Civil and Commercial Litigation, Employment Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor’s Rights, Municipal Law
Phil is admitted to practice in the states of Connecticut and New York, as well as the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut and the Mohegan Gaming Disputes Court. Before joining the firm, Phil practiced successfully as a solo practitioner in a general practice. He also has served as a judicial law clerk to the Connecticut Appellate Court for the Honorable Socrates H. Mihalakos.
Phil graduated magna cum laude from Quinnipiac University School of Law in 2001, where he was a Dean’s Scholar and the recipient of several grants supporting his public interest work. Phil earned a bachelor’s degree in English, cum laude, and a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Boston University. Prior to entering the legal profession, Phil served as a public middle school teacher in New York City through his association with Teach for America. Phil is currently an adjunct professor with the University of New Haven, where he teaches Civil Procedure and Law & Culture classes in the university’s legal studies program.
Phil has since represented private and institutional clients in a wide variety of commercial, employment, housing, bankruptcy, medical malpractice, personal injury, family and criminal matters, including representing clients in pro bono cases through Lawyers For Children America and Statewide Legal Services. He has also successfully argued before the Connecticut Appellate Court. Phil currently practices in the areas of commercial and civil litigation, including employment law, contract and complex business litigation, and creditor’s rights; as well as, housing, personal injury, insurance defense and a variety of other matters.
Phil is a member of the American Bar Association, The Connecticut Bar Association and the New Haven County Bar Association, where, for four years he served as an active co-chair of the Public Service Committee and remains an active member. Phil also serves as a current Board Member of the Foundation of the New Haven County Bar, is a Board Member of the New Haven County Bar Association, and has been an active member of the New Haven Inn of Court for several years. He has previously served as a public member of the Heating, Cooling and Sheet Metal Licensing Board of the Department of Consumer Protection.
Phil lives in Hamden with his family and in his spare time enjoys working with the Pe’ah Project, which is a community garden he co-chaired for five years that donates half of its produce to local soup kitchens. He also enjoys volunteering at local spelling bees as a pronouncer and judge and as a judge for local mock trial competitions.
A recent event that Phil helped organize and host with the NHCBA Public Service Committee can be seen on the New Haven County Bar Facebook Page.
To Email him click here: PKent@susmanduffy.com