In the title complex, [Cu(C16H16Cl3N3O2P)Cl(C12H8N2)], the Cu(II) cation presents a square-pyramidal environment, where the CuO2N2 base is formed by two O atoms from carbonyl and phosphoryl groups, and by two N atoms from a 1,10-phenanthroline molecule. A coordinated Cl atom occupies the apex. N-H···Cl hydrogen bonds link the molecules into one-dimensional chains. The trichloromethyl group is rotationally disordered over two positions, with occupancies of 0.747 (7) and 0.253 (7).