Phillip A. Kilgore

Phillip has litigated cases involving workplace disputes (claims of discrimination, wrongful discharge and tortious conduct), and other diverse areas such as products liability, shareholder disputes and other commercial cases.  He has litigated numerous restrictive covenant cases. Phillip specializes in complex litigation, where he has represented large industrial clients in intellectual property disputes, environmental cases and toxic tort cases.

Phillip also works with clients to protect valuable business assets, drafting employment agreements and restrictive covenants and advising clients on measures to protect trade secrets from misappropriation and customer relationships from unfair competition.  Phillip frequently assists his clients in finding answers to business problems arising in the context of local government, including zoning and ordinance matters.

An important part of Phillip’s practice is advising clients on preventive measures pertaining to employment laws, personnel policies, labor relations and business issues.  His objective is to help his clients find the most cost effective business solutions to workplace problems before they become expensive lawsuits.

Education

• J.D., University of South Carolina School of Law, 1983
• A.B., College of William and Mary, 1980

Admission to Practice

• District of Columbia
• South Carolina
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
• U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth and Sixth Circuits

• South Carolina Bar
• District of Columbia Bar
• South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association (Executive Committee, 1998-2003)
• Greenville County Bar Association (President, Young Lawyers Association, 1991)
• South Carolina Council for Conflict Resolution: Certified Mediator and Certified Arbitrator
• Greenville (SC) Commission of Public Works (2003-present); Chair (2013-present)
• Greenville (SC) Chamber of Commerce, Chairman (2019), Board of Directors and Vice Chair-Public Policy (2013-present)
• Blue Ridge Counsel, Boy Scouts of America – President  (2013-2014); Executive Board (1990-present)
• Rotary Club of Greenville (SC) – President (2000-2001)
• Greenville (SC) City Board of Zoning Appeals (1997-2002)
• Poinsett Club Board of Governors (1997-2000, 2003-2006); President (2006)
• Urban League of the Upstate (SC) (1994-2000) – Executive Committee, General Counsel

• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “South Carolina Reopens: What’s Next for Employers? ” – May 26, 2020
• 2017 CACCE Annual Management Conference – “Are You Handling Your Personnel Issues by the Law?” – Spartanburg – October 13, 2017
• Greenville Chamber Women @ Work – “Creating a Workplace Culture in which Women Can Advance” – Greenville – June 22, 2017
• Greenville Chamber of Commerce – “US Supreme Court Update” – Greenville – August 2015
• WCI HR Forum – “Retaliation in the Workplace” – Asheville – May 2015
• WCI HR Forum – “EEOC Charges” – Asheville – May 2010
• WCI HR Forum – “Workplace Relationships” – Asheville – May 2010

• November 25, 2020 – Law360 – “4th Circ. Ruling Shows Limits To ADA Accommodation Claims”
• August 18, 2020 – South Carolina Lawyers Weekly – “Possible employer liability stemming from the pandemic”
• May 14, 2020 – SC Biz News – “Viewpoint: Opening up and returning to work”
• April 8, 2020 – SC Biz News – “Running a business in pandemic requires careful planning”
• September 2019 – South Carolina Lawyer – “Managing a Reduction-in-Force: Potential Issues”
• February 13, 2018 – Law360 – “How Not To Enforce An Arbitration Agreement”
• January 25, 2018 – Upstate SC Alliance Blog – “What You Need to Know About NLRB for 2018”
• January 2013 – South Carolina Lawyer – “Protecting Business Information Against Misappropriation by Departed Employees”
• July 2009 – South Carolina Lawyer – “Redefining ‘Disabled’: The ADA Amendments Act of 2008”
• May 2008 – South Carolina Lawyer – “Battle-Worthy Non-Competes”
• January/February 2002 – South Carolina Lawyer – “Mandatory Arbitration: A Cure-all for Employment Disputes?”
• January/February 1998 – South Carolina Lawyer – “Trade Secrets in South Carolina: New Act Changes Outlook for Employers”

• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Commercial Litigation (2008-2025)
  • Employment Law – Management (2008-2025)
  • Labor Law – Management (2008-2025)
• Named the Best Lawyers^® 2020 Labor Law – Management “Lawyer of the Year” in Greenville
• South Carolina Super Lawyers
• Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ of AV® Preeminent (since 1999)
• Upstate (SC) Legal Elite, Labor and Employment Law (since 2013)
• Selected as one of the 50 Most Influential People in Greenville by Greenville Business Magazine (2016)