Neal Tomlinson's practice is concentrated in the areas of administrative law and government relations, including regulatory compliance, licensing and related litigation. He is a results-oriented attorney who regularly represents business and political clients in matters before numerous local, state, and federal government agencies. Neal's effectiveness in the field of regulatory law and litigation is a result of his taking the time to understand his clients' business coupled with his extraordinary skill in advocacy.
Representative Experience
- View
-
Representative Industries
- Transportation
- Public Utilities
- Real Estate Development
Representative Agencies
- (Federal) Federal Aviation Administration; U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development; U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management; Federal Trade Commission
- (State) Nevada Legislature; Nevada Transportation Authority; Nevada Taxicab Authority; Public Utilities Commission of Nevada; Nevada Real Estate Division; Nevada Division of Environmental Protection; Nevada Petroleum Board; Nevada Dept. of Transportation; Nevada Dept. of Motor Vehicles; Nevada Division of Mortgage Lending; Nevada Division of Financial Institutions; Nevada State Contractors Board; Nevada Occupational Safety & Health Review Board; Nevada State Board of Nursing; Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
- (Local) Clark County Board of County Commissioners (including Planning, Zoning, Development Services, Business and Liquor Licensing, and Town Advisory Boards); Southern Nevada Health District; City of Las Vegas (including Planning, Zoning, Business and Liquor Licensing); Nye County Board of County Commissioners; Lincoln County Board of County Commissioners
Representative Matters
- Represents transportation service providers in matters before regulatory agencies, including legislative, regulatory compliance, rate, tariff, medallion allocation, fuel surcharge and Certificate hearings
- Represents energy providers, large users and developers in resolving public utility issues
- Represents business clients in the areas of strategic positioning, lobbying and political strategy
- Represents local, regional and national clients in complex litigation, including federal Multi-District Litigation, involving utility, transportation, land use and related governmental issues
- Argued significant appellate issues of insurance, federal copyright and liability before the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Nevada
- Obtained favorable trial verdicts and administrative hearing decisions for numerous business clients
Representative Litigation
- Defending national magazine subscription company against alleged violations of the FTC Act and Telemarketing Sales Rule
- Federal Trade Commission v. Publishers Business Services, Inc., et al.
- U.S. District Court, District Of Nevada, Case No. 2:08-CV-00620-PMP-PAL
- Defending class action concerning alleged civil RICO violations and deceptive trade practices
- Theodore Trapp v. Big Pappa’s, LLC, et al.
- U.S. District Court, District Of Nevada, Case No. 2:09-CV-00995-LDG-PAL
- Defending telecommunications service providers against alleged deceptive trade practices
- State Of Nevada, Attorney General v. The Payment People, Inc., et al.
- U.S. District Court, Carson City, Nevada, Case No. 090C004311B
- Representing beverage manufacturer in action for breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, interference with prospective economic advantage, and other claims
- JL Beverage Company, LLC v. JL Vodka, LLC, et al.
- U.S. District Court, Clark County, Nevada, Case No. A568151
- Defending property owner against various easement allegations
- Firebird Holdings, LLC v. Charles Frias Management Trust
- U.S. District Court, Clark County, Nevada, Case No. A555882
- Defending real estate development company against breach of contract allegations
- APCO Construction v. Gemstone LVS, LLC
- U.S. District Court, Clark County, Nevada, Case No. A584266
- Representing hotel property owner in breach of contract action
- Oxford Technology, Inc. v. Shahram, Inc., et al.
- U.S. District Court, Clark County, Nevada, Case No. A591356
- Local counsel defending multiple class actions concerning alleged manipulation of natural gas price indices
- In Re: Western States Wholesale Natural Gas antitrust litigation
- U.S. District Court, District Of Nevada, MDL-1566
- Defending national shopping center security company against allegations of assault, battery, false imprisonment, negligent security and punitive damages
- Dahl/Cordova v. IPC International, Inc.
- U.S. District Court, Clark County, Nevada, Case Nos. A539342/A574752
- Counsel for regional banking clients in action to enforce surety bonds and insurance agreements covering equipment lease pools
- In Re: Commercial Money Center, Inc., equipment lease litigation
- U.S. District Court, Northern District Of Ohio, MDL-1490
- Lead trial counsel for plaintiffs against property developer in action for breach of contract (plaintiffs' verdict)
- Frei, et al. v. Stagecoach Homes, LLC, et al.
- U.S. District Court, Clark County, Nevada, Case No. A520276
- Lead trial counsel defending against claims by NFL football player for assault, battery, false imprisonment, negligent security and punitive damages (defense verdict)
- Polley v. MGM Grand Hotel, LLC, et al.
- U.S. District Court, Clark County, Nevada, Case No. A445093
Education
- University of Wyoming College of Law (J.D., honors, 1998)
- University of Wyoming (B.S., Political Science, honors, 1995)
- Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of Nevada
- United States District Court, District of Nevada
- United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Professional Memberships & Activities
- State Bar of Nevada
- Clark County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law Section
- American Inns of Court (Nevada Chapter - The Howard D. McKibben Inn of Court)
- Nevada Economic Development Advisory Board, General Counsel
Representative Presentations & Publications
- The State of the Business Courts in Nevada, Panelist, William S. Boyd School of Law Lecture Series, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (February 2009)
- Venture Capital What Lies Ahead in the Future, Panelist, Private Equity Summit for Institutional Investors (October 2007)
- Negotiation Skills are Not Just for Litigators, Co-Presenter with Ronald E. Bailey, Bullivant Houser Bailey PC All-Attorney Retreat (May 2007)
- Corporate Professional Responsibility, Panelist, Association of Corporate Counsel (June 2005)
- Claim File Documentation, Presenter, Wyoming Public Risk Management Association Seminar, (June 2004)
- Recent Developments in the States (Nevada Section), Contributing Author, Committee Report, Section of Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law Electricity (2001-2003)
- Wal-Mart, Adult-Use Zoning and Other Hot Topics, Section Co-Author with Lucy A. Stewart, Land Use Law: Managing Growth in the Valley (April 2000)
Community Involvement
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada
- Donor & Volunteer Big Brother
- Marty Hennessy Jr. Tennis Foundation, Advisory Board
Other Professional Experience
- Bullivant Houser Bailey, PC, Of Counsel (2005-2007)
- Cobeaga Tomlinson, LLP, Co-Founder and Managing Partner (2001-2005)
- Beckley, Singleton, Jemison, Cobeaga & List, CHTD., Associate (1999-2001)
- State of Nevada, Public Utilities Commission, Administrative Attorney (1998-1999)
- State of Wyoming, Public Service Commission, Legal/Technical Advisor (1996-1998)
Military Service
- Active Duty, United States Army (1985-1987)
- Bamberg, Germany (2d Armored Cavalry, 2d Squadron)
- Active Reserve, United States Army (1987-1988)
- Wyoming Army National Guard (1988-1990)
