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Timothy Phillips

Tim Phillips

Timothy Phillips

Chief Legal and Risk Officer

Timothy Phillips serves as chief legal and risk officer of the American Cancer Society, Inc., as well as its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN). Tim joined the American Cancer Society’s Office of Corporation Counsel in 2005 and, prior to his current appointment, served in the positions of general counsel and senior counsel. As the American Cancer Society’s chief legal and risk officer, Tim leads a team of legal and compliance professionals and assures that the organization develops, implements, and maintains its mission, fundraising, and strategic research strategies, and operations in accordance with all applicable laws governing public charities. In addition, Tim provides strategic legal counsel to the American Cancer Society Board of Directors, as well as program and operations leadership, balancing business goals with institutional risk to effectively and efficiently accomplish the organization’s lifesaving mission. 
 
Prior to joining the American Cancer Society, Tim spent eight years in private practice in the Atlanta office of Troutman Sanders LLP. He is an internationally recognized faculty member and lecturer on topics related to nonprofit governance, taxation, risk management, and joint ventures. Tim also engages with the community on a variety of volunteer service levels, including his service on the Board of Visitors of the Georgia State University School of Law, the board of the Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta, and the advisory board of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society.  He also serves the boards of several veteran service organizations in an advisory capacity and is counsel to the Navy SEAL Foundation. 

Tim has received numerous honors for his community service, including the Corporate Counsel Award for Community Champion. He was also the 2007 recipient of the H. Sol Clark Award as well as the State Bar of Georgia’s highest honor for pro bono service, and he received a 2016 Legend in Law Burton Award for Legal Achievement. 

Tim received his Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1989 and served the country as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia in 1997. He is a native of Washington, DC, and lives in Marietta, Georgia.