-effective...

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Event

19th Annual Renewable Energy Law Institute

Dirk Mueller is speaking at the University of Texas School of Law 19 th Annual Renewable Energy Law Institute on "Mineral Issues Impact on Real Estate Documents, Siting and Planning: Texas vs. California." Session Overview :   Understanding...

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Publication

BIPA Liability: Existing CGL Coverage May Provide a Lifeline for Policyholders

Developments in the law have increased the potential liability that companies could face under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), but fortunately for policyholders, Illinois case law has also solidified coverage for BIPA...

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