Michael Phillips, of counsel to the firm, was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1983, and the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, New York and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York in 1984. Mr. Phillips received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the City University of New York in 1970 and a Master of Geology degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1980. Mr. Phillips went on to obtain his Juris Doctor from Hofstra University in 1982 and was a staff Attorney for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 1983-1984.