DePhillips Named to 'Very Selective' Legal Group

A governing body member's skill as an attorney was recently recognized with his admittance into an exclusive legal association.

Chris DePhillips, a first-year Township Committee member and a principal at Porzio, Bromberg and Newman, recently spent a week in Munich, Germany, attending a conference of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, which accepted him in April after more than a year of consideration.

The federation is an international organization of defense lawyers with hundreds of members who are accepted by invitation only. 

"It's a pretty rigorous process," said DePhillips, who specializes in product liability, toxic tort, pharmaceutical liability and governmental affairs at Porzio. He said he needed to submit almost 30 references and be sponsored by two attorneys before being considered for membership.

One of those sponsors, Thomas Gottshall, a partner at Haynsworth, Sinkler & Boyd, a South Carolina-based firm, said DePhillips' membership was well-deserved.

"He's a nice, sharp and even tougher person," Gottshall said when asked about DePhillips' legal prowess. Gottshall has known him for about eight years and worked with him while chairing the Products Committee of the Torts and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association. He further described DePhillips as being "very active" and a "vital asset" to that bar association committee, where he employed a "very diligent" approach.

Wyckoff is "lucky to have him in local affairs," Gottshall said.

DePhillips is pleased about his membership in the federation but is mostly looking forward to the opportunities it can offer him and his firm. He said he met defense lawyers in a variety of specialities during his time in Munich and describes the organization as a large "networking group."

The federation offers opportunities for continuing education, allows members to speak on areas of the law and provides information about current case law to allow members to stay abreast of relevant decisions. DePhillips said member attorneys can stage presentations before their colleagues at two annual conferences that are attended by lawyers from at least 15 nations.

Gottshall described the federation as essentially an extension of law school, where members can gather to "discuss substantive areas of the law."

DePhillips is a member of the New Jersey and New York bar associations who received his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and law degree from Seton Hall University. While his Township Committee seat is his first elected position, DePhillips has nurtured an interest in politics since his days as a Georgetown undergrad, where he majored in government/comparative politics. Upon graduation, he worked as a legislative aide on Capital Hill, serving former Rep. Marge Roukema.

At Porzio, DePhillips is the vice president of Porzio Governmental Affairs LLC, a subsidiary of the firm, and is a registered lobbyist.

The firm's managing principal, D. Jeffrey Campbell, has known DePhillips for almost 20 years and praises his abilities as an attorney.

"Chris is a tremendously talented lawyer... (who) has a great relationship with clients," Campbell said.

He described the federation as a highly respected organization and said DePhillips' membership will only help raise the profile of the firm, which has offices in Morristown, Princeton and New York City.

"They vet their potential members very carefully... (and) are very selective," Campbell said.

DePhillips won a three-year Township Committee seat in fall 2009 on the Republican ticket with Committeeman Kevin Rooney. He currently serves as the governing body's liaison to the Board of Education and Board of Health.