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- Home
- Professionals
- C. William Phillips
Will Phillips is adept at creating a winning strategy. He has tried cases before judges and juries across the country, and has rarely lost a trial. He uses creative strategies, coupled with a deep involvement in the details of his matters and a highly competitive spirit, to attain a remarkable record of success for clients.
These achievements have earned Mr. Phillips recognition as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Mr. Phillips staffs cases leanly, recognizing that clients want his full and personal engagement. His positioning, grasp of his clients’ key concerns at every stage and his tough negotiating posture often create a favorable settlement environment for his commercial cases (which include media, M&A, securities fraud, corporate control, derivative, and contract cases). He has achieved notable trial victories for Commerzbank, Bank of New York, New Media Holdings, the Tennis Channel, and Russian media oligarch Vladimir Gusinski. He also has achieved highly favorable pre-trial outcomes for securities and financial claims brought against SandRidge Energy, Johnson & Johnson, Sterling/PNC, JPMorgan Chase, and Freddie Mac.
Mr. Phillips’ clients refer to him as a “real courtroom counsel,” noting his commanding presence at trial and skill in cross examinations. He is co-chair of the firm’s Securities and Financial Litigation practice.
Trials
- Co-trial counsel in GSN v. Cablevision, which resulted in a significant victory for our client GSN in a carriage claim against Cablevision after a two-week bench trial.
- Co-lead trial counsel for defendant Commerzbank in Structured Capital Solutions v. Commerzbank, a five-day trial in the Southern District of New York concerning the mechanics and tax implications of a complex structured finance transaction. After trial, the court dismissed all claims against Commerzbank.
- Lead arbitration trial counsel for the nation’s pre-eminent energy resource provider in a dispute with the purchaser of those resources. The matter settled favorably after three days of trial.
- Co-lead arbitration trial counsel representing the former head of the New York office of a consulting firm in a dispute with his former employer. The trial lasted twelve days. The arbitrator dismissed nearly all claims against our client.
- Lead trial counsel for Black Diamond Capital Holdings and BDCM Fund Adviser in a trial concerning the application of sourcing principles under Connecticut and federal tax law, and the valuation of securities distributed as part of carried interest.
- Lead trial counsel for The Bank of New York in In re Bank of New England Corp., recovering a judgment for $100 million after trial.
- Lead trial counsel for New Media Holding and its sister-company, New Media Distribution, in a multi-national corporate control dispute over the ownership of the TVi Channel, a Ukrainian television network. The court awarded a substantial judgment for New Media after a five-month trial.
- Lead trial counsel for the defendants in Bernard National Loan Investors v. Traditions Management, which resulted in a complete defendants’ verdict after trial.
- Lead trial counsel in Tennis Channel v. Comcast, representing Tennis Channel in an eight-day trial on claims that Comcast discriminates against Tennis Channel and in favor of its own sports channels in its carriage decisions. The court ruled in favor of Tennis Channel (later reversed on appeal).
- Lead trial counsel for the National Football League in its dispute with Comcast Cable Communications over the terms of carriage of The NFL Network. The matter settled favorably after trial but before a decision was rendered.
Securities and Financial Class Actions
- Lead counsel for Johnson & Johnson and its top management in a securities class action arising from allegations that the Company and certain executives failed to disclose quality issues that led to the largest product recalls in the Company’s history.
- Lead counsel for SandRidge Energy, Inc. in pending securities class and derivative litigation asserting claims arising out of the consent solicitation for control of SandRidge's board of directors.
- Lead counsel for JPMorgan Chase in its defense against claims of securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duty in connection with Bank One's role as co-placement agent and indenture trustee for $2 billion in asset-backed securities.
- Lead counsel for Sterling Financial Corporation (now owned by The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.) in consolidated securities class action litigation concerning a fraud at a Sterling subsidiary that resulted in a $200 million earnings restatement.
- Lead counsel for Freddie Mac in defense against twenty securities and derivative class actions that were consolidated into a single multi-billion dollar lawsuit in New York federal court.
Media
- Lead counsel for Sony BMG against the bands The Allman Brothers and Cheap Trick, which brought purported class actions on behalf of artists seeking to impose a comprehensive change to the method that the royalties are paid for all digital downloads.
- Lead trial counsel in Tennis Channel v. Comcast, representing Tennis Channel in an eight-day trial on claims that Comcast discriminates against Tennis Channel and in favor of its own sports channels in its carriage decisions. The court ruled in favor of Tennis Channel.
- Lead trial counsel for the National Football League in its dispute with Comcast Cable Communications over the terms of carriage of The NFL Network. The matter settled favorably after trial but before a decision was rendered.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Director of MFY, a non-profit legal organization that provides pro bono legal services.
- Director of Job Path, a non-profit organization whose mission includes customized employment for autistic adults.
September 28, 2020
WASHINGTON—Covington partner Jennifer Saulino has been named a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America. Ms. Saulino is the eighth Covington lawyer among the current Fellows, joining Lanny Breuer, Robert Haslam, Carolyn Kubota, John Nields, George Pappas, William Phillips, and Robert Sayler. Ms. ...
March 19, 2020, Covington Alert
On March 18, 2020, in Salzberg v. Sciabacucchi, No. 346, 2019 (Del. Mar. 18, 2020), the Delaware Supreme Court held that corporate charter provisions that require claims under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) to be filed in federal court are facially valid. The decision may enable Delaware corporations who adopt such provisions to avoid the ...
January 13, 2020, Law360
Law360 covered Covington’s win for Uber in the Delaware Supreme Court, where the firm obtained a decision affirming dismissal of a complaint seeking over $1 billion in damages from current and former officers and directors. Mark Gimbel led the Covington team, which included Will Phillips.
October 1, 2019, Law360
Law360 covered William Phillips, David Pinsky, Joshua Picker, Marney Cheek, and William Lowery’s representation of Naftogaz, Ukraine's state-owned oil and gas company, in its pursuit of documents from Gazprom's Dallas-based oil and gas reserves auditor as the company pursues litigation in the Netherlands to enforce a $2.56 billion arbitral award against the ...
Chancery Tosses Derivative Suit Over Uber-Ottomotto Deal
April 1, 2019, Law360
We secured an important win for Uber in a case involving an investor’s derivative lawsuit.
March 5, 2018
LOS ANGELES—Covington partner Carolyn Kubota has been named a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America. Ms. Kubota is the seventh Covington lawyer among the current Fellows, joining Lanny Breuer, Robert Haslam, John Nields, George Pappas, William Phillips, and Robert Sayler. Ms. Kubota is a ...
November 1, 2017
WASHINGTON—Covington represented CenturyLink in its acquisition of Level 3 Communications in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $34 billion. The acquisition closed today. The firm assisted Century Link in obtaining regulatory approvals by the Federal Communications Commission and state public utilities regulators, and in national security ...
June 13, 2016, Covington Alert
October 6, 2015
NEW YORK, October 6, 2015 - Covington partner C. William Phillips has been named a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America. Mr. Phillips is the seventh Covington lawyer among the current Fellows, joining Lanny Breuer, Robert Haslam, James McKay, John Nields, George Pappas, and Robert Sayler. Mr. ...
Federal Appeals Court Permits Detainee Claims Against Former U.S. Officials to Proceed
June 18, 2015
NEW YORK, June 18, 2015 - A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that former top U.S. officials can potentially be held liable for the abuse of detainees held at a center in New York City following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2011. The plaintiffs in the case, Turkmen v. Ashcroft, are represented by the Center for Constitutional Rights, Covington & ...
February 3, 2015, Covington E-Alert
August 18, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC, August 18, 2014 — Best Lawyers named Covington & Burling’s Stuart Eizenstat and Gregg Levy each a 2015 “Lawyer of the Year” in international trade and sports law, respectively, citing their “abilities, professionalism and integrity.” Overall, Covington lawyers received 217 individual mentions in 58 areas of law in the newly released annual survey ...
Covington Lawyers Recognized by New York Super Lawyers
9/18/2013
NEW YORK, September 18, 2013 — New York Super Lawyers selected 36 Covington & Burling lawyers for its 2013 list of top legal talent. Super Lawyers selects no more than five percent of the total lawyers in the state based on peer review and the publication’s independent research. Twenty-three Covington lawyers were named New York Super Lawyers: • Martin ...
Covington Lawyers Recognized by NY Super Lawyers
September 24, 2012
NEW YORK, September 24, 2012 — New York Super Lawyers selected 27 Covington & Burling lawyers for its 2012 list of top legal talent. Super Lawyers selects only five percent of the total lawyers in the state based upon peer review and the publication’s independent research. Nineteen Covington lawyers were named New York Super Lawyers: Jack Bodner, Mergers & ...
Covington Scores Major Victory for Russian Media Empire
August 20, 2012
NEW YORK, NY, August 20, 2012 — After a five-month bench trial, Covington & Burling won a verdict of nearly $30 million on behalf of Russian media magnate Vladimir Gusinski in a dispute against a Russian rival over the ownership of the Ukrainian television network, TVi Channel. In 2008, Mr. Gusinski formed a Delaware partnership entity with Russian businessman, ...
Covington Wins Landmark Ruling for Tennis Channel
July 25, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, July 25, 2012 — The Federal Communications Commission handed a decisive victory to the Tennis Channel yesterday in its discriminatory carriage lawsuit against Comcast Cable Communications, the largest distributor of video programming content. Covington & Burling secured the victory against the largest content distributor in the nation. The ...
Covington Wins Major Decision for Tennis Channel
December 21, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, December 21, 2011 — Following an eight-day bench trial, a Federal Communications Commission Administrative Law Judge ruled in favor of Tennis Channel in its discriminatory carriage lawsuit against Comcast Cable Communications. This historic decision is the first time any independent programming network has won a discrimination case against a ...
September 27, 2011
NEW YORK, September 27, 2011 — Twenty Covington & Burling LLP lawyers are recognized in the 2011 edition of New York Super Lawyers. The annual list by Super Lawyers selects only five percent of the total lawyers in the state based upon peer review and the publication’s independent research. Sixteen Covington lawyers were named New York Super Lawyers: Jack ...
June 9, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, June 10, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP received 92 individual mentions and 32 practice mentions in the Legal 500 US 2011 edition. Legal 500 reviews the strengths and strategies of law firms in more than 90 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America, and the Caribbean. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
Covington Advises SandRidge Energy on Closing of Merger with Arena Resources, Creating a $6.2 Billion Company
July 20, 2010
NEW YORK, July 20, 2010 — SandRidge Energy, Inc. has completed its acquisition of Arena Resources, Inc., creating a combined company with an enterprise value of approximately $6.2 billion. Covington & Burling LLP advised SandRidge Energy on the transaction. The merger closed on July 16 following special meetings of the stockholders of each company. The ...
June 23, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, June 23, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP received 85 individual mentions and 23 practice mentions in the Legal 500 US 2010 edition. Legal 500 reviews the strengths and strategies of law firms in more than 90 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America, and the Caribbean. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
April 29, 2010, Covington E-Alert
The Law and Tactics of Sanctions
September 2007, BNA Corporate Practice Series (Reproduced with permission from Corporate Practice Series Portfolio No. 87 (Sept. 2007) pp. 87-90. Copyright 2007 by The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.)
June 29, 2007, Covington Advisory
March 26, 2007, Covington E-Alert
April 21, 2006, Covington E-Alert
October 1, 1999, Public Company Advocate
- Legal 500 US, Dispute Resolution - Securities Litigation (2016-2017); Securities: Shareholder Litigation (2014-2015); and Litigation: Securities (2012-2013)
- New York Super Lawyers, Business Litigation and Securities Litigation (2006-2017)
- Lawdragon, 100 Lawyers You Need to Know in Securities Litigation (2008)

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