Philip Gupta Kent

“Over nearly 25 years of practice, my clients have come to expect and have praised me for taking a genuine and deep interest in their interests and outcomes. Whether the client is a business, a municipality or an individual, my role is to problem solve in the most effective and efficient way possible under the circumstances and that is what I strive to do.”

After 19 years with another venerable New Haven firm, Philip Gupta Kent joined the firm in 2025 as Of Counsel, and is a member of its Litigation Practice Group. As a civil and commercial litigator for nearly 25 years, Phil represents a variety of institutions, lenders, municipalities, companies and individuals in commercial, municipal and personal matters in areas including bankruptcy (creditor-side), foreclosure, collections, complex business litigation, housing, employment, general civil litigation (including torts, fraud, CUTPA, and breach of contract claims), probate litigation and appeals. Phil also serves as outside counsel for Middletown’s Fair Rent Commission, which he helped establish for the city in 2024 in compliance with state law.

Phil is admitted to practice law in Connecticut, New York, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut, and the Mohegan Gaming Disputes Court. After graduating magna cum laude from Quinnipiac University School of Law in 2001, he served as a judicial law clerk at the Connecticut Appellate Court for the Honorable Socrates H. Mihalakos. Phil also serves or has served on several boards, including the Teach For America Connecticut Advisory Board, the New Haven County Bar Association, and the Foundation for the New Haven County Bar. Since 2018, he has chaired the Hamden Ethics Board. Phil is most proud of his public interest work, including community organizing work with CONECT (weconect.org), where he helped lead a successful campaign to pass the Clean Slate law in 2021, which provides a pathway for people to expunge eligible criminal records and removes barriers to their success in finding jobs and stable housing, and entering higher education institutions.

Previously, Phil was a public middle school teacher in New York as a 1996 Teach for America corps member. He is also an adjunct professor with the University of New Haven, where he teaches Civil Procedure and Law & Culture classes. Phil earned a bachelor’s degree in English, cum laude, and a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and Public Relations from Boston University in 1993. Phil also is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and the New Haven County Bar Association, where he served as co-chair of the Public Service Committee and chaired its Membership Committee. In 2016, Phil proudly accepted the NHCBA’s President’s Award for his dedication to the New Haven legal community. Phil has been an active member of the New Haven Inn of Court for many years. Phil lives in Hamden with his family, and enjoys training for and running marathons in his spare time.

Representative Matters

• Defended start-up company from theft of trade secrets and improper competition by independent contractor and supplier across multiple jurisdictions in state and federal venues, including bankruptcy court adversary proceeding, federal appeal and bankruptcy appeal, and obtained prejudgment remedies and injunctions in state court.

• Defended regional lender through successful trial against $20 million lender liability claim by borrower and guarantor

• Represented and advised debt servicer in $1 Billion foreclosure and collection matter against well-known high end clothing retailer and collaborated with other counsel on actions spanning numerous jurisdictions

• Represented community development lender against commercial borrower and guarantor in multi-million dollar foreclosure and defended follow on litigation by borrower and guarantor asserting CUTPA and other claims, including multiple appeals

• Prosecuted breach of contract, unfair trade practices and fraud litigation on behalf of international granite fabricator against industry business partner

• Represented individuals and companies in a wide range of general practice matters including but not limited to business disputes and business divorces with partners, trademark filings, probate litigation, and trespass and other tort cases

• Represented and advised landlords, and occasionally select tenants, in housing matters, including advising respected community organization on housing policies and practices

• Assisted in establishing and served as counsel to municipal fair rent commission to advise on numerous legal issues in relation to excessive rent complaints

• Served as municipal counsel on tax foreclosures, collections and municipal insurance defense matters

• Represented and advised employers and employees in various employment matters related to issues including contractual relations, compensation, and discrimination before state agency and state and federal courts, including the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Activities & Associations

• American Bar Association member (2002-2018)

• CONECT (Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut)

o Strategy Team / board member (2018-2024)

o Criminal Justice Reform Team Co-Chair (2018-present)

o Slyce campaign leader (2016-2017)

o Clean Slate campaign co-leader (2018 – present)

• Congregation Mishkan Israel

o Board Member of Board of Trustees (2013-2015)

o CONECT CMI Chapter – Core Team member (2016 – present); co-chair (2017- present)

o Pe’ah Project / Community Garden (2005-2015); Chairperson (2006-2010)

• Connecticut Access to Justice Commission – Pro Bono Working Group member (2018 – present)

• Connecticut Bar Association member (2006-present)

• Connecticut Bar Foundation – Life Fellow (2018-present)

• Coalition for Education in Learning, Steering Committee member (2020-2021)

• of Consumer Protection – Heating, Piping, Cooling & Sheet Metal Licensing Board Member (2009-2012)

• Educational Leadership Movement – co-founder and co-chair (2017-2019)

• Exploration Summer Programs at Yale – mock trial program, Judge and guest speaker (2009 – present)

• Foundation of the New Haven County Bar

o Board of Directors (2012 – 2021)

o Grant Committee member (2012 – 2021)

o Secretary (2016-2017)

• Hamden

o Board of Ethics member (2017-present); Chairperson (2018 – present)

o Hamden Economic Development Corporation Board Member (2024 – present)

o Hamden Town Equity Committee member (2020)

o Hamden Police Chief Community Input & Transparency Committee member (2019-2020)

• Lawyers For Children America – Pro Bono Lawyer For Neglected Children (2005)

• New Haven County Bar Association

o Member (2006 – present)

o Executive Board Member (2013-2024)

o Membership Committee Chair (2015 – 2017); member (2015-2018)

o Public Service Committee Chair (2009-2013); member (2006-present)

• New Haven Inn of Court member (2008 – present)

• North South Foundation Spelling & Math Bees – Judge (2003-2012)

• Organizing For Equity New Haven, member (2019-2023)

• Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity member (2000-present)

• Quinnipiac University School of Law Mentorship Program – Mentor (2016-present)