Outdoor sports and hiking
Cooking
Wholefood canning and fermentation
Traveling
Public Speaking
Weightlifting
LOUIS L. NEAL JR.
Washington
Summary
Legal professional with significant expertise in corporate and regulatory law, prepared for high-impact roles. Proven ability to navigate complex legal landscapes and deliver sound legal strategies that drive organizational success. Known for collaborative leadership and focus on achieving exceptional results, adaptable to evolving legal environments.
Overview
40
40
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief Counsel, Office of Open Government
Board of Ethics and Government Accountability
01.2024 - Current
- Chief legal advisor in planning and policy decision-making; and in implementing, coordinating, and directing the legal affairs of the agency
- Supervises and coordinates workflow for 3 Attorneys and 1 Paralegal as the agency’s Chief Legal Officer while acting as the primary legal advisor to the Director
- Develops and institutes legal guidelines, policies, procedures, and processes to effect efficient legal practice and operations
- Assists Director in preparation of testimony at hearings before the Council of the District of Columbia, congressional committees and other public appearances
- Facilitates Open Meetings Act and FOIA trainings throughout the District of Columbia
- Responsible for drafting and justifying the annual budget and multi-year plan to make the best use of available resources
- Manages and devises a system of controls and keeps carefully documented records
- Plans, develops and directs the design and implementation of data tracking systems for the management and administration of legal work
Owner, Mediator
TNC Mediations, LLC
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Mediates conflicts in the areas of family law, civil matters, and government affairs.
Mediator, Director, Trainer
Mediation Matters
12.2014 - 01.2023
- Mediated family law matters; facilitated 20-hour and 40-hour basic, divorce and child access mediation training seminars both privately and across multiple Washington DC and Maryland organizations.
General Counsel
Office of Administrative Hearings
12.2020 - 12.2022
- Spearheaded 6 Attorneys, 4 Paralegals, and 2 Law Clerks as the agency’s Chief Legal Officer while acting as the primary legal advisor to the Chief Administrative Law Judge.
- Determined, mitigated, and eliminated risks as the agency’s Chief Risk Manager.
- Represented the main point-of-contact (POC) for new and incoming agency jurisdictions.
- Led union collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
- Reviewed and finalized agency MOUs, LOIs, and other contract instruments for legal sufficiency.
- Liaised between Chief Judge and other agency directors and executives regarding cross-functional intra-agency propositions and adjudicative matters.
- Advised and gave preliminary approval for all personnel matters relating to counseling, disciplining, retention, and terminations.
- Conducted internal and external workplace investigations for referral to appropriate adjudicative body.
- Fielded Office of Human Rights and Office of Employee Appeals matters.
- Mitigated employment-related risks by crafting clear policies addressing workplace conduct and performance expectations.
Acting General Counsel
Office of Administrative Hearings
09.2020 - 12.2020
- Operated as the primary agency representative before the Commission on Selection and Tenure of Administrative Law Judges regarding ALJ reappointment and disciplinary actions.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to establish best practices for managing contractual obligations.
- Successfully resolved numerous disputes through skillful mediation, preventing costly litigation and preserving business relationships.
Deputy General Counsel
Office of Administrative Hearings
10.2016 - 09.2020
- Supported General Counsel as the agency’s Chief Legal Officer and primary legal advisor to the Chief Administrative Law Judge.
- Served as the agency’s Ethics Officer and ADA Officer as well as the Approving Official for the agency’s Purchase Card Program within the Office of the Chief Operations Officer
Assistant General Counsel
Office of Administrative Hearings
02.2013 - 10.2016
- Assisted General Counsel and Administrative Law Judges in legal research and analysis of various types of administrative law cases and advised on proposed and alternative actions, accordingly.
- Analyzed records of hearings, including briefs filed, exceptions taken, rulings made, tentative decisions.
- Drafted proposed statements of facts and conclusions of law after evidentiary hearing or admit with explanation pleas for issuance to litigants.
Acting Clerk of Court
Office of Administrative Hearings
02.2016 - 07.2016
- Managed 25 administrative support personnel in the daily intake and procedural processing of all preliminary and finalized matters under the Court’s jurisdiction and adjudication.
- Supported 33 Administrative Law Judges, the Executive Director, and the General Counsel’s office throughout temporary cross-functional operations.
- Functioned as public affairs representative to the public.
- Liaised directly with Administrative Law Judges, other enforcement officials, attorneys, respondents, and the general public.
Sole Practitioner, Contract Attorney
Private Clients
01.2009 - 01.2013
- Advised clients and potential clients on labor and employment issues in accordance with FLSA, ERISA, FMLA, and ADA regulatory guidelines.
- Consulted incorporated businesses on federal guidelines regarding sexual harassment and disabled employee accommodations.
- Filed Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws for the incorporation of private enterprises.
- Drafted and reviewed residential sales contracts and joint tenancy agreements.
- Renegotiated business contract terms to avoid litigation.
- Prepared discovery for Wills and Probate trial matters.
- Completed trademark searches with the Patent and Trademark Office.
- Mediated and negotiated legal disputes or conflicts between adversarial parties to avoid litigation, including civil and family mediations.
Corporate Support Paralegal, Contractor Attorney
Amtrak Law Department
01.2007 - 01.2009
Evening Secretarial Supervisor
Dow Lohnes Law Firm
01.1996 - 01.2007
Legal Assistant
Jackson & Campbell, PC
01.1993 - 01.1996
Personal Assistant, Legal Assistant
Burt Maner & Staples
01.1991 - 01.1993
Legal Services Specialist, Stenographic Transcriber
U.S. Marine Corps
01.1985 - 01.1991
Education
Juris Doctorate -
University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
Washington, DCBachelor of Arts - Sociology
University of Maryland at College Park
College Park, MDSkills
- Executive Legal Counsel
- Legal Research and Writing
- Employment Law/Personnel Management
- Strategic Thinking
- Information Governance
- Employment Law
- Budget Planning and Justification
- Data privacy
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Ethics Management
- Corporate Governance
Accomplishments
Led Legal Team in successfully drafting and implementing critical work strategies and legal framework for D.C. Government agencies during COVID crises.
Certification
Child Access Mediation Certificates, Mediation Matters Training Center
Affiliations
District of Columbia Bar; American Bar Association; National Bar Association; Maryland Counsel of Dispute Resolution
Interests
Timeline
Chief Counsel, Office of Open Government
Board of Ethics and Government Accountability
01.2024 - Current
Owner, Mediator
TNC Mediations, LLC
01.2023 - 01.2024
General Counsel
Office of Administrative Hearings
12.2020 - 12.2022
Acting General Counsel
Office of Administrative Hearings
09.2020 - 12.2020
Deputy General Counsel
Office of Administrative Hearings
10.2016 - 09.2020
Acting Clerk of Court
Office of Administrative Hearings
02.2016 - 07.2016
Mediator, Director, Trainer
Mediation Matters
12.2014 - 01.2023
Assistant General Counsel
Office of Administrative Hearings
02.2013 - 10.2016
Sole Practitioner, Contract Attorney
Private Clients
01.2009 - 01.2013
Corporate Support Paralegal, Contractor Attorney
Amtrak Law Department
01.2007 - 01.2009
Evening Secretarial Supervisor
Dow Lohnes Law Firm
01.1996 - 01.2007
Legal Assistant
Jackson & Campbell, PC
01.1993 - 01.1996
Personal Assistant, Legal Assistant
Burt Maner & Staples
01.1991 - 01.1993
Legal Services Specialist, Stenographic Transcriber
U.S. Marine Corps
01.1985 - 01.1991
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
University of Maryland at College Park
Juris Doctorate -
University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
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