Phillip J. Bowen - of Counsel
Phil Bowen began practicing law at Conlin, McKenney & Philbrick in 1974, and recently retired after 32 years of distinguished and productive service to the Firm.
Mr. Bowen built the Firm’s national retail lease practice based largely on his long time representation of Borders Group, Inc., headquartered in Ann Arbor. He negotiated the first lease for a Borders Bookstore in 1986, and since that time has served as outside counsel to Borders in real estate matters. Mr. Bowen has played an integral role in the development of the Borders leasing program as the Company transitioned from a privately owned company, to a subsidiary of Kmart Corporation, and then to a publicly traded company. Mr. Bowen has also represented local developers in both commercial and retail leasing activities.
In addition to his extensive real estate law practice, Mr. Bowen’s business law practice has served as a cornerstone for Conlin, McKenney & Philbrick’s transactional group.
The Firm’s business and real estate law practice owes much to Mr. Bowen’s rich legacy of representing businesses and individuals in all types of corporate and real estate matters. His problem solving approach to law has helped solidify the Firm’s reputation as solution-oriented attorneys who are focused on the clients, not on themselves.
Born in Hastings, Nebraska, Phil Bowen received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska, and received his Juris Doctor degree, (cum laude), in 1972 from the University of Michigan Law School. He received an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability, and has been selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America.
Mr. Bowen has been a vital part of the Ann Arbor community for years through his leadership on behalf of a number of community organizations. He was Founder and served as a board member and president of the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, served as board member and President of Ronald McDonald House, and a member of the Board of Trustees and Chair of The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. He has also served as a trustee for the Buhr Foundation, Secretary of the board of the Michigan Non-Profit Housing Corporation, a member of the board of the Washtenaw Technical Middle College, and a member of the board and past Chair of Glacier Hills of Ann Arbor. Mr. Bowen has also been an active volunteer for the Interfaith Hospitality Network and for the Hunger Coalition (now the Community Kitchen at the Delonis Center in Ann Arbor.) He is a longstanding and active member of his church, St. Clare’s Episcopal in Ann Arbor, where he has served as a member of the Vestry and Senior Warden.
Phil Bowen’s respected career as the consummate lawyer in talent and in temperament was recently recognized by the Washtenaw County Bar Association, which awarded Mr. Bowen with the Professionalism and Civility in the Practice of Law Award for 2006.
Phil’s retirement from the Firm was prompted by his current battle against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease), which he was diagnosed with in 2005. His courage, strength and good humor in handling this challenge is just another example of his ability to inspire.
Phil’s legacy to Conlin, McKenney & Philbrick, and to our community, can perhaps best be summed up by his feeling, often expressed in word and in deed, that “There is no end to the amount of good that can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.”
