Hickory native Philip A. Mullins, IV earned a spot in the “Best Lawyers in America” for 2012. Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, annually recognizes outstanding attorneys selected by thousands of leading lawyers throughout the country. A listing in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers.
While Mullins’ firm, Thomas, Ferguson & Mullins, L.L.P., is based in Durham, North
Philip Mullins IV
Carolina, he credits his upbringing in Hickory, North Carolina for providing him with a strong background for his choice of a career in the law.
“I owe so much to others,” Mullins noted in discussing the honor. “There are so many people in my life who helped shape me, they deserve more credit than they’ll probably ever get. No one ever gets these kinds of awards in a highly competitive occupation without owing a lot of thanks to the people who helped them along the way. I want to thank my family, law partners and staff for their support.”
Mullins recalled his upbringing in Hickory in talking about the foundation of his adult life and career. “I wish my father would have lived to see me earn this honor. I’m incredibly glad that my mother and siblings are here to enjoy in this recognition. My family has always loved Hickory, and I was raised to try my best to make my hometown proud.
Mullins citied two sports experiences in Hickory as having a strong influence in his life. “I had the honor of being on two state championship baseball teams in Hickory. We played tournaments where the kids on other teams didn’t have the privilege of the kinds of coaches had. I can tell you that with teammates like David Craft, Jeff Thompson, Kevin Hendricks, Alan Gorry, Ronnie Hayes, Spencer Lilly and Brad Griffith, I was not the most talented player. But, with baseball coaches like Tom Lilly, Danny Thompson, David Beard, and Ted Hayes, I learned the meaning of hard work, dedication and teamwork.”
“In basketball, my Hickory coaches were Jim Pitts, Wes Dunlap and Dickie James. They instilled those same values that I had learned in baseball.”
“Those Hickory coaches and teammates helped me to become good enough, mentally and physically, to play sports at the high school and even the small college level.“
Those early lessons in sports translated into career and life lessons for Mullins as well. “Many of the attitudes and mental toughness that I learned from sports back then translated into the job market. Most kids won’t be professional athletes or even scholarship athletes in college. But my coaches and teammates in Hickory helped me become a better person. It makes me a better lawyer.”
About Philip A. Mullins, IV:
Honors and Awards
Philip is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the country with membership limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements and was named to the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers in North Carolina” by the American Trial Lawyers Association. Philip has been voted by his peers as one of “The Best Lawyers in America” which is considered to be a singular honor conferred on a lawyer by his peers.
Professional Activities
Philip is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, North Carolina Advocates for Justice (formerly the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers), American Bar Association, and Durham County Bar Association where he served as President in 2010-11. Philip has served as an officer within committees for the Durham County Bar Association.
Philip is admitted to practice in the courts of the State of North Carolina and the United States District Court for the Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina, the Fourth Circuit United States Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
Education
B.A., 1988, Wheaton College; J.D., 1993, Campbell University. At Campbell he was selected to represent the school on the International Moot Court team, was a published member of the Campbell Law Review, and received the Thomas Anderson Scholarship. Also during law school, he held the position of law clerk to the North Carolina OSHA Review Board.
Civic Activities
Philip works closely with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and has spoken frequently at events and fundraisers throughout Eastern North Carolina, successfully raising significant money to find the cure for Type 1 diabetes. His two sons both have juvenile onset diabetes (Type 1 diabetes).
About Thomas, Ferguson & Mullins, L.L.P.:
Mullins’ Law Firm, Thomas, Ferguson & Mullins, L.L.P., have been named a “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News Best Lawyers for 2011-2012. A comprehensive choice of practice areas, coupled with research of firms nationally and within local legal markets makes the “Best Law Firm” ranking a valuable tool for law firm clients.
William J. Thomas II, Jay H. Ferguson, and Mullins are among a select group of 3,000 trial lawyers across the United States, Canada and England who are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. The Forum is one of the most prestigious group of trial lawyers in the country with membership limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Less than one percent of U.S. lawyers are members. Each member has demonstrated in an objective and tangible way their ability to accomplish superior results in complex cases. Certification by the Million Dollar Advocates Forum provides recognition of such accomplishment and a national network of experienced colleagues for information exchange, assistance and professional referral.
Thomas, Ferguson & Mullins, L.L.P. has been certified by the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers for high professional legal standards and ethics. For over 90 years the Bar Register has been a unique guide to the legal community’s most eminent professionals. It includes only those select law practices that have earned the highest rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and have been designated by their colleagues as preeminent in their field.
