James E. Phillips Obituary (1949 - 2010)

James Edgar Phillips, age 60, passed away August 11, 2010. An accomplished attorney, he was born in White Plains, New York, August 30, 1949 to Jack Phillips and the late Jacquelyn Phillips. He is preceded in death by brothers Kenneth Phillips and Douglas Phillips. He is survived by his sons, Zachary and Mark Phillips, his daughter-in-law, Victoria Mango, and his devoted companion, Lynda Schiff. Jim was known as a tenacious trial attorney, whose uncompromising work ethic and love of the law made an impression on both legal opponents and numerous young attorneys he mentored. Jim was a partner at Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease in Columbus, where he practiced since 1979, primarily as a criminal defense attorney and founder and head of the firm’s white collar defense group. Previously, he tried over 100 jury trials as senior assistant prosecuting attorney for Franklin County from 1975 to 1979. He graduated cum laude from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1971, and graduated cum laude from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1975. Notably, Jim served as general counsel and national legal advisor to the National Fraternal Order of Police from 1987 through 1996, and was tapped as special prosecutor for the State of Ohio in the largest securities fraud case in the state’s history. In addition to numerous professional awards and acknowledgments, Jim founded the Ohio Center for Law Related Education and its Mock Trial program, was appointed to the Columbus Bar Association’s Board of Governors, and was an adjunct professor at The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law. A devoted father, he enjoyed traveling, horseback riding, scuba diving and photography. Funeral service 11AM on Friday, August 13, 2010 at CONGREGATION TORAT EMET, 2375 E. Main St. with Rabbi Howard Zack officiating. Burial to follow at New Agudas Achim Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ohio Center for Law Related Education www.oclre.org or Lung Cancer Research in c/o the American Cancer Society www.cancer.org.