BULLET POINTS

Christopher L. Neal

Director

Office:

Neal Firm, PLLC
P.O. Drawer 11215
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

206.317.3000

Summary Bio:

I have been a coverage lawyer for more than 35 years and am licensed to practice in four states (currently active in Washington, only).  I provide coverage advice to insurers on complex coverage questions and I assist insurers with the preparation of coverage position correspondence to their insureds and to other parties.  I am an accomplished litigator of complex insurance coverage and alleged "bad faith" matters in state and federal courts, with substantial experience in intellectual property and professional liability coverage claims.  I am well-versed in all third party liability coverage issues, e.g., CGL, E&O/D&O, healthcare/legal malpractice, financial lines, excess/umbrella, SIR disputes, reinsurer, contribution/allocation, covenant judgment claims, and homeowner liability claims.  I received my J.D. from the University of Houston and my B.A. in English Literature from Oberlin College.

Practice Areas:

Insurance Coverage (Opinions/Litigation/Correspondence)

  • Third Party Liability (CGL, E&O, and Homeowners)
  • E&O / D&O Issues
  • Healthcare / Legal Malpractice
  • Financial Lines
  • Yacht & Other Coverages Unique to High / Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals and their Families/Businesses
  • Intellectual Property
  • Excess / Umbrella Issues
  • Interinsurer / Reinsurer Issues
  • Allocation / Contribution Issues
  • SIR Disputes
  • Litigation - Insurance & Extracontractual
  • Duty to Defend / Indemnify Questions
  • Additional Insured Issues
  • Construction Defect
  • Reservation of Rights and Other Coverage Position Correspondence
  • Complex Settlements

Claims Handling Issues (Opinions/Litigation)

  • "Bad Faith" Claims (Advice / Litigation)
  • Discovery / Privilege Issues
  • CPA / IFCA Claims

General Litigation (State/Federal Courts), Including Monitoring/Local Counsel

  • Declaratory Judgment Actions (Includes Complex Litigation in State / Federal Courts)
  • Trial Preparation / Execution
  • Discovery (Written & Deposition)
  • Expert and Lay Witness Preparation
  • Claims Handler Presentation/Defense
  • Briefing (All, Includes Appellate)
  • Motion Practice (All, Includes Dispositive)
  • Removal to Federal Court (and Oppose Motions to Remand)
  • Complex Document Review / Analysis
  • Attorney Conferences
  • Mediation / Arbitration (Preparation/Attendance)
  • Appeals (State / Federal)

Professional Experience (Insurance Coverage & Litigation):

  • Director, Neal Firm, PLLC (Seattle)
  • Of Counsel, Mills Meyers Swartling (Seattle)
  • Member, Cozen O’Connor (Seattle)
  • Owner, Neal & Neal (Houston)
  • Senior Attorney, Phillips & Akers, PC (Houston)

Representative Matters

  • Please visit the Document Room to view representative matters. 

Education

  • J.D., University of Houston Law Center, Houston Texas 
  • B.A., Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

  • Washington (Active)
  • Oregon (Inactive)
  • Texas (Inactive)
  • Colorado (Inactive)
  • Federal District Court - W.D. Washington
  • Federal District Court - E.D. Washington
  • Federal District Court - D. Oregon
  • Federal Court of Appeals - 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

Professional & Bar Association Memberships

  • Washington State Bar Association
  • Oregon State Bar Association
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Colorado State Bar Association
  • Northwest Insurance Coverage Association (NICA)
  • American Bar Association - Sections of Tort/Insurance & Litigation