Phil Gordon, a partner at Holtzman Vogel, tries complex civil rights cases from complaint through appeal in courts and tribunals across the country. His practice focuses primarily on voting rights cases involving the First and Fourteenth Amendments and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.  Phil also represents clients in commercial, FOIA, and FEC related litigation matters. In addition to his active litigation practice, Phil advises clients on issues related to elections and campaigns for federal office as well as on redistricting and voting related issues.

Prior to joining Holtzman Vogel, Phil served as associate counsel for the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Before becoming an attorney, Phil worked as an emergency planner for the City of Austin Texas.

When not serving clients, Phil can often be found in his Jeep on a muddy trail somewhere.

Clerkship/Government Experience
  • Associate Counsel,  for the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee
  • Emergency Planner, City of Austin, Texas

Notable Political Law and Redistricting Matters

  • Co-counsel to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Republican Governor’s Association in litigation respecting Florida’s system for organizing ballots in partisan elections, winning a complete victory on appeal at the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Played a significant role in drafting briefs before the trial court and the Court of Appeals. The Eleventh Circuit largely adopted the arguments on standing presented in the briefs, and the opinion by the Eleventh Circuit has been cited in numerous other courts and briefs since it was issued in April 2020.
  • Represented amicus non-partisan organization in briefing before the Texas Supreme Court on equal protection and related issues concerning the power of counties to change election procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic in contravention of Texas State law.
  • Co-counsel to certain members of both the Michigan House of Representatives and Michigan Republican congressional delegation in redistricting litigation, successfully appealing a three-judge panel opinion of the Eastern District of Michigan to the Supreme Court of the United States.
  • Co-counsel and second chair on an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Played an integral role in drafting briefs and preparing lead counsel for oral argument.
  • Represented amicus the National Republican Redistricting Trust in briefing before the Supreme Court of the United States on voting rights issues.
  • Co-counsel for Pennsylvania state senator in redistricting litigation, winning a complete victory in front of the three-judge panel of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Played a significant role at trial in the same case by preparing and examining witnesses and drafting briefing.

Selected Amicus Filings at the Supreme Court of the United States:

  • Co-author, Brief of Amicus Curiae the National Republican Congressional Committee in Support of Appellants, Beverly R. Gill, et al., v. William Whitford, et al., No. 16-1161. Brief
  • Counsel of Record, Brief of Amicus Curiae The National Republican Redistricting Trust in Support of Petitioners; Timothy K. Moore, in His Official Capacity as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, et al., v. Rebecca Harper, et al., No. 21-1271.  Brief
  • Counsel of Record, Motion for Leave to File Amicus Brief, Motion for Leave to Fil on 8 ½ by 11 Inch Paper, and Amicus Curiae Brief of The Republican National Committee, The NRCC, & The North Carolina Republican Party, Timothy Moore, in his official capacity as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, et al., v. Rebecca Harper, et al., No. 21A455.  Brief
  • Co-author, Brief of Amicus Curiae The American Legislative Exchange Council in Support of Petitioners, Philip E. Berger, et al,v. North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, et al., No. 21-248.  Brief
  • Co-author, Brief for Amicus Curiae Senator Joseph B. Scarnati, III in Support of Appellees, O. John Benisek, et al., v. Linda H. Lamone, Administrator, Maryland State Board of Elections, et al., No. 17-333. Brief 
  • Federalist Society, Member
  • Republican National Lawyers Association, Member
  • Cleared4 (technology start-up, bio/health and safety), Board Member
  • Panel Speaker, Florida Chapter Conference of the Federalist Society, Redistricting in Florida, 2/4/2022
  • Panel Speaker, Republican National Lawyers Association 20th National Election Law Seminar, Redistricting,  8/13/2021
  • Virginia Super Lawyers, "Rising Star" - 2023
  • Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation - 2024

Related Practice Areas
  • Baylor Law School, J.D.
    • Leadership Scholar
    • President of the Baylor Law chapter of the Federalist Society 
  • University of Texas at Austin, M.S., Community and Regional Planning
  • Virginia Bar
  • Texas Bar
  • District of Columbia Bar
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Courts of Appeal for the Second, Fifth, Sixth, and Eleventh Circuits
  • United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the Northern District of Texas
Phillip M. Gordon