Phillip Whaley

Director

Phillip has practiced all forms of civil and commercial litigation for over three decades in Oklahoma City, including complex and business litigation, environmental litigation, energy litigation, life and disability insurance law, ERISA litigation, products liability, medical device and pharmaceutical defense, and securities and brokerage litigation. Phillip began his legal career in 1988 as an associate attorney with Patrick Ryan’s firm and became partner in the firm in 1993. Following Pat’s tenure as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma during the Oklahoma City Bombing trials, they reunited in 1999 as founding partners to open a new practice to focus on commercial and business litigation.  They believed talented and compatible lawyers in a smaller setting could successfully compete with larger firms – and have fun doing it.

Phillip is committed to providing effective and zealous advocacy and is routinely involved in difficult and complex cases for his clients.  While continuing to focus his practice on complex and business litigation, he has become increasingly involved in recent years in environmental litigation, franchise related litigation and litigation involving tribal gaming in Oklahoma. He regularly represents leading businesses from across Oklahoma and the nation, as well as public/governmental entities, in a wide variety of litigation as lead counsel in federal and state courts, and in various arbitration forums.  Phillip has successfully represented clients, both as plaintiffs and defendants, in a wide variety of matters involving hundreds of millions of dollars and has secured multimillion-dollar judgments and defense verdicts (both jury and non-jury), settlements and resolutions in hotly contested cases.  Phillip has also served as an arbitrator in arbitration cases.

Phillip is admitted to practice in all federal and state courts in Oklahoma and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. His exceptional work, experience and talents have resulted in Phillip being listed in Oklahoma Super Lawyers (Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney), the Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Environmental Litigation, ERISA Litigation, Labor and Employment Litigation, Securities Litigation, Oklahoma City Litigation-Securities Lawyer of the Year, and Oklahoma City Litigation- ERISA Lawyer of the Year), recognition in U.S. News Best Law Firms (where the firm is recognized as a Tier 1 firm in multiple litigation categories), and Chambers USA that describes Phillip as “an excellent litigator” and describing him as “smart and experienced, and a good strategist” while recognizing the firm as one of the top litigation firms in the State.  Phillip is also recognized in America’s Top 100 Attorneys in Oklahoma.  Phillip was recently honored by the judges of the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma by unanimous appointment to be one of five members of its Admissions and Grievances Committee.

Practice Areas

Civil Litigation
Disability Insurance
Products Liability
Securities Litigation
Business and Commercial Litigation
Complex Litigation
Environmental Litigation
Energy Litigation
Franchise Litigation
Tribal Gaming Litigation

Education
B.B.A., University of Oklahoma, with special distinction, 1983 (Beta Gamma Sigma)
J.D., University of Oklahoma, with highest honors, 1988 (Oklahoma Law Review, Research Editor; Order of the Coif; Earl T. Warren Memorial Award; Teaching Assistant, Legal Research & Writing)

Professional Activities
Oklahoma Law Review (former member and Research Editor)
Oklahoma County Board of Directors (Past Board Member, Continuing Legal Education and Fee Grievance & Ethics Committees), Oklahoma and American Bar Associations, Member (Sections on: Litigation, Tort and Insurance)
Master, Luther Bohanon American Inn of Court (President, 2018-2019)
Member, Admissions and Grievances Committee, United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma

Honors/Awards
Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Environmental Litigation, ERISA Litigation, Labor and Employment Litigation, Securities Litigation, 2016 Oklahoma City Litigation-Securities Lawyer of the Year, and 2015 Oklahoma City Litigation- ERISA Lawyer of the Year)

Named in Oklahoma Super Lawyers (2007 to present)

Recognized in U.S. News Best Law Firms

Recognized in Chambers and Partners USA as one of the top litigators in the State

America’s Top 100 Attorneys Oklahoma

Martindale-Hubbell Rating: AV