Phillip graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 2004 with a BA/LLB(Hons). In 2003 he received the Sir Richard Wild Memorial Cup, and John Thomas Prize, as winner of the Law School’s advocacy competition.

Between 2004 and 2009, Phillip worked in the litigation departments at Bell Gully and Minter Ellison Rudd Watts. He worked on a range of commercial matters, including employment, contract, competition, and public law, disputes. He spent time on secondment at both the Department of Corrections and BNZ.

From 2009 to 2014, Phillip worked at Almao Douch, the office of the Crown Solicitor at Hamilton. He prosecuted serious criminal offending on behalf of the Crown and several regulatory authorities. This ranged from serious violent, drug, and sexual offending, to tax offences, breaches of the Companies Act 1993, and fraud. Phillip also maintained a busy civil practice; he regularly acted for the Official Assignee on personal and corporate insolvency matters, and for the Commissioner of Police in civil forfeiture proceedings. He was appointed a Senior Crown Prosecutor in 2013.

Phillip commenced practice as a barrister sole in February 2014. He is a member of Riverbank Chambers in Hamilton.

Phillip is a member of the New Zealand Bar Association, NSW Bar Association, and RITANZ. Phillip is a Vice President of the New Zealand Bar Association and Deputy Convenor of the National Standards Committee Number 2. He is a member of the Technology and Training and Committees of the New Zealand Bar Association.

Phillip is a member of the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) Judicial Tribunal. Phillip is a member of the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand Legal Assistance Panel.

Phillip is a member of the Abuse in Care Inquiry Legal Assistance Panel.

Phillip has a paperless practice, including in Court. He conducts training for the New Zealand Bar Association on running paperless hearings.