C. Deborah Phillips

Founding Partner
Deborah has been representing current and former government officials, towns, cities and those doing business with them for over 25 years. Deborah has extensive experience in negotiating and drafting dedicated documents such as agreements for payment in lieu of taxes, solar and other specialized leases, complex agreements with governmental agencies, and all land use documents. Deborah also represents businesses and consumers in class action litigation, business transactions and civil litigation.

Areas of Practice

Municipal Law
Land Use
Business and Contract Law
Civil Litigation

Litigation Percentage

30% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

Massachusetts, 1981
U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts, 1982
U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 1984

Honors and Awards

Amos L. Taylor Award for Excellence

Education

New England Law, Boston, Massachusetts
- J.D. cum laude – 1981
- Law Review: New England Law Review, Lead Articles Editor
Trinity College, Washington, District of Columbia
- B.A.
- Major: History
- Major: English

Past Employment Positions

Law Clerk to the Justices of the Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1982 – 1983
New England School of Law, Adjunct Professor, 1982 – 1984
Suffolk University Law School, Instructor of Law, Legal Practice Skills, 1981 – 1982
New England School of Law, Assistant Director, Legal Methods Program, and Research Assistant to Director of Legal Methods Program, 1979 – 1981

Classes/Seminars

Intermunicipal Agreements 101 (sponsored by the City Solicitor and Town Counsel Association)
Permitting Procedures 101: Obtaining a Special Permit, Variance and Appealing Same (sponsored by the Northern Worcester County Bar Association)
Administrative Appeals: How to Create An Error Free Record (sponsored by City Solicitor and Town Counsel Association for Massachusetts Municipal Association Annual Conference and Workshop)
Bylaw Reviews: How to Get Bylaw Approval by the Attorney General’s Office (sponsored by Massachusetts Moderators Annual Meeting and Conference)

Professional Associations and Memberships

City Solicitors and Town Counsel Bar Association (Former Executive Board)
Northern Worcester County Bar Association (Treasurer)
Massachusetts Bar Association
Family Federal Savings Bank, Board of Directors (Current Member/Audit Committee)
Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, Board of Trustees (Current Member/Past President)
St. Bernard’s Parish (Parish Council)
Fitchburg State University Foundation Board of Trustees (Former Member/Finance Committee)
Fitchburg Historical Society Board of Trustees (Former Member/Past President)
Children’s Aid and Family Services (Former Member/Past President)