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Dunn & Phillips, P.C.

A firm that answers

A neighborhood law firm in Springfield and Westfield since 1988. You call, a person picks up, and you get a straight answer.

  • The Dunn & Phillips office at 185 Belmont Avenue, Springfield.
    185 Belmont Avenue, Springfield Since 1990. Walk-ins welcome.
  • The Dunn & Phillips real estate office at 198 Belmont Avenue, Springfield.
    198 Belmont Avenue, across the street Closings, by appointment.
  • The Dunn & Phillips office at 56 Washington Street, Westfield.
    56 Washington Street, Westfield The Personal Injury Law Center.

Eileen Dunn and Cornelius “Neil” Phillips started the firm in 1988. Attorney Dunn no longer practices; she is our Founding Partner Emeritus, and the firm keeps her name in her honor. Neil is from Springfield, and so are the firm's roots.

Most people still find us the way people here have always found a lawyer: a neighbor tells them, or they come back years after we did a closing or a case for them. We take on personal injury, real estate, and probate and estate planning, and our staff speak Spanish, Turkish, Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese, and French.

We have grown by returning the call and telling people the truth, including when they do not need a lawyer at all. Since 1988 that has come to more than 12,000 personal injury matters, more than 10,000 real estate closings, and more than 1,000 wills and estate matters.

If you are deciding whether to call: the first conversation is free, and there is no obligation either way.

How we got here

  1. 1988

    The firm opens

    Dunn & Phillips opens its doors at 1531 Main St, Springfield, MA 01103.

  2. 1990

    A move to Belmont Avenue

    The firm relocates to 185 Belmont Ave, Springfield, MA 01108.

  3. 2006

    Westfield office opens

    The firm expands with a Westfield office at 59 Arnold St, Westfield, MA 01085.

  4. 2020

    A second Springfield office

    To support the volume of real estate closings, a second office opens across the street at 198 Belmont Ave, Springfield, MA 01108.

  5. 2024

    Westfield moves

    The Westfield office moves to 56 Washington Street, Westfield, MA 01085.

  6. Today

    Three offices strong

    Still here for you and your family, across Western Massachusetts.

Outside the office

Neil Phillips leads the firm's work in the community, on local boards and in pro bono service across Western Massachusetts that the Supreme Judicial Court has recognized.

Western New England University School of Law

Co-founder, Law School for a Day (2023)

In 2023, named partner Attorney Neil Phillips helped found Law School for a Day, a one-day program that gives Springfield high school students an authentic taste of legal education. Created alongside the Hon. Judge Mulcahy and partners across the local legal community, its inaugural year drew students from six high schools.

Read about Law School for a Day

Celebration of Hope W. MA, Inc.

Board member

Attorney Phillips serves on the board of Celebration of Hope W. MA, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to raising funds to improve the health of people in our communities.

Visit Celebration of Hope

Springfield Together

Board member

Attorney Phillips is a board member of Springfield Together, a nonprofit that has supported the community since 2013. After partnering with the C3 Police Unit and incorporating in 2015, it has grown from hosting community events to running long-lasting, high-impact projects, striving to change the reputation of Springfield one step at a time.

Visit Springfield Together

Neil was also named to ThreeBestRated's Best Real Estate Lawyers in Springfield.

Recognition reflects past service and peer review. It is not a guarantee, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

We also keep a list of local courts, legal aid, and help programs: community resources.

What we do

Personal Injury

You're hurt, the bills are coming, and the adjuster keeps calling.

You didn't ask for any of this, and now a stranger from the insurance company wants you to settle before you know what your injury will cost. We deal with them so you don't have to. You pay nothing, not even costs, unless we win, and we build every case as if it's going to trial.

If we win, our fee is a percentage of the amount recovered and is paid out of that settlement or verdict, along with case costs; if there is no recovery, you owe no fee or costs.

Massachusetts generally gives you three years from the injury to file. Waiting can cost you the case.

How we approach injury cases

Real Estate

A closing has a dozen moving parts, and any one of them can derail the day you get the keys.

A purchase runs through title examination, the purchase and sale agreement, financing and inspection deadlines, lender coordination, and recording at the registry. We manage the full transaction: we examine title for defects before they become your problem, hold every party to the dates in the agreement, and reconcile the closing figures so the number you see is the number you sign. We take on residential and commercial closings across Western Massachusetts, and we know how the Hampden County registry actually runs. Buyers, sellers, refinances, and investors.

How we approach closings

Probate & Estate Planning

You keep meaning to deal with it, or someone died and now it's on you.

Putting off a will feels easier than facing it, until a family is left untangling the result. We write the plan in plain English so your family is protected, and we walk you through probate one step at a time.

How we approach wills and probate

Common questions

What does the first conversation cost?
Nothing. You tell us what happened, we tell you whether you have a case, and there is no charge and no obligation either way.
What if I can't afford a lawyer?
For injury cases, you pay nothing, not even costs, unless we win. If we win, our fee is a percentage of what we recover for you, paid out of that recovery; if we do not, you owe no fee and no costs. For closings and estate work, we quote a flat, predictable fee before you commit, so there is no meter running.
How do I know if I even have a case?
That is our job to figure out, not yours. Call and describe what happened. If you don't have a claim, we will tell you, and we will often tell you what to do instead.
When might I not need an attorney?
Plenty of situations resolve fine without one. A minor car accident with no injury and only small property damage is usually dealt with by your insurer. A dispute under $7,000 is what Massachusetts small claims court is built for, without a lawyer. A straightforward, uncontested matter where everyone already agrees often does not need one, and many problems a single phone call or letter can settle. If you are in one of these, expect us to point you to the simplest path.
Why would a lawyer tell me I don't need one?
Because it is true more often than people expect, and because a firm families trust across generations is built on straight answers, not billable hours. If your matter does not need a lawyer, saying so gives you reassurance and earns your trust for the day you do.
Will I actually be able to reach my lawyer?
Yes, our attorneys are one call away.
How long do I have to act?
Every kind of matter has its own filing deadlines. The sooner you call, the more options stay open.

These answers are general information, not legal advice, and do not create an attorney-client relationship.

Come in, or call

The first conversation is free.

Springfield (413) 787-9955 Westfield (413) 562-8300

Hurt and it is after hours? The injury line answers 24 hours a day: (413) 426-8657. Or message us in writing.

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