Philip Kirchner is a member of the firm's Litigation Department and a former managing shareholder of the firm and past chair of its Litigation Department. He focuses his practice in business litigation and in negotiating international supply, quality and other contracts for his manufacturing clients.
Litigation Practice
Mr. Kirchner concentrates his litigation practice on complex litigation of all types of business issues in both federal and state courts, primarily in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He has extensive experience representing public and private business entities and individuals in commercial litigation involving trial, arbitration, mediation, and appeals of various business disputes. Over the years, his matters have included contract disputes; insurance coverage claims; disputes among owners of closely held businesses (“business divorce”); employment disputes, including claims of breach of restrictive covenants; trademark infringement and theft of trade secret claims; claims under the state and federal securities laws; antitrust claims; and construction disputes. Mr. Kirchner also represents clients in estate and probate contests involving claims of undue influence, lack of capacity and breach of fiduciary duty. He recently argued and won a case before the New Jersey Supreme Court, in which he had not been involved at the trial level, which clarified the narrow circumstances under which courts may award attorney’s fees to an estate in undue influence cases. Mr. Kirchner also regularly advises his business clients on strategies for avoiding litigation and for insuring against losses from litigation claims.
Corporate Practice
While ushering clients through the litigation process for the bulk of his career, Mr. Kirchner developed significant experience in drafting and negotiating Supply and Quality Agreements and other contracts for his clients in the manufacturing industry. In this capacity, he reviews, prepares, and negotiates effective and clearly defined contracts to protect client interests and limit future litigation exposure. His unique background as a trial lawyer helps him produce contracts for his clients that protect their business and legal interests. Many of his contracts involve customers in foreign countries, through which he has developed a special understanding of the complexities of international contracts, involving foreign cultures and laws. His understanding of these complexities helps him secure solid quality and supply agreements that transcend borders, advance his clients’ business interests, and, at the same time, protect them in the event of a dispute.
Restaurant & Hospitality Industry
In his capacity leading the firm’s Restaurant & Hospitality Industry Group, Mr. Kirchner has represented his food service, restaurant, and hospitality clients, including the South Jersey Independent Restaurant Association (a/k/a the “SJ Hot Chefs”), in a variety of matters, including: contract litigation; contract negotiation, drafting and review; trademark and tradename litigation; theft of trade secret cases; enforcing, defending and challenging restrictive covenants in employment contracts; landlord-tenant disputes; and various government regulatory issues. He also regularly counsels and advises his clients on ways to avoid regulatory problems in such areas as wage and hour issues, tipping policies, sales taxes and employment withholding taxes, overtime pay and minimum wage.
Mr. Kirchner has presented seminars on a variety of substantive topics involving commercial litigation and on a number of litigation practice-related topics, including writing effective briefs, successful discovery techniques, litigating restrictive covenant claims, and the effective use of expert witnesses. He has chaired the Commercial Litigation Committee of the Camden County Bar Association for a number of years. He is also a former editor of New Jersey Lawyer magazine. Mr. Kirchner was a Legal Writing Instructor of first-year law students during his third year of law school. He continues his passion for effective legal writing by teaching seminars and running workshops at his firm on various writing topics.
Prior to law school, Mr. Kirchner was a Dean of Students at several major US universities and colleges.
Representative Matters
- Successfully prevailed on a motion for summary judgment in a New Jersey trusts and estate litigation matter, dismissing undue influence and lack of capacity claims, saving the client millions of dollars in assets from her late husband’s estate, as well as appointing her executrix of the estate.
- Convinced New Jersey Supreme Court to reverse trial and appellate court decisions awarding attorney’s fees to an estate in dispute involving claims of undue influence.
- Successfully defended against breach of restrictive covenant claims in connection with sale of veterinary practice.
- Convinced competitor of glass manufacturer to cease and desist from false advertising about composition of its glass containers.
- Defense of Fortune 100 company officer against multiple class action lawsuits and civil action by SEC alleging securities fraud; avoided criminal prosecution for client and settled civil suits for no liability and no payment.
- Summary judgment for corporate seller of office building and land, dismissing claims of fraud and mistake brought by purchaser in sale-leaseback transaction.
- Successful settlement of multimillion-dollar claim for educational software vendor against school district.
- Secured million-dollar judgment after trial for investor in publicly traded company.
- Secured judgment after trial for government defense subcontractor against prime contractor for breach of teaming agreement.
- Secured injunction after trial to protect trademarks of real estate developer and prevent infringement by non-competitor.
- Successful settlement of lawsuit to dissolve two partnerships, with significant tax savings and avoidance of adverse tax consequences to client’s profit-sharing plan.
- Successful defense of non-resident pharmacist against civil claims by NJ Attorney General for violation of state statutes regarding Internet sales of prescription drugs.
- Summary judgment for physician dismissing claim by former practice group for breach of non-competition agreement.
- Enforcement of three-year non-competition agreement against sales manager of chemical coatings company.
- Successful settlement of ERISA claim by Fortune 100 company buyer of business unit against Fortune 100 company seller; settlement required seller to pay $25 million to pension plan covering acquired workers.
- Convinced New Jersey Supreme Court to narrow the preclusive effect of New Jersey’s “entire controversy doctrine” in cases involving initial litigation outside of New Jersey.
Honors & Awards
- Rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell
- Named a New Jersey "Super Lawyer," 2005, 2008, 2009 - 2020, Business Litigation, by Thomson Reuters, publishers of New Jersey Super Lawyers
- Top Attorney List, Litigation, SJ Magazine, 2010, 2012, 2014
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- Peter Perlman Service Award, 2018, awarded by Litigation Counsel of America
- Mary J. Sherlach Courage Award, 2018, awarded by Mary’s Fund charity
A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Professional Affiliations
- Burlington County Bar Association
- Camden County Bar Association
- Chair, Commercial Litigation Committee
- Diversity Law Institute
- Exit Planning Exchange (XPX) - Philadelphia Chapter
- Litigation Counsel of America
- Senior Fellow
- New Jersey State Bar Association
- Order of Certus
- Advocate
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- The Trial Law Institute
- The Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey
Community Activities
- Mental Health Association, Southwestern New Jersey
- Vice President, Board of Directors
- Past President, Board of Directors
- Haddonfield Recreation Council
- Member
- Building Baseball Dreams, Inc., a nonprofit company whose goal is to raise money for inner city youth baseball programs
- President
- Haddonfield Little League
- Past president
- Union League of Philadelphia
- Member
News
- New Jersey Super Lawyers Magazine(March 13, 2020)
- Press Release(March 22, 2019)
- Press Release(November 12, 2018)
- Press Release(September 27, 2018)
- Press Release(March 23, 2018)
- Press Release(November 19, 2015)
- Press Release(January 14, 2015)
- Press Release(September 22, 2014)
- Press Release(August 1, 2014)
- Press Release(February 3, 2014)
- Press Release(June 21, 2013)
- Photo Caption(November 21, 2012)
- Press Release(October 10, 2012)
- Press Release(September 7, 2012)
- Press Release(August 6, 2012)
- Press Release(November 3, 2011)
- Press Release(March 28, 2011)
- Press Release(March 22, 2010)
- Press Release(July 8, 2009)
- Press Release(April 21, 2009)
- The Philadelphia Inquirer(March 26, 2009)
- Press Release(March 24, 2009)
- Press Release(April 22, 2008)
Events
- Avrio Solutions(July 28, 2020)
- Top 10 Tips for Avoiding LitigationUnion League of Philadelphia(March 11, 2020)
- Camden County Bar Association(April 24, 2018)
- Brown & Brown Insurance, Fringe Benefit Group, GREYHAWK, Flaster Greenberg(February 18, 2016)
- Mental Health Association of Southwestern New Jersey(November 12, 2015)
- Flaster Greenberg PC, Wilmington Trust SP Services, Inc., Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC(June 5, 2014)
- Spectrum Gaming Group, Flaster/Greenberg PC(April 15, 2013)
- Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC and Flaster/Greenberg PC(January 9, 2013)
- Rutgers School of Business-Camden, Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, Flaster/Greenberg(October 23, 2012)
- What Law Firms Can Learn About Diversity from Academic Affirmative Action ProgramsLitigation Council of America Diversity Law Institute, Chicago, IL(September 14, 2012)
- Professionalism and Ethics: Dealing with Difficult Lawyers(November 3, 2011)
- (November 16, 2010)
- Flaster/Greenberg(June 8, 2010)
Articles & Alerts
- FG Law Blog(April 15, 2020)
- New Jersey Law Journal(April 30, 2018)
- Legal Alert(February 20, 2018)
- The Asbury Park Press(February 2, 2018)
- Flaster Greenberg Blog(March 7, 2016)
- Pizza Today Magazine(November 2015)
- Physicians News Digest(August 7, 2015)
- Becker's Hospital Review(June 22, 2015)
- Pizza Today Magazine(October 2014)
- Ed Hitzel's Restaurant Magazine(August 2014)
- Ed Hitzel’s Restaurant Magazine(June 2014)
- Ed Hitzel's Restaurant Magazine(May 2014)
- Legal Alert(March 12, 2010)
- New Jersey Lawyer, vol. 14, no. 44(October 31, 2005)
- New Jersey Law Journal, vol. CLXXIX, no. 13, index 1281(March 28, 2005)
- The Legal Intelligencer(June 3, 2004)
Practice Areas
Industry Groups
Admissions
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Supreme Court of New Jersey
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
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Education
- University of Pennsylvania, J.D., magna cum laude
- Associate Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review
- Order of the Coif
- Arthur Littleton Legal Writing Instructor
- Maurer Prize in Criminal Procedure
- University of Vermont, M.Ed., summa cum laude
- Villanova University, B.A., cum laude