Philip qualified in 1971 and in less than a year from qualification became a partner in Compton Carr where he was a partner until 31 December 1993. During his time at Compton Carr, he established the Company/Commercial Department of that firm and was senior corporate partner. On 1 January 1994, he joined Gordon Brough to form a niche practice focused on corporate and commercial work for key clients. He joined Maclay Murray & Spens as a partner when the firms merged in November 2004. Philip was Chairman of the firm from 2007 until 2010.

Philip has many years' experience as a corporate commercial lawyer particularly in the field of life insurance. He has acted in a number of takeovers of life insurance companies, mergers of life funds and for Lloyd's of London corporate vehicles. His clients include life insurance companies, companies in the Lloyd's market, merchant banks, investment companies and those in the leisure field. He is a non-executive director of a number of companies.

Philip is a contributor to "A Practitioner's Guide to the FSA Regulation of Insurance" (published by City & Financial).