Area of Practice: Aviation Law
R. Patrick Phillips is in private law practice in Orlando, Florida. He received his B.S. degree in economics in 1966 from the University of Florida. After graduation, he entered the United States Air Force and flew C-7A Caribou aircraft in all areas of Southeast Asia including 850 combat hours in Vietnam. Later, while flying as an Aircraft Commander and Instructor Pilot on Lockheed C-141 Starlifter Aircraft, he flew in virtually every nation in the free world. He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve Retired. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rating, a current FAA flight and ground instructor certificate for both single and multi-engine airplanes and instrument, an FAA Airframe & Powerplant mechanic's certificate, and an unlimited ground level aerobatic waiver.
Mr. Phillips received his J.D. degree from Cumberland School of Law in 1975. He has been intensively engaged in the practice of law in all areas of civil and criminal litigation in all federal and state courts. He is a founding member of the National Transportation Safety Board Bar Association (recently changed to International Air & Transportation Safety Bar Association), and has represented numerous professional pilots, mechanics, aircraft operators, charter services, flight schools and fixed base operators before the FAA and National Transportation Board Administrative Law Judges. The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory has given Mr. Phillips its highest rating, AV, and is recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer. He is a regular presenter at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Flight Instructor Refresher Course and other aviation related seminars sponsored by institutions of higher education. Mr. Phillips is Florida Bar Board Certified in Aviation Law and an AOPA Panel Attorney. He is past Co-Chair of the EAA Legal Advisory Counsel, EAA Government Relations Committee, Board Member of Orlando Youth Aviation Center, The Rotary Club of Orlando, Sun ’n Fun Fly In, Inc., and a member and past Chairman of the Florida Bar Aviation Law Board Certification Committee. He sat as a member of the Orlando-Orange County Airport Zoning Board of Adjustments, West Orange Airport Authority.
