Phil's international practice ranges from general corporate work to dispute resolution. He has acted as outside general counsel to a number of American and foreign clients in connection with projects in the U.S. and around the world, including joint ventures and private equity investments. Phil's international general counsel practice has involved matters/issues in as many as 45-50 countries per year. He has also represented both U.S. and foreign companies in cross-border and domestic arbitration as well as litigation matters in the U.S. and abroad for nearly 30 years. His experience as advocate or arbitrator includes international commercial disputes involving energy supply, joint ventures, health care, telecom, valuation and transfer pricing, as well as patent royalty and other intellectual property, technology transfer and licensing matters. He is a very experienced international arbitrator and is on panels or listed by arbitral institutions globally, including the American Arbitration Association, International Chamber of Commerce, WIPO, the London Court of International Arbitration, CIETAC and the Stockholm, Milan, Dubai, and Hong Kong Arbitration Centers. Phil is a chartered arbitrator and a fellow in both the College of Commercial Arbitrators and in England’s Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He was previously on the American Panel of Arbitrators to resolve trade disputes under the North American Free Trade Agreement. Phil has been listed repeatedly in the International Arbitration section of
The Best Lawyers in America.
Notable Experience
Guidance/Transactional:
- Phil provided post 9/11 guidance to the Chairman of a large Arab bank on anti-terrorist finance issues.
- He served as International Special Counsel to a NYSE listed company on joint ventures.
- He acted as International General Counsel on joint ventures and related industrial projects for Middle Eastern strategic financial partners and American technology partners.
- He served as International General Counsel to a Middle Eastern-financed offshore collective investment through special purpose corporations for U.S., European, North African and Middle Eastern investments.
Dispute Resolution:
- Phil authored a panel decision relating to a ten-figure patent/licensing royalty claim between an Asian pharmaceutical and an American biotech company.
- He was an advocate in a ten-figure energy long-term supply contract breach claim between American and African companies.
- He served as a panel chair in a nine-figure patent royalty claim between an American company and an Asian company in the telecom industry.
- Phil was a member of the panel for a nine-figure patent license dispute between American and Canadian companies over European and Latin American technology transfer.
Phil O'Neill is a partner in the litigation department. He frequently works with members of the life sciences group to craft appropriate alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in agreements. As an arbitrator he has adjuducated over a billion dollars in life science related patent license claims. He has represented both U.S. and foreign companies in cross-border and domestic arbitration as well as litigation matters in the U.S. and abroad for nearly 30 years. He is a very experienced international arbitrator and is on panels or listed by arbitral institutions globally, including the American Arbitration Association, International Chamber of Commerce, WIPO, the London Court of International Arbitration, CIETAC and the Stockholm, Milan, Dubai, and Hong Kong Arbitration Centers. Phil is a chartered arbitrator and a fellow in both the College of Commercial Arbitrators and in England’s Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He was previously on the American Panel of Arbitrators to resolve trade disputes under the North American Free Trade Agreement. Phil has been listed repeatedly in the International Arbitration section of
The Best Lawyers in America.
Notable Experience Guidance/Transactional:
- Phil provided post 9/11 guidance to the Chairman of a large Arab bank on anti-terrorist finance issues.
- He served as International Special Counsel to a NYSE listed company on joint ventures.
- He acted as International General Counsel on joint ventures and related industrial projects for Middle Eastern strategic financial partners and American technology partners.
- He served as International General Counsel to a Middle Eastern-financed offshore collective investment through special purpose corporations for U.S., European, North African and Middle Eastern investments.
Dispute Resolution:
- Phil authored a panel decision relating to a ten-figure patent/licensing royalty claim between an Asian pharmaceutical and an American biotech company.
- He was an advocate in a ten-figure energy long-term supply contract breach claim between American and African companies.
- He served as a panel chair in a nine-figure patent royalty claim between an American company and an Asian company in the telecom industry.
- Phil was a member of the panel for a nine-figure patent license dispute between American and Canadian companies over European and Latin American technology transfer.
- More Examples...
Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications
- Phil frequently lectures and writes on private international law, arbitration and other business topics both in the United States and abroad.
- "The Power of Arbitrators to Award Monetary Sanctions for Discovery Abuse," Chapter 21 in the Arbitration Handbook of the American Arbitration Association.
- "When Taking Control Goes out of Control," American Arbitration Handbook on International Arbitration, Juris Publications.
- "Verification in an Age of Insecurity: The Future of Arms Control Compliance," author, Oxford University Press.
- "National Security and the Legal Process," author, Oxford University Press, 2008.
- "Getting Involved Early and Making an Impact," co-author, Best Practices for International ADR, 2007.
Besides Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge
In 2007 Phil taught international business transactions at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy. Phil served as Nomura lecturer in law at Harvard Law School on International Arbitration in 2005. His professorial career began at Boston College Law School in 1988, where he initially taught a seminar on "National Security Law" and he continues to teach an "International Arbitration" course. He also teaches at Boston University School of Law, where he currently conducts a seminar on "National Security Law," and previously taught a L.L.M. level course entitled "American Foreign Policy and International Banking". Phil previously guest-lectured at the Harvard Law School on "International Arbitration" in the mid to late 1990s as well as 2006, and before that at Harvard Business School on venture capital.
Phil has long been active in Democratic politics, including service as National Co-Director of Lawyers for Kerry-Edwards. He has for many years advised Senators and Presidential aspirants alike on foreign and defense policy issues. For example, he served in the 2004-election campaign as a Senior Policy Advisor and Chairman of the Kerry campaign's Foreign Policy Task Force on Bilateral Relations with Arab and Islamic Nations. He also provided foreign policy guidance to Democratic Congressional candidates under the auspices of the Alliance for American Leadership. Previously he was an Adjunct Research Fellow on national security issues and associated with the John F. Kennedy School of Government's Center for Science and International Affairs from 1982 to 1988. He is a past Vice Chair of the American Bar Association's Committee on National Security Law. His prior service to the Boston Bar Association included chairing the International Section as well as its International Arbitration Committee. He is a fellow in the American Bar Foundation. He was named repeatedly by Boston Magazine as a Massachusetts "Super Lawyer" in its International category.