Phil Elbert is the recipient of the 2019 Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association (TTLA) Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year award.  This award is given annually to honor a Tennessee attorney who has demonstrated superior skills and outstanding achievements in civil justice.

Phil is a tenacious advocate for his clients’ rights and has worked diligently to fulfill TTLA’s mission to protect the constitutional promise of justice for all by guaranteeing the right to trial by jury, preserving an independent judiciary, and providing access to the courts for all Tennesseans.  A senior member of Neal & Harwell with nearly 38 years of experience in the courts of Tennessee and the United States, including the U.S. Supreme Court, Phil has served as lead plaintiffs’ counsel in a wide range of complex civil cases, including class actions.  He is a leading attorney in TTLA’s effort to challenge the constitutionality of the statutory caps on non-economic damages established by the Tennessee legislature with respect to health care liability and other types of injury cases.  Phil is a frequent speaker at conferences and legal seminars for TTLA, the state and local Bar Association, and other organizations including the National Business Institute and Barristers Education Services.