Direct: 816.983.8119
Fax: 816.983.8080

John R. Phillips

Partner

John counsels boards of directors, general counsels and CEOs, as well as human resource executives, on employment matters and traditional labor relations. He has successfully defended Midwestern companies on a national basis in class and collective actions, as well as individual discrimination cases, governmental and regulatory actions, and has a depth of experience in collective bargaining negotiations and matters involving the National Labor Relations Board.

John has served as lead counsel in more than 30 jury trials, with more than 85 percent resulting in a defense verdict. He has successfully waged several campaigns to maintain union-free status of employer and defended class action employment discrimination cases. John has a 90 percent success rate in over 50 arbitrations. He has also counseled clients through numerous successful audits and compliance checks by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and avoided potential affected class findings with the OFCCP.

Awards & Recognitions

  • Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, Top 100 Employment & Labor Law; Top 50 in Kansas City, 2007-2008 
  • The Best Lawyers in America, 1995-2010 
  • Chambers USA, Labor & Employment (Missouri), 2003-2010 
  • Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star, 2010

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • AAA Complex Commercial and Employment Law Arbitration/Mediation Panels, 1990-present 
  • American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, Council Member 
  • American Bar Foundation, Fellow 
  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow 
  • Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution, Advisory Director 
  • College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Fellow 
  • CPR National Panel of Neutrals 
  • CPR/CCPIT US-China Mediation Panel 
  • Cy Pres Committee on Funding for Missouri Legal Services Programs 
  • Dalkon Shield Arbitration Panel, 1992-2004 
  • Early Assessment Program, Mediation and Arbitration Panels, 1992-present 
  • Edgar Snow Fund, Board and Executive Committee 
  • Global Kansas City Commission 
  • International Academy of Mediators, Fellow 
  • International Relations Council, Board Member 
  • Kansas City Labor-Management Council, Executive Board Member 
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Labor Law Committee, Former Chair; Managing Partners Committee, Former Chair 
  • Lawyers Association of Kansas City 
  • Merrill Lynch Claim Resolution Process 
  • Missouri 16th Judicial Circuit Case Management Committee, 2004-present 
  • The Missouri Bar, Labor and Employment Committee; Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Former Chair 
  • Missouri Supreme Court Automation Committee 
  • Missouri Supreme Court Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution 
  • National Association of Distinguished Neutrals, Charter Member
  • Quintiles Institutional Review Board 
  • Society for Human Resource Management, Former State Council Legislative Affairs Director 
  • University of Missouri - Kansas City Bloch School of Business, Human Resources Advisory Council 
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri, Civil Justice Advisory Committee

Civic Involvement

  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Kansas City, Legal Counsel 
  • Kansas City Industrial Council, Legal Counsel 
  • Kansas Research Institute, Board Member 
  • Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art; Society of Fellows, Business Council Steering Committee 
  • Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, Board Member