Phil Fox, who is a member of Sutherland’s Litigation Practice Group, focuses his practice on white-collar criminal defense work (trial and appellate) and civil trials and appeals in various courts. In addition, Phil represents lawyers in the disciplinary process and advises lawyers and law firms on ethical issues. He also advises corporations with respect to the implications of the sentencing guidelines and compliance programs applicable to organizations.

Phil clerked in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit for the Honorable Frank M. Coffin and then in the U.S. Supreme Court for Justices Stanley F. Reed and Lewis F. Powell Jr. Phil then spent more than seven years as a federal prosecutor, spending part of his time in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia where he tried approximately 50 jury trials. He also argued approximately 30 appeals in the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, including four en banc arguments.

Phil’s appointment with the U.S. Attorney’s Office was interrupted briefly when he worked as an assistant special prosecutor for the Watergate Special Prosecution Force. When he left the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he joined the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section of the U.S. Department of Justice. As the Deputy Chief of that Section, he supervised Strike Forces in six cities as well as the Labor Unit located in Washington. He also was responsible for approving Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act prosecutions. Phil left the Department of Justice in 1980 and has practiced in the District of Columbia ever since.

Phil served for 16 months as Associate Special Counsel to the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. In that capacity, he conducted a lengthy investigation into allegations that members of Congress had engaged in misconduct in connection with their supervision of House pages. Two members of Congress were censured as a result of this investigation. In January 1989, he was appointed by the Court of Appeals to serve as a member of the Board on Professional Responsibility.