Summary

Neal’s practice focuses on transactional matters for companies for whom technology is critical, with a focus on intellectual property licensing.  He has represented numerous startup and high-growth companies on a broad range of matters, including advice on intellectual property protection, management and licensing; contracts; FDA and other regulatory issues; corporate structure and governance; sales and marketing regulation; healthcare compliance; reimbursement; strategic partnership relationships. In addition, Neal frequently advises healthcare clients and life sciences companies regarding the application of HIPAA and state patient privacy laws.

Prior to joining Taft, Neal spent 14 years with Roche Diagnostics, the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, in both legal and business development roles. He served as head of global licensing, heading a transnational organization with responsibility for the worldwide intellectual property asset management strategy of the company. He also served as vice president of ethics and compliance, with overall responsibility for the company’s corporate compliance program, and as associate general counsel.

Neal is a member of the first group of professionals to earn the designation of Certified Licensing Professional™, a program of the Licensing Executives Society that recognizes intellectual property professionals who have demonstrated dedication to higher standards of practice within the licensing industry.

He frequently speaks and writes on legal issues facing technology companies, and is a regular contributor to Taft’s Technology Insights and Privacy & Data Security Insights blogs.

Neal served as law clerk to Judge Gilbert S. Merritt of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He received his law degree from Yale Law School, where he was managing editor of the Yale Law & Policy Review. Neal received his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Carson-Newman College.

Awards

All Service Areas

Education

  • Yale Law School (1987)

    Managing Editor, Yale Law & Policy Review

  • Carson-Newman College, B.A. (1984)

    magna cum laude

Admissions

  • State - Indiana
  • State - Texas (inactive status)

Speeches and Publications

Blog Post – “FDA Sounds the Alert on Potential Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in Medical Devices,” Taft Technology Insights, March 5, 2020

Blog Post – “The SHIELD Act: What You Need to Know About New York’s New Data Breach Notification Law,” Taft Technology Insights, Feb. 18, 2020

Co-author, “Top 10 Technology Licensing Pitfalls,” The Indiana Lawyer, April 16, 2019

Co-author, “Is CRISPR Treat Worth Two Licenses?les Nouvelles, the Journal of the Licensing Executives Society International, March 2018

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association

    Member

  • Health Care Compliance Association

    Member

  • Licensing Executives Society

    Member
    Certified Licensing Professional

Community Involvement

  • Friends of Holliday Park

    Board Member (2007 – present)
    Member, Executive Committee (2007 – present)
    Member, Finance Committee (2007 – present)

  • Indiana Health Industry Forum

    Former Member, Public Policy Committee (2007 – 2010)

  • United States Tennis Association of Central Indiana

    Past Board Member (2013 – 2015)

  • LES International Business Plan Competition

    Past Judge (2008 – 2012)

  • Sycamore School

    Past Member, Strategic Planning Committee (2009 – 2010)