Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Phillips received dual Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees as an economics major from the University of Tulsa in 1974 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1977.
[1][2][3] He was a trial attorney of the Bureau of Competition of the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. from 1977 to 1980.
[4] Phillips was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on February 2, 1987, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma vacated by Judge Luther Boyd Eubanks.
[4] Phillips entered private practice in Newport Beach, California, as partner at Irell & Manella for 23 years.
He has three grown children, Amanda, Parker and Graham; a granddaughter, Stella Kathryn; and a grandson, Owen Layn.