Hancock Whitney Center701 Poydras Street Suite 5000 New Orleans, Louisiana 70139 OverviewMr. McNeal represents businesses as lead litigation counsel in a variety of environmental, energy, commercial, and tort matters in both federal and state courts. In addition, he advises clients regarding energy and environmental regulatory matters.
He has extensive experience in litigation concerning the cleanup of legacy oilfield properties, toxic torts, and property contamination including handling a large number of these cases in trial and appellate courts. Additionally, he has worked on a broad range of litigation associated with other environmental and energy issues, including commercial litigation, numerous class actions, environmental citizen suits, refinery-related litigation, pipeline matters, oil & gas disputes, and landfill suits. He has represented clients in environmental disputes with Louisiana regulators.
Mr. McNeal was formerly trial counsel for an integrated oil company and is familiar with upstream and downstream operations and related legal issues. InvolvementProfessional
Member, Environmental Law Institute
Member, Federal Bar Association
Member, Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
Member, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
Member, Louisiana Bar Foundation
Member, Louisiana State Bar Association
Member, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute
Recognition
Benchmark Litigation’s 2018 “Local Litigation Star”
The Best Lawyers’ 2018 New Orleans Environmental Law "Lawyer of the Year"
New Orleans Magazine’s List of “Top Lawyers,” 2015-2018
The Best Lawyers in America, 2007–2019
The Best Lawyers’ 2016 New Orleans Environmental Law "Lawyer of the Year"
The Best Lawyers’ 2013 New Orleans Environmental Law "Lawyer of the Year"
Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business - Environment, Environmental Litigation, 2007–2018
Louisiana Super Lawyers, 2007-2008, 2011-2012, 2014-2019
New Orleans CityBusiness Leadership in Law Class of 2012


Presentations
- Panelist, “Recent Developments in Louisiana Ethics,” Louisiana State Bar Association, “Trial Practice” (2017)
- Panelist, “A Revolution in Property Rights: The Strange History of the Subsequent Purchaser Theory after Eagle Pipe,” 22nd Annual Tulane Environmental Law & Policy Summit presented by The Tulane Environmental & Energy Law Society (2017)
Presenter, “An Overview of Coastal Wetlands Legal Issues,” Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel’s 12th Annual FDCC Corporate Counsel Symposium (2015)
Presenter, “Louisiana Rising: Oilfield Contamination Litigation,” Louisiana State Bar Association, LSBA Annual Meeting & LSBA/LJC Summer School and LSBA 27th Annual Summer School Revisited (2015)
Presenter, “Recent Legislative Developments: The 2014 Legislature,” Louisiana State Bar Association, Energy and Environmental Law Summit (2014)
Presenter, “Update: Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority – East v. Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., et al.,” Louisiana Section of the Air and Waste Management Association (2014)
Presenter, “Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority – East v. Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., et al.,” Louisiana State Bar Association, Environmental Law Section Annual Meeting (2014)
Presenter, “Act 312 (Legacy Site) Plan Approval Process,” Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Annual Seminar, Louisiana Oil & Gas: From SONRIS to Sunset (2013)
Adjunct Professor, Vanderbilt Law School (2012; 2016)
Lecturer, University of Houston Law Center (2012)
Presenter, “Deposing Non-Medical Opposing Experts,” Louisiana State Bar Association Mastering the Deposition: Tips & Techniques Seminar (2012)
Presenter, "Recent Judicial Developments in Legacy Litigation,” Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Annual Seminar, Louisiana Oil & Gas: From SONRIS to Sunset (2012)
Presenter, "The Limited Admission at Trial," Louisiana Oil & Gas: Legacy Lawsuit Seminar & Legislative Recap (2012)
Presenter, “Louisiana Legacy Litigation Update,” Liskow & Lewis Energy Law Seminar (2011)
Presenter, “Louisiana Ground Water Resources,” Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Annual Seminar, Louisiana Oil & Gas: From SONRIS to Sunset (2011)
Presenter, "Ethical Issues and Communications When Dealing With State or Federal Agencies," Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Annual Seminars, Louisiana Oil & Gas: From SONRIS to Sunset (2008–2010)
Presenter, “Louisiana Oilfield Cleanup Litigation,” Tulane Environmental Law Seminar (2007)
Presenter, “Act 312: Louisiana's New Oilfield Cleanup Legislation,” Louisiana State Bar Association, Environmental Law Section Annual Meeting (2006)
Additional BackgroundRob has taught at Vanderbilt Law School as an Adjunct Professor (2012; 2016) and served as a Lecturer at the University of Houston Law Center (2012). |
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