Jonathan E.
Phillips

Jonathan Phillips understands the importance of aligning litigation strategy with his clients’ business objectives.

In his labor and employment litigation practice, he regularly defends corporations against single-plaintiff and class action wage and hour, discrimination, and wrongful termination claims that can disrupt not only business operations, but also a company’s culture and hard-earned reputation. Jonathan works closely with his clients to effectively eliminate and mitigate disputes as they arise, conduct internal workplace investigations, and advise on regulatory and compliance matters so that issues may be avoided altogether.

Jonathan’s broader civil litigation practice encompasses handling trusts and probate litigation, bad faith insurance claims, contract disputes, civil rights matters, and class actions. He has litigated scores of high-stake commercial matters in state and federal courts and on appeal for clients across a variety of industries, including media and entertainment, food and beverage, healthcare, and investment banking.

In his white collar defense practice, Jonathan represents executives, municipalities, and public officials in criminal matters and investigations related to misappropriation of funds, public corruption, and violations of the Brown Act. In one of his most notable successes, he defended a real estate developer and its co-managing partner in a 10-month jury trial of a high-profile public corruption matter. Daily Journal, California’s leading legal publication, awarded Jonathan and partner Stephen G. Larson its prestigious “California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year (CLAY) Award” for their efforts securing acquittals for Larson’s clients. Jonathan then served as counsel for the real estate developer and its co-managing partner in two civil rights suits seeking damages for the retaliatory investigation, which resulted in a $65 million settlement in November 2020. 

After honing his litigation practice at two Am Law 200 firms, Jonathan joined Larson when the firm was founded in 2016. During law school, Jonathan served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Virginia A. Phillips of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. A lifelong musician, Jonathan studied musicology and trumpet performance before pursuing a career in law.