Stephen L. Neal, Jr.

STEPHEN L. NEAL, JR. is a highly skilled litigator whose practice primarily focuses on complex civil and commercial litigation. He has a broad range of experience handling civil, commercial, contract, business and other tort, RICO, fraud, computer crimes/unlawful surveillance, FTC enforcement, employment, and administrative actions before state and federal trial and appellate courts and arbitration panels. Mr. Neal is experienced in all phases of litigation, including pre-litigation counseling and strategic advice, investigations, pleadings, discovery, law and motion practice, injunctions, evidentiary hearings, trials, arbitrations, appeals, and complex settlements. Mr. Neal performs these services for individual and corporate clients throughout the country.

Areas of practice:

• Commercial Litigation
• Business Torts/Crimes
• Employment Law

Admitted:

• North Carolina Supreme Court
• District of Columbia Court of Appeals
• United States District Courts for the District of Columbia, North Carolina, Maryland, and the Western District of Michigan
• United States Court of Federal Claims
• United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Federal, and District of Columbia Circuits
• United States Supreme Court

Education:

• University of Virginia Trial Advocacy Institute, 2004
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D., 1993
• Duke University, A.B., 1989

Memberships:

• District of Columbia Bar Association
• Arbitrator, District of Columbia Bar's Attorney-Client Arbitration Board
• North Carolina Bar Association
• Duke University Alumni Association
• Carolina Law Alumni Association, University of North Carolina

Honors & Awards:

• Certificate of Appreciation from the Association of Trial Lawyers of America for the successful prosecution of case on behalf of the estate of a September 11th victim before the Victim's Compensation Fund.
• Distinguished Service Award from the District of Columbia Bar's Attorney-Client Arbitration Board.

Experience:

• Lead counsel for established record producer in action to obtain royalties for the song Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head from the Forrest Gump soundtrack. After trial with lay and expert witnesses, obtained judgment for all royalties owed and the attorneys' fees and costs incurred. As lead appellate counsel, successfully defended appeal before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Lead counsel in defense of multi-million dollar Federal Trade Commission enforcement action. After months of intense litigation, negotiated very favorable settlement and, after extensive briefing and several days of evidentiary hearings, obtained ruling of first impression that the court-appointed Receiver breached his fiduciary duty. As lead appellate counsel, obtained affirmance of all district court rulings before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Co-counsel in defense of high-profile, multi-million dollar RICO action. Obtained judgment as to RICO, fraud, and other claims. Currently co-counsel on appeal before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Lead counsel in defense of RICO action. Obtained dismissal of all claims at the pleadings stage.
• Lead counsel in current prosecution of various computer crimes cases pursuant to the Federal Wiretap Act, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Electronic Storage Act, and state law.
• Lead counsel on behalf of the estate of a September 11th victim in proceeding before the Victim's Compensation Fund. After evidentiary hearing with lay and expert witnesses, obtained award that was almost twice the presumptive limit under the governing guidelines.
• Lead counsel in prosecution of real estate/loan transactions. Obtained million plus dollar judgments against various defendants and all attorneys' fees and costs incurred.
• Lead counsel in defense of breach of contract action against financial institution. Obtained dismissal of action and all attorneys' fees and costs incurred.
• Co-counsel in defense of injunctive action brought against trade association. Obtained denial of motion, dismissal of action, and all attorneys' fees and costs incurred.
• Lead counsel in defense of breach of contract and tort claims against passenger railroad. Obtained dismissal of action and appeal before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Lead counsel in prosecution of action on behalf of passenger railroad against public oil company. After obtaining dismissal of all counterclaims, negotiated very favorable settlement.
• Lead counsel in successful defense of several actions against public radio company.
• Lead counsel in successful defense of $60 million action against HMO.
• Co-counsel in successful prosecution of products liability cases involving exploding rims on a snow-blower.