310.277.7117
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Stacy D. Phillips Los Angeles, California,
| Managing Principal | |
| phone | 310-277-7117 |
| fax | 310-286-9182 |
| Email Me | |
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain." --Vivian Green.
Stacy D. Phillips, a Certified Family Law Specialist, is the founder and Managing Principal of Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation, a full-service family law firm in Los Angeles. She is the author of the book Divorce: It's All About Control - How to Win the Emotional, Psychological and Legal Wars, now in its sixth printing. As a staunch supporter of victims' rights, Ms. Phillips assisted in the drafting of Senate Bill 924 (codified in California Code of Civil Procedure Section 340.15), which extended the statute of limitations period for victims of domestic violence to sue their abusers in civil court.
Ms. Phillips represents business executives, entrepreneurs, sports, entertainment, political and religious figures, and other high net worth individuals. Former clients of the firm have included Darcy LaPier (former wife of Jean-Claude Van Damme), Darryl Strawberry, Bobby Brown (former husband of Whitney Houston), Erin Everly (former wife of Guns 'n Roses' Axl Rose), Toni Taupin (former wife of lyricist Bernie Taupin), Corina Villaraigosa (former wife of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa), Charlie Shanian (former husband of Tori Spelling), Jonathan Kaufer (former husband of Pia Zadora), Dean Sheremet (former husband of LeAnn Rimes), and Kelly Rutherford, to name but a few. In 2008, she also represented the Conservators with regard to Britney Spears' family law matters.
Author/Legal Analyst
In addition to her book, Ms. Phillips has been quoted in dozens of publications such as People, Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Town & Country, Us, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Huffington Post and Los Angeles Times. As a columnist, Ms. Phillips has been sought out to write for such trade and legal publications as the Daily Journal, Lawdragon, California Family Law Monthly, Divorce Magazine and many others. Her authored pieces have also run on such websites as Yahoo! Personals, HitchedMag.com, DivorceMag.com, Divorce360.com, CNNMoney.com and AOL.com. Ms. Phillips has also appeared in a number of stories featured on major websites including TMZ.com, Yahoo.com and MSN.com.
She has appeared on numerous television programs, including Dr. Drew, CNN Headline News, MSNBC, The Rachel Maddow Show, E! Entertainment, BBC News, Court TV (now truTV), Entertainment Tonight, The Insider, Access Hollywood, Inside Hollywood, Extra, Inside Edition, CBS The Early Show, NBC The Today Show, CNBC High Net Worth, VH1, Fox News Network, ABC News 20/20, ABC Good Morning America, TV Guide Channel, as well as international media outlets including Interaktiv (Hungary), Asahi TV (Japan) and Movie Central (Canada).
Ms. Phillips established the Stacy D. Phillips Endowment Scholarship Fund at The Mirman School, which provides funds to an underprivileged female student from a single-parent home to further her education. At Dartmouth College, her alma mater, she is also involved with the Ethics Institute, which serves the needs of the Dartmouth community as well as the larger academic community, through research and dialogue on emerging ethical issues, and The Phillips Samuels Victor Fund which her family started over 30 years ago as part of their continued commitment to ethics. The Phillips Family Award in Ethics is presented annually to an undergraduate student from Dartmouth College who has successfully demonstrated strength and interest in applied and professional ethics.
Preeminent Membership Organizations
In 2012, Ms. Phillips and the firm were invited to join the prestigious International Network of Boutique Law Firms (INBLF) to its network of highly credentialed single-discipline boutique law firms, across the United States and Canada. The INBLF has also partnered with leading full-service law firms around the globe - in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America. Additional associations, include:
- The Trusteeship
- International Women's Forum
- Chancery Club of Los Angeles
- Certification/Specialties:
- Certified Family Law Specialist, State Bar of California's Board of Legal Specialization
- Bar Admissions:
- California, 1984
- U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1984
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1984
- Education:
- Columbia Law School, New York, New York,
1983
J.D. - Dartmouth College,
1980
A.B.
Honors: Cum Laude
Honors: With High Distinction
- Published Works:
- Author of self-help book - Divorce: It’s All About Control - How to Win the Emotional, Psychological and Legal Wars , ExecuProv Press, now in its sixth printing, 2005
- Reaching the Bar: Stories of Women at All Stages of Their Law Careers , Kaplan Voices, Contributing Writer, 2009
- Contributing writer and member of the Board of Editorial Consultants , California Family Law Monthly
- Contributing writer , Divorce Magazine
- Contributing writer , The Huffington Post: Divorce
- Contributing writer , Los Angeles Daily Journal
- Contributor of legal content for the book , How to Survive Your In-Laws
- Managing editor , Family Matters, the newsletter of Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation
- Classes/Seminars Taught:
- Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Webinar Panelist, 2013 - Present
- Warner Center Estate and Tax Planning Council | Panelist, 2012 - Present
- San Fernando Valley Bar Association, Probate Section | Encino, CA | Speaker, 2011 - Present
- Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles | Beverly Hills & Woodland Hills, CA | Speaker, 2010 - Present
- STARCARE’s Fifth Annual Women of Power Luncheon | Huntington Beach, CA | Keynote Speaker , “Money Matters: The Importance of Protecting Your Resources Before, During and After a Relationship", 2010 - Present
- Pearls of Wisdom | Beverly Hills, CA | Presenter , “Surviving a Split: The Top 10 Issues to Consider When Facing a Divorce”, 2010 - Present
- Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center | Los Angeles, CA | Speaker, “The Impact of the State’s Financial Crisis on Our Court System” , 2010 - Present
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) California Chapter Annual Conference | Santa Monica, CA | Speaker, “California Courts in Crisis: The Impact of the Lack of Court Funding on Our Judicial System and State Economy”, 2010 - Present
- Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA) Annual Conference | Pepperdine University | Panelist, “Negotiating in the Female Voice: What Can We Learn from Our Women Colleagues (not for Women ONLY)”, 2009 - Present
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association - 50th Anniversary Convention | Williamsburg, Virginia | Plenary Speaker, “The Legal Dispute: What’s Control Got to Do with It? Everything!”; Speaker before the Family Law Section, “How to Get the Most Marbles for Your Client” , 2009 - Present
- Business Forum International | Speaker, “Divorce and Control Issues”, 2007 - Present
- West Legal Works Conference, “Your Future as a Rainmaker: Marketing Boot Camp for Lawyers” | Co-Chair and moderator of two panels: , “Managing Existing Client Relationships” and “Who Knows You Are Out There? Using Promotions and Communications to Raise Your Profile”, 2006 - Present
- The Seminar Group | Chair and Panel Participant, “Relationship Agreements (cohabitation, new domestic partnership laws and alternative dispute resolution)”, 2005 - Present
- City National Bank | Panel Participant, “Divorce Hollywood Style: Avoiding Common Pitfalls”, 2005 - Present
- Findlaw Business Development Conference (Successful Marketing Techniques for Profitability and Results) | Panelist, “Why These Firms Are Best of Breed” (with Phillips, Lerner & Lauzon LLP named among them) and co-panelist with Fox News' Robert Massi on“Practice Area Marketing: Learn from the Masters”, 2004 - Present
- Guest lecturer and speaker, developing and presenting instructional and informational seminars and programs to numerous professional groups, bar associations, law firms, legal forums, law schools, colleges, universities and women’s groups (including but not limited to UCLA, Loyola Law School, Southwestern Law School, Pepperdine Law School, Western University School of Law, Dartmouth College, The Rutter Group, Continuing Education of the Bar, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Beverly Hills Bar Association, San Fernando Valley Bar Association, Women Lawyers Association, California Women Lawyers, and the Jewish Community Foundation), 1990 - Present
- Honors and Awards:
- “Top 10” Southern California Super Lawyers – Super Lawyers – 2009, 2010, 2011 2013
- “Southern California’s Best Lawyers” – Los Angeles Times Magazine – 2007 - Present
- “Top 100” Southern California Lawyers – Super Lawyers – 2006 - Present
- “Top 50 Women” Southern California Lawyers – Super Lawyers – 2005 - Present
- “Southern California Super Lawyers” – Super Lawyers – 2004 - Present
- “Top Women Lawyers” (formerly “Top Women Litigators”) – Los Angeles Daily Journal – 2003 - Present
- “The Best Lawyers in America” – Best Lawyers – 2003 – Present
- AV® Preeminent™ – Martindale-Hubbell - 1991 – Present
- “Los Angeles’ Women Leaders in the Law” – Los Angeles Times Magazine – 2010 - 2012
- “Women Leaders in the Law” – The Recorder – 2012
- Power Philanthropist Award – STARCARE – 2010
- Jurisprudence Award – Anti-Defamation League – 2009
- Family Law Attorney of the Year Award – Century City Bar Association – 2009
- Griffin Bell Community Service Award – LACBA Center for Civic Mediation on behalf of the law firm – 2009
- "Top 50 Female Super Lawyers" in Southern California, 2005 - 2008
- Spirit of Hope Award – Tower Cancer Research Foundation – 2008
- "Elite Group of Attorneys", L.A. Magazine and Super Lawyers Magazine, 2004 - 2008
- "Top 75 Female Litigators in California", 2005 - 2008
- "500 Leading Lawyers in America" , Listed by Lawdragon, 2007
- “Best of the Bar” – Los Angeles Business Journal – 2007
- Los Angeles area's "Best Lawyers", 2006 - 2007
- 81 "The Best of the Bar", Los Angeles Business Journal, 2007
- "500 Leading Lawyers in America" , Listed by Lawdragon, 2006
- "AV" Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Registry, 2005
- Recipient, Jewish Women International's "Women to Watch" Award, 2005
- "Women of Accomplishment", AMIT's , 2005
- Certificate of Commendation – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa – 2006
- Certificate of Commendation – Councilman Jack Weiss – 2006
- Certificate of Commendation – City of Los Angeles – 2006
- Women to Watch Award – Jewish Women International – 2005
- Women of Achievement Award – AMIT – 2005
- "Women of Achievement Award", Century City Chamber of Commerce's, 2002
- Women of Accomplishment Award – Century City Chamber of Commerce – 2002
- "Patricia McClure Award", Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America's, 2001
- Bnai Zion's "Women of Achievement Award", 2001
- Women Who Make a Difference Award – Los Angeles Business Journal – 2001
- Women of Accomplishment Award – B’nai Zion Foundation – 2001
- "Women Who Make a Difference Award", Los Angeles Business Journal's, 2001
- "Women of Action Award", Israel Cancer Research Fund's, 2000
- Patricia A. McClure Award – Asthma & Allergy Foundation – 2001
- Women of Action Award – Israel Cancer Research Fund – 2000
- "Top 20 Attorneys Under the Age of 40" in Southern California, 1998
- "50 Most Powerful Women in Los Angeles Law", 1998
- “Top 20 Lawyers in Los Angeles Under the Age of 40” – Los Angeles Daily Journal – 1998
- “50 Most Powerful Women in Los Angeles Law” – Los Angeles Business Journal – 1998
- Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Chancery Club of Los Angeles
- Member
- National Partnership of Women & Families
- Member
- Alternative Living for the Aging
- Member, Board of Trustees
- ALA
- Past Chair
- ALA
- Member, Board of Directors
- Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services
- Former Member, Board of Directors
- Legal Momentum (formerly NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund)
- Member, Board of Governors
- Legal Momentum (formerly NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund)
- Member, Board of Directors
- California Leadership Council of Legal Momentum
- Co-Chair
- State Bar of California
- Member
- American Bar Association
- Member
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Member
- Beverly Hills Bar Association
- Member
- SuperLawyers Advisory Board (A Thomson Reuters Business)
- Family Law Section American Bar Association
- Family Law Section Los Angeles Bar Association
- Family Law Section Beverly Hills Bar Association
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
- Past Employment Positions:
- Jaffe & Clemens, Associate
- Pacific Associates, Mediators of Children's Issues in Divorce, Co-Founder
- Divorce Mediators Associates, Co-Founder
- Wyman, Bautzer, Rothman, Kuchel and Silbert, Associate
- Hon. Edward Rafeedie of the United States District Court, Federal Law Clerk
- Pro Bono Activities:
- Adopt-A-Center, Founder of Adopt-A-Center Non-Profit Program at Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation
- Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, Board of Ambassadors, 2005 - Present
- Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, Executive Committee, Strategic Planning Committee and Chair of the Corporate Development Committee, 2000 - 2004
- Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, Board of Directors, 1999 - 2004
- Affordable Living for the Aging (formerly known as Alternative Living for the Aging), Board of Trustees, 1996 - 1997
- Affordable Living for the Aging (formerly known as Alternative Living for the Aging), President, Board of Directors, 1994 - 1996
- Affordable Living for the Aging (formerly known as Alternative Living for the Aging), Board of Directors, 1991 - 1997
- National Partnership of Women and Families (formerly known as the Women’s Legal Defense Fund), Member, 1995 - Present
- Legal Momentum (formerly known as the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund), Board of Directors, 2002 - 2012
- Legal Momentum (formerly known as the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund), Member, 1995 - 2012
- Legal Momentum (formerly known as the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund), Co-Chair, California Leadership Council, 2002 - 2004
- Women of Los Angeles, Advisory Board, 1999 - 2007
- Women of Los Angeles, Member, 1998 - 2007
- Columbia University School of Law, Board of Visitors, 2005 - 2008
- B’nai Zion, Board of Directors, 2003 - 2004
- Women’s Leadership Forum, Member, 1997 - 2002
- Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular Steering Committee, 1999 - 2001
- Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular Luncheon Committee, 1999 - 2000
- Women’s Political Committee, Co-Chair, 1997 - 1999
- Women’s Political Committee, Member, 1991 - 2000
- Dartmouth College, Co-founder of The Phillips, Samuels Victor Fund for the Dartmouth College Ethics Institute (formerly known as The Helen and Louis Phillips Memorial Fund), 1990 - Present
- Los Angeles Superior Court, Volunteer Mediator selected by Family Law Supervising Judge Scott Gordon to team mediate complex cases for the Family Law Court, 2012 - Present
- Los Angeles Superior Court, Volunteer Mediator, Los Angeles Superior Court, West District, 1990 - 2000
- Los Angeles Superior Court, Dependency Court Pro Bono volunteer attorney, representing abused and neglected children in a program coordinated by the Los Angeles Superior Court and the Los Angeles County Bar Association, 1984 - 1986
- Beverly Hills Bar Association, Chair of the Beverly Hills Bar Association 80th Anniversary/Birthday Party Committee and Mistress of Ceremonies, 2012 - Present
- Beverly Hills Bar Association, Attorney trainer in mediation, Beverly Hills Bar Association Mediator Referral Service, 1980 - 1990
