Philip J Combs

Member

After completing his Fourth Circuit clerkship and working as an associate at G&T, Mr. Combs served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia.  As a federal prosecutor, he prosecuted the first case brought under the Violence Against Women Act, resulting in a life sentence for the defendant.  United States v. Bailey, 112 F.3d 758 (4th Cir. 1997).

Phil rejoined G&T in 2000.  His practice focuses on the defense of product liability cases involving the pharmaceutical, vehicle (automotive, ATV, and motorcycle), industrial machinery, and firearms industries.  In conjunction with his products practice, he is a sustaining member of the Products Liability Advisory Council (PLAC).

Although the overwhelming majority of his work is on behalf of corporate defendants, Phil also represents selected individuals or entities that are plaintiffs in commercial or personal injury cases that do not involve product liability allegations.

Phil has tried more than twenty cases to verdict, has briefed more than thirty cases to federal or state appellate courts, and has argued before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals four times.  He was honored to be ranked as an “Up and Coming” lawyer by Chambers & Partners in 2008 and currently serves on G&T’s Executive Committee.

• Emory University, B.A., with honors, 1988
• Duke University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 1992
  • Senior Editor, Law & Contemporary Problems
  • Parkinson Scholar
• Emory University National Merit Scholar
• Law clerk, Hon. K. K. Hall, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 1992-93
• Assistant United States Attorney, Southern District of West Virginia, 1994-1998
• Sustaining Member, Products Liability Advisory Council; Member, DRI
• Publications
• Modern Products Liability Law in West Virginia, 113 W.Va. L.Rev. 417 (2011) (with Andrew Cooke).   To access the article click here.