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Practices

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Assistant

Sandi Trahan

504.556.4060

Overview

Rob has a long history of representing clients as lead counsel in environmental, energy, and commercial matters in federal and state courts. His practice includes advising clients on complex energy and environmental business matters.

Rob’s extensive litigation experience includes cases involving legacy oilfield issues, commercial disputes, environmental matters, toxic torts, and property matters. His work also includes pipeline matters, commercial litigation, class actions, environmental citizen suits, downstream litigation, oil & gas disputes, and regulatory matters.

Rob teaches at Vanderbilt University Law School as an Adjunct Professor and served as a Lecturer at the University of Houston Law Center.

Involvement

  • Vanderbilt Law School, Adjunct Professor, 2010 - Present
  • 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 - Member
  • The University of Houston Law Center, Lecturer, Past

Recognition

  • Chambers USA –  Environmental Litigation, 2007–2024
  • Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year,” Litigation – Environmental, New Orleans, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2021-2024; Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year,” Environmental Law, New Orleans, 2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2007–2025
  • Louisiana Super Lawyers, 2007-2008, 2011-2012, 2014-2025
  • Louisiana Super Lawyers, Top 50 Louisiana Lawyers List, 2022
  • BTI 2020 Client Service All-Star
  • New Orleans Magazine’s List of “Top Lawyers,” 2015-2019, 2022
  • Benchmark Litigation’s 2018 “Local Litigation Star”
  • New Orleans CityBusiness Leadership in Law Class of 2012

 

LOTY Logo for Robert B. McNeal

 

Credentials

Education

  • Tulane University (LL.M., Energy and Environmental Law, with Distinction, 1993)
  • Tulane University Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1984)
    • Moot Court Board
  • Vanderbilt University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1981)

    Phi Beta Kappa

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana, 1984
  • North Carolina, 2018
  • Montana, 2019

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Western District, North Carolina, 2024
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1993
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1986
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District, Louisiana, 1985
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District, Louisiana, 1989
  • U.S. District Court, Western District, Louisiana, 1987
  • Louisiana Supreme Court, 1984
  • Louisiana State Courts, 1984

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
  • 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

Publications

Additional Background

Rob teaches at Vanderbilt Law School as an Adjunct Professor and served as a Lecturer at the University of Houston Law Center (2012).

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