Grant Phillips Law logo

Grant Phillips Law

Best MCA Attorney

MCA defense attorney who uses litigation leverage to negotiate better settlements and protect businesses from confession of judgment and aggressive collection

4.7
(920+ reviews)
Michael Chen Written by Michael Chen, CFA, CFP
Rachel Kim Reviewed by Rachel Kim, JD, CRCM
Updated: March 18, 2026

At a Glance

Founded
2003
Headquarters
Long Beach, NY
Specialty
MCA Defense Law
Approach
Legal + Negotiation
Experience
22+ Years
Representation
Attorney-Client

Rating Breakdown

Performance Overview

Scores out of 5, based on our editorial analysis

About Grant Phillips Law

Grant Phillips Law, PLLC has been representing small businesses in commercial disputes since 2003, operating from Long Beach, New York. Over the past decade, the firm has become one of the most recognized names in MCA defense — representing businesses against merchant cash advance companies in settlement negotiations, confession of judgment challenges, and outright litigation. The critical difference between Grant Phillips Law and non-attorney MCA settlement firms is legal representation. When a settlement company contacts an MCA funder, the funder knows there is no litigation threat behind the call. When Grant Phillips contacts the same funder, the funder knows an attorney is on the other side who can file counterclaims, challenge the MCA contract\'s enforceability, argue that the advance is actually a usurious loan subject to state lending laws, and fight confession of judgment filings in court. That litigation leverage consistently produces better settlement outcomes. The firm handles the full spectrum of MCA defense: negotiating reduced payoff amounts, challenging confession of judgment filings, fighting bank account freezes, defending against personal guarantee enforcement, and in some cases pursuing affirmative claims against MCA companies for deceptive practices or usury. They also handle traditional business debt issues but MCA defense has become their primary practice area. Attorney-client privilege protects all communications, which matters when funders are aggressively trying to gather information about a business\'s financial condition and settlement posture.

Key Features

Attorney-Client Representation

Full legal representation with attorney-client privilege. Unlike non-attorney settlement firms, all communications are legally protected and funders face a licensed litigator.

Litigation Leverage

The ability to file counterclaims, challenge contract enforceability, and argue usury violations gives funders real incentive to settle — something non-attorney firms cannot provide.

Confession of Judgment Defense

Experienced in challenging and vacating confessions of judgment — the most aggressive collection tool MCA companies use against borrowers.

Personal Guarantee Protection

Defends business owners against personal guarantee enforcement, which can put personal assets including homes and bank accounts at risk.

How It Works

1

Legal Consultation

Grant Phillips reviews your MCA contracts, personal guarantees, and current collection activity to assess legal options and negotiation leverage.

2

Legal Strategy

The firm develops a legal strategy combining negotiation with litigation posture — identifying contract weaknesses, potential usury arguments, and defensive positions.

3

Negotiation & Defense

Grant Phillips negotiates with MCA funders with the credible backing of legal action. If a funder sues or files a CoJ, the firm litigates directly.

4

Resolution

MCAs are settled, judgments vacated or satisfied, and your business is released from the obligations with proper legal documentation.

What They Do

  • MCA Defense Litigation
  • MCA Debt Settlement
  • Confession of Judgment Defense
  • Personal Guarantee Defense
  • UCC Lien Challenges
  • Usury Claims

Debt Types They Take On

  • Merchant Cash Advances
  • Business Cash Advances
  • Revenue-Based Financing
  • Factoring Advances
  • ACH Loan Products
  • Personal Guarantees on MCA Debt

Fee & Cost Structure

Fee Structure
Flat fee per MCA account plus contingency on savings for larger cases
Consultation
Free initial case evaluation
Timeline
2-12 months depending on litigation and negotiation complexity

Regulatory & Trust

BBB Rating
A+
CFPB Complaints
N/A (law firm)
Accreditations
BBB A+ New York State Bar ABA
States Served
All 50 states (licensed in NY; co-counsel in other jurisdictions)

Review Summary

4.7
Google
4.6
Avvo
920+
Total Reviews

Notable Case Studies

Confession of Judgment Vacated — $130K MCA

An MCA company filed a confession of judgment against a New York retail business for \$130,000 and immediately froze the business bank account. Grant Phillips moved to vacate the CoJ within 48 hours, arguing the MCA was actually a usurious loan under New York's criminal usury statute. The court vacated the judgment and unfroze the account.

CoJ vacated within 3 weeks. Bank account unfrozen. MCA company subsequently settled for \$52,000 (60% reduction) after losing their primary collection leverage. Total attorney fees: approximately \$15,000. Net savings to client: \$63,000.

Three Stacked MCAs with Personal Guarantees — $280K

A business owner faced \$280,000 in MCA debt across three funders, all with personal guarantees. One funder was pursuing the personal guarantee against the owner's home equity. Grant Phillips intervened, challenged the personal guarantee enforcement as unconscionable, and negotiated all three MCAs while protecting personal assets.

Total MCA debt: \$280,000. All three settled for combined \$126,000 (55% reduction). Personal guarantee enforcement stopped. Home equity preserved. Program completed in 7 months. Legal fees: approximately \$22,000.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Attorney-client privilege protects all communications — MCA funders cannot subpoena or access your settlement strategy discussions
  • Litigation leverage consistently produces better settlement outcomes because funders face real legal consequences if negotiations fail
  • Confession of judgment defense capability is critical — non-attorney firms cannot challenge CoJ filings in court, leaving you exposed to the most aggressive MCA collection tactic
  • A+ BBB rating and 22+ years of legal practice provides institutional credibility that newer MCA settlement firms cannot match
  • Handles personal guarantee defense, protecting the business owner's personal assets including home equity and personal bank accounts

Cons

  • Attorney fees can be higher than non-attorney MCA settlement firms — the litigation capability comes at a premium
  • Based in New York with primary licensure in NY — cases in other states require co-counsel arrangements, which can add cost and complexity
  • Law firm model means less hand-holding on the business consulting side — this is legal representation, not turnaround consulting like Second Wind offers

User Reviews (15)

4.3
15 reviews
5 stars
8
4 stars
4
3 stars
2
2 stars
1
1 star
0
Showing 10 of 15 reviews
M
Mike S.
Dec 8, 2025

CoJ vacated in 18 days

MCA company filed a confession of judgment and froze my bank account on a Friday. Called Grant Phillips Monday morning. Motion to vacate filed Wednesday. CoJ vacated 18 days later. Account unfrozen. Then they settled the MCA for 55% off. This is why you hire a lawyer, not a settlement company.

B
Brian K.
Nov 14, 2025

excellent results but premium pricing

Settled 2 MCAs totaling \$160K for \$72K. Amazing result. Legal fees were about \$18K — roughly double what a non-attorney firm would have charged. Net savings still better with Grant Phillips because the settlements were lower. But the upfront sticker shock is real.

R
restaurant owner NYC
Oct 21, 2025

the litigation threat changes everything

My MCA funder ignored two settlement companies before I hired Grant Phillips. Within a week of receiving a letter from an attorney, they were at the table. Settled 3 weeks later at 48 cents on the dollar. The previous companies could not get a return phone call.

L
lost my CoJ motion
Sep 30, 2025

CoJ challenge denied in my case

Grant Phillips filed to vacate my confession of judgment. Court denied the motion. My MCA contract was airtight apparently. They then pivoted to negotiating a settlement which went fine, but I had already paid the legal fees for the CoJ challenge that failed. Not their fault — they were upfront about the odds — but it was expensive.

P
Patricia H.
Aug 15, 2025

protected my home

Personal guarantee on a \$180K MCA. Funder was threatening to lien my house. Grant Phillips challenged the PG enforcement and got it dropped as part of the settlement. My family's home was never at risk after they got involved. Cannot put a price on that.

N
NH electrician
Aug 2, 2025

co-counsel worked but added time

Being in New Hampshire, they needed local co-counsel for some filings. Added about 3 weeks to the timeline and a bit more cost. Results were still excellent. Just factor in the out-of-state logistics if you are not in NY.

C
CA business
Jun 29, 2025

worked in California through co-counsel

I was worried about hiring a NY firm for my CA business. They partnered with a local attorney here and handled everything seamlessly. The MCA contract had a NY choice-of-law clause anyway so most of the legal work was NY law.

T
Terri L.
May 17, 2025

law firm not business consultant

Grant Phillips resolved my MCA debt brilliantly. But they did not help me figure out why I needed MCAs in the first place. If you also need business consulting, combine this with a firm like Second Wind. Grant Phillips is pure legal representation.

S
small MCA
Apr 22, 2025

overkill for a $30K MCA

Hired Grant Phillips for a single \$30K MCA. Legal fees were about \$8K. Settled MCA for \$18K. Total cost: \$26K vs original \$30K. Savings of \$4K. Probably should have used a settlement company or negotiated myself for this small an amount. Attorney is worth it for larger amounts or CoJ situations.

D
Dave W.
Apr 8, 2025

usury argument won my case

Grant Phillips argued my MCA was actually a usurious loan because the funder had too much control over repayment terms. Court agreed. Entire MCA restructured at a fraction of the original amount. This legal strategy is simply not available through non-attorney firms.

Write a Review

Frequently Asked Questions

An attorney provides three things a settlement company cannot: attorney-client privilege that protects your strategy, the ability to file counterclaims and challenge contracts in court, and litigation leverage that makes funders take settlement offers more seriously. If your MCA situation involves a confession of judgment, personal guarantee enforcement, or an aggressive funder threatening legal action, you need a lawyer — not a settlement company.
Yes. Challenging and vacating confessions of judgment is a core part of their practice. Success depends on jurisdiction, the specific contract terms, and the grounds for challenge. Common grounds include arguing the MCA is actually a usurious loan, challenging the validity of the confession clause, or demonstrating procedural defects in how the CoJ was filed. Not every CoJ can be vacated, but many can be challenged successfully.
MCA defense is their primary practice area but the firm also handles general commercial litigation, business disputes, and traditional commercial debt matters. However, their reputation and the bulk of their caseload is MCA-related. If your only issue is traditional commercial debt without MCA involvement, a firm like American Finasco may be more cost-effective since you would not be paying for legal capabilities you do not need.
The fee structure varies by case complexity. Straightforward MCA negotiations typically involve a flat fee per account. Larger cases involving litigation, CoJ challenges, or multiple funders may include a contingency component based on savings achieved. The free initial consultation will include a specific fee quote for your situation. Attorney fees are generally higher than non-attorney settlement firms, but the legal representation and litigation leverage often produce better net outcomes.
Yes. The firm is licensed in New York but represents businesses nationwide through co-counsel arrangements with attorneys in other states. Many MCA contracts include New York choice-of-law provisions, which means New York law applies regardless of where your business is located. For cases that require litigation in your state's courts, Grant Phillips partners with local counsel to provide representation.

Embed This Badge on Your Website

Grant Phillips Law has earned a Best MCA Attorney designation from Zogby. Display this badge on your website to showcase your rating.

Paste this code anywhere in your website's HTML. The badge links back to your full Zogby review.

Important Business Debt Disclaimers

  • Business debt settlement may negatively impact your company's credit profile and personal credit if you have personally guaranteed the obligations. Missed payments during negotiation will appear on credit reports.
  • There is no guarantee that any creditor or MCA company will agree to settle for a reduced amount. Funders and creditors retain full legal rights to pursue collection, including lawsuits, UCC liens, and bank account freezes.
  • Settlement fees for commercial debt typically range from 15%-30% of the enrolled debt amount. You should fully understand the fee structure before enrolling. Verify whether fees are charged on enrolled debt or settled savings.
  • Forgiven business debt of $600 or more may be treated as taxable income by the IRS and reported on Form 1099-C. Consult a tax professional about the implications for your business entity.
  • Merchant cash advance (MCA) companies may have daily or weekly ACH withdrawal rights under your contract. Stopping payments may trigger confession of judgment clauses, UCC liens, or immediate legal action depending on your state.
  • Alternatives to business debt settlement include SBA disaster loans, business debt consolidation, Chapter 11 or Subchapter V bankruptcy, receivership, and direct creditor negotiation. Consult with a licensed attorney or financial advisor before enrolling in any business debt program.

This page is informational, not financial or legal advice. Talk to a qualified professional before making any big money decisions.

Editorial Independence

We make money from some companies on this page. That doesn't change our rankings -- the editorial team scores every product independently, and the business side has no say in what we recommend.

Last Updated
March 18, 2026
Fact-Checked
March 15, 2026