Philip R. Thomas

Philip Thomas focuses his practice on the intersection of law, politics, and government at the federal and state levels. He leverages his experience and the law, not merely to defend clients and elections, but to give his clients the winning edge.

He previously served as the Chief Counsel—as well as Political Director and Strategy Director—for the North Carolina Republican Party, an organization with nearly 2.2 million members and over 115 separate committees with distinct bylaws and leadership. During his tenure at the Party, GOP candidates won 23 of 27 statewide elections.

Philip has counseled and represented political committees, candidates, elected officials, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, lobbyists, and business entities. He provides advice on issues of law, politics, policy, business, government ethics, and public relations.

He has played a key role in filing and defending against election protests, candidate challenges, public records requests, administrative claims, and state and federal litigation. Philip has also negotiated, drafted, defended, and enforced multimillion-dollar commercial contracts, service-level agreements, and MOUs.

Philip has also served as Deputy General Counsel for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and has experience in every branch of North Carolina state government—including working in the Lt. Governor’s office, the NC State House, the NC State Senate, the NC Court of Appeals, and several administrative agencies.

He is the Chair of the North Carolina Chapter of the Republican National Lawyers Association and serves on their national Board of Governors. Philip is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Triangle Chapter of the Federalist Society.

Philip received his B.A. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and his law degree from Campbell University School of Law. He is also a graduate of the Institute for the Public Trust’s statewide leadership program.

Philip is admitted to practice in North Carolina and before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina.

Philip has been recognized as a Legal Elite–Young Gun by Business North Carolina (2022, 2023, and 2024).