About Michael R.
Michael R. Phillips built his legal foundation in Louisiana and Mississippi before moving into private practice. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1988 and a Juris Doctor from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University in 1991. Those early years set the stage for a steady rise through several Louisiana firms.
After law school he joined Lemle & Kelleher, LLP in 1991 as an associate. Three years later he moved into partnership at Frilot LLC, becoming a partner in 1994. He remained there through the middle of the 2000s and then shifted to Kean Miller LLP, where he took on a partner role in 2009. The timeline shows a lawyer who advanced through firm ranks and settled into long-term firm leadership.
Phillips holds admissions across state and federal courts. He is admitted to practice in Louisiana and Texas. On the federal level he is admitted in the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana, the United States District Court for the Western Districts of Louisiana, and the United States District Court for the Middle Districts of Louisiana. He is also admitted to the 5th Circuit and to the U.S. Supreme Court. Those credentials allow him to handle matters at trial and on appeal in multiple forums.
Throughout his career he has kept ties to the bar community. He maintains active membership in the American Bar Association and the Louisiana State Bar Association. The memberships provide regular professional contacts and access to ongoing legal education. In practice his work involves courtroom appearances, brief writing and client counseling across the different jurisdictions where he is credentialed.
Colleagues describe Phillips as steady in court and thorough in preparation. He has a reputation for deliberate case management and for preferring clear, practical solutions over theatrical argument. His portfolio of work has included litigation carried in both state and federal settings, reflecting the pattern of admissions noted above.
Today he serves as a partner at Kean Miller LLP, a position he has held since 2009. He represents clients in matters brought in the state and federal courts where he is admitted and continues to handle litigation and appellate matters in those jurisdictions.
