Phillip Kelly

Phillip Kelly

Partner
Birmingham
About

Phillip Kelly has significant experience of domestic and international litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. Phillip's practice has a particular focus on complex, high value and strategic disputes across a number of sectors, including technology, outsourcing and government contracting.

Phillip regularly acts on cross-border disputes, and has recently advised clients on matters involving the United States, the Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Spain, India, Dubai, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Ivory Coast, Singapore and China

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and InvestigationsRegulatory and Government AffairsTechnology
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising a FTSE 100 plc on a series of related disputes in connection with a £75 million contract with the public sector for outsourced IT services
  • Advising a leading global technology company in the successful defence of a $74 million claim arising out of its withdrawal of a joint venture for consumer photography services in Shanghai
  • Acting for a global manufacturer on its successful claim in ICC arbitration proceedings against a Middle East based customer with regard to a $30 million purchase agreement for the supply of oil refinery equipment to India
  • Acting for a leading outsourcing provider on a £25 million arbitration in relation to the sharing of refinancing gains under a PFI contract
  • Advising a FTSE 100 plc on procurement and judicial review issues relating to the cancellation of a tender process by the Ministry of Defence
  • Acting and advising on high profile public inquiries, including acting as a legal advisor to an inquiry team and acting for a private sector participating party

Awards

  • “Has an extremely keen mind and keeps an eye on the big picture, while being all over the detail” Chambers and Partners 2020
  • “Phillip Kelly has the ability to make complicated matters sounds relatively straightforward and is very confidence-inspiring” Legal 500 2020
  • “frighteningly intelligent” and “one of the cleverest litigators I’ve come across” Chambers and Partners 2019
  • “Formidably bright” Legal 500 2018
  • “Extremely knowledgeable and thorough … he doesn't miss a thing and is very good at having a strategic overview of litigation” Chambers and Partners 2018
  • “He's excellent - very clever, committed and professional in everything he does” Chambers and Partners 2017
Education
  • LLB Law, University of Leicester

Seminars

Phillip is heavily involved in the firm's award winning WIN programme for in-house lawyers, and is a regular speaker on topics such as contractual interpretation, managing contractual change and risk, IT outsourcing models and managing delay in major projects.

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Society for Computers and Law

My latest insights

Publication

Is legal advice developed by or with an AI System legally privileged?

13 October 2025

Publication

Is legal advice developed by or with an AI System legally privileged?

8 October 2025

Publication

Technology Disputes Dinner 2025

1 July 2025 .1 minute read

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Phone

+44 121 262 5812
(Work, Birmingham)
+44 7738 295 315
(Mobile)