SAN ANTONIO – Is Phipps Deacon Purnell still an active law firm? Well, the website for the firm is still up and running, but whether the lawyers who run the firm remain is another question.
Phipps Deacon Purnell currently represents numerous governmental entities in opioid litigation, most notably Bexar County, which wants $1 billion in damages from drug makers and distributors.
So with such a possible big payday on the horizon, why does the firm appear to be fracturing?
In December, The Record reported that Daniel Griffin and Simon Purnell left Phipps Deacon Purnell to start their own firm.
Earlier this month, The Record reported that Martin Phipps started a new law firm with T.J. Mayes, the former chief of staff for Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolf.
And now, The Record has learned that Barry Deacon may have been fired from Phipps Deacon Purnell.
The Phipps Deacon Purnell website still lists Deacon as a partner, but the site also still lists Purnell and Griffin as partners too.
The law firm could not answer whether Deacon had been fired, and Phipps has not returned a request for comment.
Interestingly enough, the phone number for Phipps Deacon Purnell is the same one used by Phipps’ new firm, Phipps Mayes.
The fracturing of the law firm also raises another question, which of Phipps’ firms is representing Bexar County in its opioid suit?
Records show Phipps signed a representation agreement with the county on Dec. 5, 2017 while he still was of Phipps Anderson Deacon. The Texas Comptroller approved the contract on Feb. 26, 2018.
Phipps Anderson Deacon has since become Phipps Deacon Purnell, which shares at least a phone number with Phipps Mayes.
The reason for the attorney exodus at the firm isn’t known, but what is known is that troubles at the firm have spilled over into the courts in recent years.
Last November, The Record obtained documents showing Phipps may have made “straw man” donations through Jason Reichl, a former Phipps employee who was charged with financial theft.
Phipps filed a civil complaint against Reichl on July 11, 2019 alleging that he and several other former employees, along with their family members, stole $12.3 million.
A document in the litigation shows what appear to be several instances of Phipps, through his entity Martin Phipps PLLC, making “straw man” contributions through Reichl.
Around the same time, Phipps was also entrenched in litigation he brought against former firm employees who allegedly held on to passwords and login credentials for the firm’s laptops, computers, storage system and phone system.
Phipps moved to put both cases under seal.
Bexar County is also represented by Fibich Leebron and The Gallagher Law Firm.