Phillip S. Howell

Phillip S. Howell


Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith

Recognized since 2025

Tampa, Florida

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation

Insurance Law

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Phillip Howell’s twenty-plus years of litigation and trial experience allow him to provide clients with an accurate early case assessment, always with an eye toward what the verdict form will look like at trial and the critical issues at mediation. He has a firm grasp of the legal issues and knowledge of the venues in Florida and knows what it takes to achieve his clients’ goals. Phillip has represented diverse businesses to resolve their disputes through the most efficient means possible, from informal negotiations, mediation, and arbitration, to litigation, trial, and appeal.

Before practicing law, Phillip practiced public accounting and maintains his license as a Florida Certified Public Accountant. This background allows him to take the information from experts and cut through it quickly, with a deep understanding of the numbers.

Phillip practices in the areas of commercial and insurance litigation with an emphasis on first-party insurance, maritime, general negligence, construction defect, and professional negligence defense. He regularly defends clients in maritime, products liability, and general negligence claims, representing insurance companies, design professionals, contractors, materials manufacturers, and suppliers. He also regularly defends other professionals, including lawyers and accountants, in professional liability matters.

Phillip has experience litigating fire, explosion, and catastrophic damage cases on behalf of insurers, manufacturers, and equipment testing companies, requiring detailed forensic investigations and responses to regulatory investigators.

In addition to litigation matters, Phillip has handled a broad range of transactional matters, including business and commercial real property sales and purchases, re-financing, defeasance, and foreclosures. He is well-versed in corporate formation, governance, and tax matters. and is admitted to the United States Tax Court.

Phillip is “AV” rated by his peers from Martindale Hubbell, noted for his high professional ethics and preeminent legal ability.

Locations
  • 400 North Ashley Drive, Suite 1000
    Tampa, FL 33602
  • 110 East Broward Boulevard, Suite 1890
    Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
  • 21 East Garden Street
    First Floor
    Pensacola, FL 32502
Education
  • South Texas College of Law Houston, JD, graduated 2000
  • University of West Florida, BA, graduated 1987
Bar Admissions
  • Florida, The Florida Bar
Affiliations
  • Florida Certified Public Accountant License - CPA
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance - Member
  • Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants - Member
  • Hillsborough Bar Association - Member
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern, Southern, and Middle Districts of Florida
  • U.S. Tax Court

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Insurance Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
  • Employment Law - Management
  • Construction Law
  • Transportation Law

Publications

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