Lea A. Phillips

Partner She / Her / Hers
Phoenix

Lea A. Phillips focuses her practice on serving the renewable energy, manufacturing, and waste/recycling industries and has particular expertise in battery energy storage systems (BESS). Lea regularly provides legal counsel on project development and obtains and defends challenges to environmental and land use permits on behalf of her clients. Lea also advises clients on environmental risks and liabilities in business and real estate transactions and routinely negotiates environmental indemnity agreements, prospective purchaser agreements, and transition services agreements.

Experience 

Representative Matters

Regulatory Compliance and Permitting
  • Regularly represents developers in permitting utility scale renewable energy and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects
  • Provided counsel to regional petroleum marketer in issues associated with obtaining renewal of air quality permit
  • Represented a national waste disposal company in drafting and implementing an internal environmental due diligence policy

Professional Highlights

Pro Bono Experience

Lea maintains an active pro bono practice in which she represents human trafficking survivors. Lea recently represented four Thai sex-trafficking survivors in matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Recognition & Accomplishments

Chambers USA, "Up and Coming," Environment (Arizona), 2023, 2024

The Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law (Phoenix), 2025

The Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch," – Environmental Law (Phoenix), 2021-2024

Benchmark Litigation, "40 & Under List," - Environmental (West), 2022-2024

Speaking Engagements

Faculty, Environmental Risks in Business Transactions, Environmental Law Institute Western Boot Camp, 2019 - 2022

Board Memberships & Community Service

Child Crisis Arizona, Board of Directors, External Affairs Committee Chair

Publications

Co-author, "Regulation of Non-Hazardous Waste under RCRA," Chapter 15, The RCRA Practice Manual, Third Edition, ABA Section of Envt., Energy, & Resources, American Bar Association, Chicago, 2013

Credentials 

Education

Arizona State University, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, with Law Science and Technology Certificate)
Associate Editor, Arizona State Law Journal
Order of the Coif
Recipient, Merit Scholarship
Recipient, Willard H. Pedrick Scholar Award for academic achievement
Recipient, Highest Pro Bono Distinction

Arizona State University, Barrett, The Honors College (B.A., magna cum laude)

Admissions

Arizona

U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona