Taylor Porter hosted a special ceremony at its Chase North Tower office on Oct. 21 to celebrate and memorialize the LSU Law Center’s Tom Fore Phillips National Moot Court Team Endowment Fund as Taylor Porter Managing Partner Skip Philips and Tom’s son, Louis Phillips, each received a commemorative plaque, in front of Phillips’ family members, including wife Billie Claire, friends, legal peers, LSU Law Center Dean Galligan, and representatives from the 2016-2017 national moot court team.  

The plaque presented to Taylor Porter will hang in the Tom Fore Phillips Conference Room on the law firm’s 10th floor.

After former Taylor Porter Managing Partner Tom Fore Phillips (1928-2011) passed away, his friends and family rallied to donate more than $100,000 in his memory to establish the endowment to support and name the Tom Fore Phillips National Moot Court Team at the LSU Law Center, which was established on April 27, 2015. Their generosity will generate annual funds to help the team cover the costs of out-of-state competitions and traveling expenses.

The gift continues Phillips’ legacy not only as a moot court champion, but also as an exceptional trial attorney by helping to prepare future attorneys and litigators. Because the fund is endowed, it will provide annual financial support in perpetuity for students following in Phillips’ footsteps. Today, the law school has over 25 moot court teams, through which students travel to competitions that simulate court proceedings, including written and oral components.

Phillips’ dedication to the LSU Advocacy Program began his senior year of law school when he and his teammates won the Law Center’s prestigious moot court competition. Throughout his 50-year career at Taylor Porter, he was the consummate trial lawyer – “The Lawyer’s Lawyer” affectionately called by his peers – and was held in the highest regard by clients and the legal community at large. Phillips mentored many young lawyers and law students, both in practice and through his service as a volunteer judge in the LSU Advocacy Program.

Throughout his more than 50-year career at Taylor Porter, Phillips practiced before federal, state and city courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, and before innumerable administrative agencies, most notably the Louisiana Public Service Commission. He was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Honorary Order of the Coif at LSU Law Center, and a member of various bar associations. He was the first chairman of the board of trustees of the Rural Life Museum and served for several years as member of the Friends of the Rural Life Museum board of directors, and at times served on the executive committee of that board. Phillips was a charter member of the City Club of Baton Rouge. He also served as a member of the advisory board of directors of Bank One. He was inducted into the Northwestern State University Long Purple Line, as a distinguished alumnus.

Members of the Tom Fore Phillips National Moot Court Team compete with their classmates to be selected for the team, and then they travel to compete against other top law schools in the country. The 2016-2017 Tom Fore Phillips National Moot Court team is coached by John Devlin, the William Hawk Daniels and Robert and Pamela Martin Professor. This year, team members include Ronald Coleman, Chris Jones and Bret Sparks. The LSU team is working towards the 6th Annual National Moot Court Competition, held in New York City, Jan. 30 - Feb. 2, 2017. Every year, over 120 law schools compete in regional rounds throughout the United States with winners advancing to final rounds at the New York City Bar. The Tom Fore Phillips Team is one of 25 LSU traveling teams, the combined performance of which has resulted in LSU’s Advocacy Program being ranked No. 34 in the country.

The family of Tom Fore Phillips, Taylor Porter and the LSU Law Center would like to thank the following people who made possible the Tom Fore Phillips National Moot Court Team Endowment Fund and chose to honor his legacy with their gifts, which will support the development of advocacy skills for generations of lawyers to come: Yvette Wiltgen & Louis M. Phillips; Kathryn & David Ellison; Elizabeth M. & Newton B. Thomas; Ellen & Leonard Q. “Pete” Abington; Virginia & John Noland; Deborah E. Lamb; Gordon Arata McCollam Duplantis & Eagan; Jane P. Brandt; Nancy & Gerald L. Walter Jr.; Margaret & John W. Barton, Jr.; John W. Barton Family Foundation; Annette D. Barton; Frank M. Coates Jr.; Bonnie J. Davis & Robert S. Carney; Joy M. Pearce; Robert H. Hodges; Joan C. & G. Allen Penniman; A. Shelby Easterly; Allen Williams; Ann Reiley Jones; Colleen & Harry J. “Skip” Philips; Cynthia & Lloyd Lunceford; David M. Bienvenu Jr.; Elizabeth L. Kendrick; Fay S. Bright; Karen & Thomas M. Hayes III; Margaret Tooke & Glenn G. Morris; Mary S. Hutchison; Michael G. Thompson; Michael M. Thompson; Renee S. & Brett Furr; Slover & Loftus LLP; Sue W. Turner; Voladia E. Jones; Arthur R. Carmody; Brandon G. Parlange; C.G. Norwood Jr.; David K. McDonald; Donny White; E.L. Draper Jr.; Emily F. & Dr. Samuel H. Zimmern; Finis E. Cowan; Heller Draper Hayden Patrick & Horn; Janet S. Boles; Liskow & Lewis; Marie & Frank Simoneaux; Cheryl & Mark R. Robeck; Mary & Jake Netterville; Natalie W. McCall; Rebecca & James Ellis; Judith & Richard Najolia; Judge Gerald H. Schiff; Beverly & Dudley Coates; Emily Douglass Stewart Coleman; David B. Stewart; Caroline C. Stewart; J.G. Copeland; Laura & James Field; Martha & John Wayne Jewell; Blanche A. & Charles W. Gladney; Elizabeth T.H. & Michael R. Fontham; Ellen & Sam Caverlee; J.T. Ray; James P. Dore’; John S. Campbell Jr.; Nancy O. & Kenneth P. Carter; Mary & Senator J. Bennett Johnston; Morris & Dickson Co. LLC; A.M. Dufilho Jr.; Barbara V. & William Hughes; Cherrian & J. Clayton Johnson; E. Clark Gaudin; Ernest L. O’Bannon; Frances & Edgerton L. “Bubba” Henry; Irene & Steven Deist; Jill & John McDermott; Judge Sarah & R. Patrick Vance; Madeline N. & William H. Wright; Marie A. Poppy; Marna & Judge Melvin A. Shortess; Martha & Gerald Simmons; Olga & Troye Svendson; R.A. Covington; Robert E. Leake Jr.; Tom S. Jones IV; Truly & Patrick A. Juneau; Margaret & W. David Anderson; William H. Patrick III; Alfred S. & Gail P. Lippman; Justice John L. Weimer III; Louis S. Quinn; Margaret P. & Emmett Boudreaux; Alyse R. Latiolais; Ben Kleinpeter; Fay S. Bright; Dorella & Frank W. Banta; Gerard F. Thomas Jr.; Mary & Herschel E. Richard Jr.; John B. Hoychick; William H. McClendon III; Aimee & John Bateman; Alfred Smith Landry; Barbara & Eugene H. Owen; Bonny B. & Curtis K. Stafford; Carolyn & W. Henson Moore; Frank W. Banta; Becky & H. Alston Johnson; Insa S. Abraham; James H. Napper II; James L. Pate; Jan & Eugene Groves; Jane P. Middleton; John C. Christian; John S. Hightower; Gina & J. Stewart Tharp; Ken M. Turner; Laura N. & Dr. O.M. Thompson; Mary & Charles McCowan; Michael A. Crawford; Michael P. Lennon Jr.; Verda & Nelson A. Dupuy; Mary & O.H. Storey; Peggy & Jess Johnson; Polly P. Blanche; Raymond G. Post; Raymond Lamonica; Tucker Raney; Vera & Judge Lewis S. Doherty; Paulette S. Hargroder; Linda Lightfoot; and Millicent L. Hopkins.

​Former Taylor Porter attorney and longtime friend of Tom Fore Phillips, David Ellison addresses the crowd. Ellison and Taylor Porter Of Counsel Deborah Lamb share a laugh about their friend Tom.

​Pictured above: The 2016-2017 Tom Fore Phillips National Moot Court team is coached by John Devlin (second from right), the William Hawk Daniels and Robert and Pamela Martin Professor.  This year, team members include, from left, Bret Sparks, Chris Jones and Ronald Coleman. The LSU team is working towards the 6th Annual National Moot Court Competition, held in New York City, Jan. 30 - Feb. 2, 2017. Every year, over 120 law schools compete in regional rounds throughout the United States with winners advancing to final rounds at the New York City Bar.