Edward J. Phillips

Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution
Municipal Law

Edward Phillips focuses on litigation and dispute resolution in federal and state courts where he has represented businesses, individuals, municipalities, and public officials in a wide range of matters. He has extensive litigation experience defending both private entities and municipal clients. He has served as special counsel for Bedford, North Castle, New Castle, White Plains, Pleasantville, Poughkeepsie, Orangetown and Ulster and Putnam Counties. He also has represented businesses and individuals in matters involving commercial contracts, shareholder derivative actions, commercial leases, insurance coverage, wage and hour disputes, employment discrimination, and construction defects.

Mr. Phillips has litigated cases before trial and appellate courts throughout New York. He has handled appeals in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the New York Court of Appeals, and the Appellate Divisions of the New York State Supreme Court. He also represents clients in arbitrations and mediations.

Mr. Phillips joined Keane & Beane, P.C. in 2000 after serving for two years as a law clerk to United States District Judge William H. Pauley III, in the Southern District of New York. Since 2011, he has served on the Mediation Panel for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. He also serves on the roster of commercial mediators for the Ninth Judicial District.

With his active litigation practice, Mr. Phillips has represented clients in cases that have generated over 80 reported court decisions, including the following:

Palisades Estates EOM, LLC v. Cnty. of Rockland, 2025 WL 1295333 (S.D.N.Y. May 5, 2025)

104 S. Div. St. LLC v. City of Peekskill,  2025 WL 283295 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 23, 2025)

Nathan v. Town of Pound Ridge, 86 Misc. 3d 1240(A) (Sup. Ct. West. Cty. 2025)

Cooke v. Greenhouse Hudson, LLC, 230 A.D.3d 841 (3d Dep’t 2024)

City of New York v. Ball, 84 Misc. 3d 1058 (Sup. Ct. Albany Cty. 2024)

United States ex rel. Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York, Inc. v. Westchester County, New York, 689 Fed. Appx. 71 (2d Cir. 2017)

Riverkeeper, Inc. v. Planning Bd. of Town of Southeast, 9 N.Y.3d 219 (2007)

Matter of Town of Orangetown v. Orangetown PBA, 6 N.Y.3d 563 (2006)

• State and Federal Courts of New York
• State and Federal Courts of Connecticut
• United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• United States District Courts for the Eastern, Southern and Northern Districts

• Federal Bar Council
• New York State Bar Association
• Westchester County Bar Association
• White Plains Bar Association 

• Co-author with Richard L. O’Rourke of “Riverkeeper v. Planning Board of the Town of Southeast: The Court of Appeals Reminds Lower Courts Not to Second-Guess SEQRA Determinations”, New York State Bar Association Journal (July/August 2008).
• “Didden v. Village of Port Chester: For Now, Broad Judicial Deference To Local Governments’ Exercise of Eminent Domain Powers Remains The Rule”, New York State Bar Association Government, Law and Policy Journal (Spring 2007).