Phil B. Abernethy
Office Information
Phil is a seasoned litigator who focuses most of his practice on matters within the construction industry. A certified arbitrator, he has provided counsel to some of the country’s most well-known companies. In over forty years of practice at Butler Snow, Phil has represented owners, contractors, architects and engineers in the construction industry, as well as defending national manufacturers in product liability litigation.
Biography – View PDF Bio
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 1979
- U.S. District Courts
- Mississippi: Northern, Southern
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 5th Circuit
- Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- I.C.C. International Court of Arbitration
- Admitted pro hac vice in 16 states
Distinctions
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Martindale-Hubbell®
- AV® – Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, 1998-2017
- Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business
- Litigation: General Commercial – Mississippi, 2014-2020
- Litigation: Construction – Mississippi, 2014-2017
- Super Lawyers®
- Mid-South Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation: Business, 2007-2019
- Top 50: Mississippi, 2007-2012
- Best Lawyers in America®
- Commercial Litigation, 2008-2021
- Litigation – Construction, 2011-2021
- Litigation – Construction: Lawyer of the Year [Jackson, MS], 2016
- Top Lawyers, Annual Guide To Commercial Litigation American Lawyer/Corporate Counsel
- Instructor, National Trial Academy, International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
Education & Honors
- University of Mississippi, J.D., cum laude, 1978
- Note Editor, Mississippi Law Journal
- Mississippi State University, B.S., Engineering, 1972
Experience
- Trial Counsel for Bridgestone-Firestone North America and Armstrong International for asbestos and silica litigation in Mississippi and Louisiana.
- National Counsel for Figg Bridge Engineers.
- Published Decisions
- Upchurch Plumbing, Inc. v. Greenwood Utilities Com'n, 964 So.2d 1100 (Miss. 2007), Trial and Appellate Counsel.
- Ronald Adams Contractor v. Mississippi Transportation Commission, 777 So. 2d 649 (Miss. 2000), Trial and Appellate Counsel.
- Farrell Construction Company v. Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, 896 F. 2d 136 (5th Cir. 1990), Trial and Appellate Counsel.
- Ronald Adams Contractor v. The United States, 2003 WL 459650 (Fed. Cir. 2003), Trial and Appellate Counsel.
- Ables v. Ford Motor Company, 2006 WL 3431602 (5th Cir. 2006) and 2007 WL 273502 (Miss. 2007), Trial and Appellate Counsel
- Michael Construction Company v. Florida Department of Transportation, (Leon County, Florida Circuit Court), Trial Counsel. More...
- Abadie, et al., v. Champion International, et al. (Jefferson Parish, Louisiana) 784 So. 2d 46 (La. App. 3d Cir. 2001) Trial Counsel.
- Amerihost Development, Inc. v. Bromanco, 786 So. 2d 362 (Miss. 2001), Trial and Appellate Counsel.
- Murden v. Acands, Inc., (Orleans Parish, LA) 921 So. 2d 165 (La. App. 4 Cir. 2005), Trial and Appellate Counsel.
In the News
- 198 Butler Snow Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021
- Chambers USA 2020 Ranks 44 Butler Snow Attorneys and 15 Categories
- 93 Butler Snow Attorneys Listed in 2019 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- 173 Butler Snow Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers® 2020, 19 Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- Chambers USA 2019 Ranks 44 Butler Snow Attorneys as Leaders
- 158 Butler Snow Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers®, 18 Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- Chambers USA 2018 Ranks 41 Butler Snow Attorneys as Leaders
- Butler Snow Ranked No. 2 in Lex Machina’s ‘Top Law Firm Report’
- 106 Butler Snow Attorneys Listed in 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars More...
- 147 Butler Snow Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers®, 18 Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- Chambers USA 2017 Ranks 45 Butler Snow Attorneys as Leaders
- 102 Butler Snow Attorneys List in 2015 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- 129 Butler Snow Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers, 16 Named "Lawyer of the Year"
- Chambers USA Ranks 40 Butler Snow Attorneys as Leaders
- 117 Butler Snow Attorneys Listed in 2013 Mid-South Super Lawyers®