Where Injured People Come First

Laura D. Phillips

Partner, Co-Founder
Attorney Laura D. Phillips

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Practice Areas

  • Personal Injury
  • Medical Malpractice

Biography

Laura D. Phillips is a co-founder of Phillips Froetschel and has spent nearly two decades representing seriously injured individuals in Pennsylvania’s state and federal courts. Her practice focuses on medical malpractice and personal injury cases, including wrongful death, birth injuries, catastrophic injuries, and motor vehicle collisions. Laura considers it a privilege to advocate for clients during some of the most difficult times in their lives. Her approach blends zealous, results-driven advocacy with compassionate, responsive client service.

An accomplished trial attorney, Laura has obtained significant verdicts for clients in cases involving delayed cancer diagnoses, surgical errors, and auto accidents. She has been a member of the prestigious Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County since 2015, where she currently serves as Treasurer and sits on the Board of Governors.

Laura holds an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell—the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards as determined by her peers.

Her excellence in advocacy has been recognized consistently by Super Lawyers, where she has been named a Top 50 Pittsburgh and Top 50 Pennsylvania Super Lawyer from 2019 through 2025, and a Top 100 Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in 2022, 2024, and 2025. Since 2013, she has been selected annually as either a Super Lawyer or Rising Star.  

Laura is actively involved in several professional organizations, including the Washington County Bar Association and Foundation, Allegheny County Bar Association and Foundation, Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, and the Pennsylvania Association for Justice.

She earned both her Bachelor of Science in International Politics and her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University, where she was a member of the International Politics Honors Program and served as a Legal Research and Writing Fellow, respectively. As a member of Georgetown Law’s Appellate Litigation Clinic, Laura represented clients before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth and D.C. Circuits.

Law runs deep in Laura’s roots. Raised in Washington, Pennsylvania, she is the daughter of the late William D. “Denny” Phillips (1938–2024), a highly respected trial attorney who was of counsel to Phillips Froetschel until his passing. Laura began working at her family’s firm—originally Phillips & Faldowski and later Phillips, Phillips & Smith-Delach—in high school, and returned to practice there after law school until co-founding Phillips Froetschel in 2022.

A sought-after speaker, Laura frequently presents continuing legal education (CLE) courses on topics including trial strategy, professional ethics, courtroom technology, and proving damages.

Outside the courtroom, Laura lives in Thornburg with her husband, son, and their goldendoodle. She enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, District of Columbia
    • J.D. - 2004
    • Honors: Legal Research and Writing Fellow
    • Honors: Appellate Litigation Clinic
  • Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
    • B.S. - 2001
    • Honors: Dean's List
    • Honors: Second Honors
    • Honors: International Politics Honors Program
    • Major: Foreign Service

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania, 2006
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania, 2006

Representative Cases

  • Pscolka v. Boehme, 987 WDA 2014, 2015, Pa. Super.
  • Phillips v. Washington Co. Trans. Auth., et al., 986 A.2d 925, 2009, Pa. Commw.
  • Olatunji v. Ashcroft, 387 F.3d 383, 2004, 4th Cir.

Classes & Seminars

  • Civil Law Update, Washington County Bench Bar, 2023
  • Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, Annual Civil Trial Symposium, Moderator, 2019
  • Effectively Preparing Your Expert for Trial, Women’s Bar Association, 2017
  • Opening Statements: The Lawyer as Storyteller, Pennsylvania Bar Institute 2014, 2015
  • What’s it Worth?, Pennsylvania Association for Justice, 2013
  • How to Conduct an Effective Direct and Cross-Examination, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2013
  • Ethical Rainmaking in Challenging Times, Washington County Bar Association, 2011
  • Maximizing Recovery in Challenging Times, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2009
  • Using Technology to Make Your Case, Washington County Bar Association, 2009
  • Lawyer Advertising: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Washington County Bar Association, 2008
  • 20th Annual Symposium on Civil Trial Practice, Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, 2019
  • 19th Annual Symposium on Civil Trial Practice, Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, 2018

Published Works

  • My First Trial(s), PA Justice News, Fall, 2008
  • Interview with the Hon. Debbie O’Dell Seneca, PA Justice News, May, 2011

Professional Associations

  • Pennsylvania Association for Justice, Board of Governors, 2008 to 2017, 2022-present
  • Pennsylvania Association for Justice, Vice-Chair, 2011 to 2012
  • Pennsylvania Association for Justice, Future Leaders Section, 2011 to 2012
  • Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Governors, 2007 to 2022
  • American Association for Justice, New Lawyers Division, 2009 to 2010
  • American Association for Justice, Board of Governors, 2009 to 2010
  • Washington County Health Partners, Board of Directors, 2009 to 2014
  • Washington County Bar Association, Young Lawyers' Division, 2008
  • Washington County Bar Association, Executive Committee, 2008
  • Women’s Bar Association, Member, 2013 to Present
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member, 2006 to Present
  • American Bar Association, Member, 2004 to Present
  • Allegheny County Bar Association, Member, 2006 to Present
  • American Association for Justice, New Lawyers Division Board of Governors, 2009 to 2010

Honors

  • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating -Martindale Hubbell, 2012 – Present
  • Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, 2015 – present
  • Academy of Trial Lawyers of Southwestern Pennsylvania, 2016 - present
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, 2015 - present
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2010, 2013, 2014
  • Vice-President, Academy of Trial Lawyers of Southwestern Pennsylvania, 2018
  • Secretary/Treasurer, Academy of Trial Lawyers of Southwestern Pennsylvania, 2017
  • Top 50 in Pittsburgh, Super Lawyers, 2019 - 2022
  • Top 50 Women in Pennsylvania, Super Lawyers, 2019 - 2022
  • Board of Governors, Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, 2020-present
  • Top 100 Lawyers in Pennsylvania, Super Lawyers, 2022