Workplace hierarchies can create both efficiency and vulnerability. While these structures keep companies organized, they can also foster environments where harassment flourishes.
See how William Phillips, a former investment banker and now a leading sexual harassment attorney, leverages his experience to protect victims and challenge abuse of power.
William Phillips: From Finance to Advocacy
As one of the best sexual harassment lawyers in New York City, Phillips understands perfectly how the workplace hierarchy works, as he has worked as an investment banker, negotiating major aviation deals.
During those years, he saw firsthand how leaders use their power. Now, at Phillips & Associates, he uses those experiences to challenge the same power structures he observed.
After starting over from scratch twice in his career, the first was after 9/11, when the aviation industry collapsed and with it his banking career, and the second was during the 2008 mortgage crisis, when real estate values cratered, and he was forced to rebuild in his late 40s. Phillips recounts that those experiences gave him deep empathy for people who suddenly feel their livelihood slipping away, "a feeling many of my clients experience after being harassed or forced out of jobs they depended on," Phillips said.
Uncovering Workplace Coercion
When Nestlé fired its CEO due to an unreported relationship with a subordinate, Phillips noticed a recurring pattern: "A man with power. A woman without it. A relationship built on secrecy, fear, and pressure."
He has seen situations like this in many fields. "A law firm owner carries on a 'relationship' with his paralegal until his wife finds out, and suddenly, the paralegal can't work there anymore. A restaurant manager tells a server he'll 'overlook' her absence if she sends explicit photos. Different companies. Different industries. Same pattern," Phillips explains.
As an international model, he saw how photographers and agents could pressure models by pretending to offer opportunities that these models crave. He learned that what seems like agreement is often a façade for fear. These experiences help him spot patterns of grooming, which now makes his legal work easier.
Recognition Through Results
Phillips & Associates is not just another law firm. This New York sexual harassment attorney firm has helped over 4,000 clients, litigated almost 2,000 cases in state and federal courts, and recovered about $300 million for clients.
In just the first eight months of 2025, they have secured $33 million for clients. Phillips & Associates boasts over 600 verified four to five-star reviews, which solidifies its client trust alongside peer recognition.
For these wins and more, Phillips & Associates has been named among the Best New York Labor and Employment Lawyers by Best Lawyers of America, as well as the 10 Best Labor & Employment Attorneys award from the American Institute of Legal Counsel.
It did not end there; William Phillips himself was named Lawyer of the Year by the American Institute of Legal Professionals.
Relentlessly Fighting the Power Problem
The Main focus of Phillips & Associates is to fight for employees who are mistreated at work, particularly victims of sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation in major cities in America.
Through their services, they have shown that justice is possible against mighty bosses, executives, and corporations, using a progressive, ready-for-trial strategy combined with deep compassion and discretion. Clients feel safe to carry on their legal journey.
Phillips frequently returns to power as the central issue: "When your boss controls your paycheck, promotions, and future opportunities, there's no equal relationship. The most dangerous zone looks consensual on the surface but is built on fear underneath."
Many workers feel powerless when harassed, fearing being fired or ignored by HR, which often prioritizes protecting high-earning "golden geese."
The firm handles
- verbal harassment (comments, jokes, inappropriate texts),
- physical harassment (groping, touching, shoulder massages),
- digital harassment (explicit messages, late-night DMs, unwanted photos),
- coercive workplace "relationships" (promotions tied to intimacy), and
- retaliation (demotions, project removal, termination after rejecting advances).
Solving this issue requires both personal support and systemic changes. Phillips helps individuals now and works for broader change through education and new resources.
Their victories include seven-figure settlements with neutral references and non-disparagement clauses to protect clients' careers.
A Different Philosophy
Some law firms push their clients into the public eye during high-profile harassment cases. Phillips believes in doing the opposite: "Publicity often helps the lawyer more than the victim. Our role is to shield clients, not expose them."
Phillips & Associates prepares every case as if it will go to court and only represents employees, not companies. This allows them to negotiate private, high-value settlements before cases reach trial, enabling clients to seek justice without reliving their trauma in public. With more than 600 four and five-star reviews, the firm has established a reputation not only for results but also for discretion.
Moving Forward
Phillips & Associates is expanding beyond New York and New Jersey, now with offices in Pennsylvania and Florida and partnerships nationwide. Phillips aims to establish a national law firm and make HarassmentHelp.org the premier online support platform for individuals who are not yet ready to consult a lawyer. He also wants to change the law so that coercive workplace relationships are clearly seen as harassment.
For Phillips, success means helping people regain their careers and dignity, not just winning settlements. The team is dedicated to protecting both clients' rights and their futures, ensuring that those facing harassment or retaliation have strong, caring advocates by their side.
