Neal focuses his practice on intellectual property, complex commercial and corporate litigation. During his more than 25 years of practice, he has served as lead trial or appellate counsel in matters before all of Delaware’s courts. Neal also often serves as Delaware counsel to the nation’s leading law firms in Delaware matters.

For more than 20 years, Neal has spent a significant part of his practice working as Delaware counsel in matters involving intellectual property rights, including patents and trademarks. He has successfully represented plaintiffs and defendants in patent, trademark and trade secret cases in a broad range of subject matters, including pharmaceuticals (including ANDA matters), computer hardware and software technology, telecommunications technology and telephone technology.

In his role as Delaware counsel to the nation’s preeminent IP litigation firms, Neal joins his substantial experience trying cases, with his intimate knowledge of the District of Delaware, to provide expert advice, support and guidance to trial teams.

Neal has successfully represented clients as both plaintiffs and defendants in matters involving corporate governance, officer and director fiduciary obligations, officer and director indemnity and alternative Delaware business entities.  He also has significant experience in litigation matters involving real estate, construction and development, insurance coverage, contracts and business torts.

After practicing for nearly 20 years, Neal served for several years as managing director of a private equity investment fund and in this capacity served as general counsel to portfolio investment entities. This experience gives Neal the unique perspective of having been both litigation counsel and “the client” in significant litigation matters and drives his efficient and effective litigation approach.

Neal was selected by the Court to serve on the Local Rules Advisory Committee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware and as a member of that committee was significantly involved in drafting the Court’s Local Rules. Neal has been appointed as Special Discovery Master in matters in the Delaware Superior Court and Court of Chancery in various matters, including a large docket of products liability cases, matters involving insurance coverage and corporate valuation. Neal is also certified by the Delaware Superior Court as a mediator. He is a former Chairman of the Litigation Section of the Delaware Bar Association, a former president of the Delaware Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and the Vice President of the Federal Bar Association representing the Third Circuit. Neal is a recipient of the Delaware Bar Association Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award.

Neal holds an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is recognized by The Best Lawyers in America^®, Delaware Super Lawyers^®, Chambers USA, and as a Top Lawyer in Intellectual Property Law by Delaware Today Top Lawyers Edition 2017.

SMITH, KATZENSTEIN & JENKINS LLP

For more than 20 years, SKJ’s lawyers have served as Delaware counsel to the nation’s leading IP practices. As the District of Delaware venue has become even more popular for IP litigation, our lawyers are uniquely placed to work with lead counsel and clients in navigating the District. SKJ lawyers have substantial experience successfully and efficiently representing both plaintiffs and defendants in patent, trademark, and trade secret cases, in a broad range of subject matters, including pharmaceuticals (including ANDA matters), computer hardware and software technology, and telephone technology. Our patent litigation practice is limited to serving as Delaware counsel.

SKJ lawyers have served on the District of Delaware’s Local Rules Committee, as president of the Delaware Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and have tried numerous cases before our District of Delaware judges. They have been recognized as “Superlawyers” and “Best Lawyers” in IP litigation in Delaware, by their peers and clients.

Our IP litigation attorneys strive to create a value adding relationship with our co-counsel, using our intimate knowledge of our courts and judicial practices to support and guide trial teams to an efficient and successful result.