Phil Gordon
Phil Gordon is a partner at Kinshield Law whose practice centers on high-stakes family matters, child welfare proceedings, Child Protective Services / Children and Youth Services investigations, custody disputes, and civil litigation. His approach is built around preparation, clear communication, and protecting a client's interests from the earliest stages of a matter through resolution.
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Phil Gordon is a partner at Kinshield Law and a central figure in the firm's child welfare and family-law practice. His work focuses on matters involving Child Protective Services and Child Welfare Services, including investigations, emergency interventions, removal proceedings, dependency matters, custody disputes, and cases in which allegations of abuse or neglect intersect with broader family-law issues. Gordon's practice developed around a simple observation: legal problems involving children rarely remain confined to one area of law. A CPS investigation can quickly become a custody dispute. A custody dispute can introduce criminal allegations. An agency investigation can affect a parent's employment, reputation, living arrangements, and relationship with their children. His approach is therefore deliberately broader than the immediate issue presented at the beginning of a case. Gordon works with clients to understand the facts, identify the immediate legal risks, establish priorities, and develop a strategy for the proceedings ahead. He places particular emphasis on early preparation. In child-welfare matters, families can find themselves making important decisions before they fully understand the process or the potential consequences, and Gordon's role is to bring structure to that uncertainty. At Kinshield Law, he works alongside attorneys handling related family, criminal, and civil matters when a case requires a broader legal strategy.
The Practice
- •Child Protective Services / Children and Youth Services Representation
- •Family Law
- •Child Custody
- •Civil Litigation
The Approach
Protect first. Prepare early. Fight intelligently.
“When a family is under pressure, the first job is to bring clarity to the situation. Once we understand what is happening, we can start making deliberate decisions about what comes next.”Phil Gordon
Experience
- •Partner, Kinshield Law, 2018-Present
- •Senior Associate, Gordon Harrison Legal Group, 2012-2018
- •Associate Attorney, Private Litigation Practice, 2007-2012
- •Law Clerk, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, 2005-2007
Education
- •Juris Doctor, Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2005
- •Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2002
Bar Admissions
- •State Bar of Wisconsin
- •United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- •United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Professional Memberships
- •Wisconsin State Bar Association
- •American Bar Association
- •Family Law Section
- •Child and Family Law Section
- •Trial Lawyers Association
- •Local Bar Association
Publications
- •“When CPS Calls: The First Decisions Parents Should Consider”
- •“Understanding the Difference Between a CPS Investigation and a Court Proceeding”
- •“When Child Welfare and Child Custody Collide”
- •“Preparing for an Emergency Family-Court Hearing”
Community Involvement
- •Volunteer, Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) orientation program
- •Speaker, local legal aid clinic: know-your-rights sessions on child welfare investigations
- •Pro bono intake support, family law self-help clinic
Selected Matters
Child Welfare Investigation
Represented a parent during a contested child welfare investigation involving allegations of neglect. Focus: early intervention, agency communications, evidence development, and family-court strategy.
Emergency Child Removal
Represented a parent following an emergency removal and subsequent court proceedings. Focus: emergency hearing preparation, custody advocacy, procedural strategy, and reunification planning.
CPS / Custody Intersection
Represented a parent where CPS involvement became intertwined with an existing custody dispute. Focus: coordinating child-welfare and family-law strategy.
High-Conflict Custody Matter
Represented a parent in a disputed custody proceeding involving competing allegations concerning parental fitness. Focus: evidence, parenting arrangements, litigation preparation, and long-term custody strategy.
Representative matters are presented as case-study categories for illustrative purposes and do not describe specific outcomes.
This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this website does not create an attorney-client relationship. The law can vary by jurisdiction and by the facts of your situation. Consult an attorney for guidance specific to your matter.