Education
J.D., University of San Diego School of Law
B.A., University of Southern California
Bar Admissions
California
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
Industries
Memberships
San Diego County Bar Association
Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL)
Philip Adams
Senior Counsel
Phil is a litigation senior counsel in the San Diego office. He advises corporate and individual clients in a wide range of matters across California with an emphasis on commercial litigation involving business and real estate disputes. Phil primarily represents owners, developers, purchasers, sellers, lessors, and lessees of commercial properties in contract, construction, tort, and environmental litigation. Whether as plaintiff and defendant, Phil regularly assists clients with resolving disputes involving everything from routine landlord/tenant litigation to complex multiparty, multidistrict litigation concerning purchase and sale agreements, partnership agreements, guarantor liability, lender exposure, and veil-piercing or alter ego claims. Phil’s practice also encompasses property tax assessment appeals and white collar criminal defense.
With extensive experience litigating in state and federal court, Phil has represented commercial and residential real estate owners, small business owners, publicly traded REITs, privately held corporations, family offices, financial institutions, a California-based private university, a professional sports franchise, and a former United States Congressman. Phil has also successfully represented clients in the California Court of Appeal.
Prior to joining Allen Matkins, Phil was an attorney at a prominent San Diego law firm. Before beginning his private practice career, Phil worked as law clerk at the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California while serving as the Managing Articles Editor for the University of San Diego School of Law’s International Law Journal. Phil also worked as a judicial extern for United States District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo and Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo.
Accolades
- Selected for inclusion in Super Lawyer's San Diego Rising Stars (2025)
With extensive experience litigating in state and federal court, Phil has represented commercial and residential real estate owners, small business owners, publicly traded REITs, privately held corporations, family offices, financial institutions, a California-based private university, a professional sports franchise, and a former United States Congressman. Phil has also successfully represented clients in the California Court of Appeal.
Prior to joining Allen Matkins, Phil was an attorney at a prominent San Diego law firm. Before beginning his private practice career, Phil worked as law clerk at the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California while serving as the Managing Articles Editor for the University of San Diego School of Law’s International Law Journal. Phil also worked as a judicial extern for United States District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo and Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo.
Accolades
- Selected for inclusion in Super Lawyer's San Diego Rising Stars (2025)
- Limited Liability Companies. Post-closing property ownership and governance dispute involving claims for specific performance, fraud, constructive trust, intentional interference with contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and violation of California’s unfair competition laws.
- Publicly Traded REIT. Lease dispute involving claims for breach of lease and extortion.
- Commercial Real Estate Owner. Represented in a heavily litigated dispute against a corporation that specializes in shared working space involving claims for breach of lease and breach of guaranty.
- Limited Liability Company. Represented in high stakes multiparty multidistrict litigation involving commercial real estate developed for cannabis cultivation in which the owner faced judicial foreclosure and claims of fraud and breach of contract.
- Publicly Traded REIT. Defense of a breach of lease action brought by a lessee over its failure to pay rent during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Southern California-Based RV Park Sellers. Defense of an action for specific performance brought by a purchaser over the forfeiture of its deposit following its failure to timely consummate the transaction.
- Residential Property Owners. Represented high net worth owners of residential property in a breach of contract action arising out of the sale of their private residence.
- Residential Property Owner. Arbitration involving claims for breach of contract and construction delays, and cost overruns against the general contractor and subcontractors.
- Local Public Agency. Defense of environmental litigation involving claims of inverse condemnation, nuisance, and removal of lateral support.
- Owner. Represented high net worth individual owner of residential property and corporate owner of commercial properties in tax controversies, property tax assessment appeals, and valuation hearings.
- United States Congressman. Represented in a charge with illegal personal use of campaign funds.
- Professional Sports Franchise. Defense of litigation involving claims for CEQA violations and nuisance.
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