Jerina D. Phillips, Labor & Employment Practice Group Leader

Jerina D. Phillips serves as Practice Group Leader for the Labor & Employment Practice Group and has extensive experience representing employers in courts throughout the country.

In addition to her Labor & Employment practice, Jerina has a wide-ranging litigation practice, regularly handling litigation in a variety of areas, including commercial, pharmaceutical, media, and product liability matters. Jerina has successfully represented clients throughout the United States and across nearly every industry.

Prior to joining Lewis Rice, Jerina clerked for judges at every level of the Missouri state court system, including an internship with the Missouri Supreme Court and a one-year clerkship with the Missouri Court of Appeals. Jerina also completed a federal clerkship in the Southern District of Illinois.

Jerina serves as Vice Chair of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, and she is a member of the Firm's Recruiting Committee.  Jerina is also a member of the Lewis Rice Women to Women Forum (LRW2W).  In 2018, Jerina received a Women’s Justice Award in the Litigation Practitioner category and was selected for inclusion in Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars® for 2018-2024 and in Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch for 2022-2025. In 2020 Jerina was selected to join The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, an organization dedicated to recognizing and promoting African American legal excellence. Jerina regularly volunteers with local non-profit organizations and serves on a number of local boards.

Commercial Litigation

Representing clients in virtually every type of business-related dispute, Jerina understands the significant impact litigation can have on a company’s ability to achieve its business objectives. To this end, Jerina works closely with clients to obtain a comprehensive understanding of their objectives for each matter and develop a successful strategy, which could include negotiating an early settlement or conducting extensive discovery and proceeding to trial. 

Jerina has successfully represented companies, including financial institutions, in defending against a wide variety of claims, including breach of contract claims, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and claims brought under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act by individuals and as class actions. Jerina was a member of a defense team engaged to defend a company in what might be one of the largest class action lawsuits ever filed in Missouri.

Employment Litigation

Jerina has significant experience in defending employers in all types of employment matters. From handling matters at the administrative phase to presenting evidence at trial, Jerina has successfully represented national retailers, public and private universities, and small, family-owned businesses in all of their employment litigation needs. Jerina also counsels employers on matters relating to the Fair Labor Standards Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act. 

Employment Investigations

Jerina has significant experience conducting full-scale investigations covering a variety of employment-related issues, including, but not limited to, allegations of discrimination, harassment, pay disparity, and other issues that implicate internal policies and employment laws. Jerina has led internal investigations in high-profile matters involving sensitive issues.