Biography

Neal A. Thakkar is a member of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania bars, and is also admitted to practice in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the District of New Jersey, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. His clients include Fortune 500 companies, including retailers, resorts, and casinos, and  several national and regional insurers. Neal has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict before juries in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in personal injury matters and has obtained the dismissal of many more cases of all types through summary judgment. He has also successfully represented his clients in bench trials and private arbitrations in both states. He has defended many types of cases, including catastrophic personal injury claims, construction defect matters, first party property claims, and negligence claims against human services providers, nursing home and adult day care facilities.  He has also represented corporate clients in landlord/tenant disputes and obtained favorable results.

In addition to handling the defense of litigated claims against his clients, Neal regularly serves as coverage counsel for primary and excess insurers and guides them in matters of insurance policy interpretation and coverage litigation. He has a wealth of experience handling appeals before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the Superior Court of New Jersey – Appellate Division, and the Pennsylvania Superior Court.

Neal is a member of the National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association, an industry-centered organization that works to develop and mount effective defense strategies against claims and litigation. He is the past President and current board member of the South Jersey Claims Association and serves as its Director of Continuing Education. In this capacity, and as an instructor for the Institute of Strategic Educational Partners, Neal prepares and presents numerous continuing education classes each year for corporate clients, insurance companies, and organization members on a variety of topics.

When he’s not at work, Neal enjoys surf fishing, mountain biking, camping, and spending time with his family.

Education

Lawrence University — B.A. History, 2000
Rutgers University School of Law – Camden — J.D., 2004

Bar Admission

• New Jersey — 2004
• Pennsylvania — 2006
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit – 2011
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey — 2006
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania — 2007