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Neil M. Popowitz is an accomplished, entrepreneurial, results-oriented Attorney/MBA with 30 plus years of experience in real property, zoning, land use, contracting and negotiation, litigation, law and motion, writs and appellate practice, human resources and employment, as well as furnishing strategic business and legal counsel while working directly with senior management and international clientele, with a proven track record as a large company and start-up General Counsel. An articulate, persuasive and seasoned advisor to business executives and government officials, Neil is a strategic and analytical problem solver who focuses on the ‘big’ picture to ascertain strategic business direction, while formulating risk mitigation strategies that protect the client’s finances and assets. Neil’s business practice focuses on delivering strategic business and legal counsel; negotiating creative solutions for complex business agreements with Fortune 500 companies and government agencies; and providing leadership in risk management and litigation minimization. Neil’s complex real estate, land use and zoning practice includes everything from commercial and retail leasing to developing growth management and green land development codes; drafting oil and gas ordinances to limit and mitigate hydraulic fracturing impacts upon local communities; and representing both government agencies and landowners in 5th Amendment takings claims. Neil is a founding director of Clean Technology Council, whose nonprofit mission is to foster an environment of learning, mentoring, expert support and collaborative resourcing for businesses and entrepreneurs to develop and market clean energy and technology innovations locally and globally. Neil received his A.B. from the University of California at Berkeley; his J.D. from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles; and his M.B.A. from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business. Mr. Popowitz is admitted to practice law in California, the Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, the Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, all U.S. District Courts in California and before the Court of Federal Claims.

Articles

Neil M. Popowitz, To Ban or Not to Ban: How California Cities and Counties Can Effectively Regulate Oil and Gas Fracking Activity without the Risk of a Total Ban, The Public Law Journal, Vol. 37, No. 4, p. 25 (Fall 2014) (with Robert H. Freilich). Neil M. Popowitz, How Local Governments Can Resolve Koontz’s Prohibitions on Ad Hoc Land Use Restrictions, 45 Urban Lawyer 971 (Fall 2013) (with Robert H. Freilich). Neil M. Popowitz, Oil and Gas Fracking: State and Federal Regulation Does Not Preempt Needed Local Government Regulation – Examining the Santa Fe Oil and Gas Plan and Ordinance as a Model, 44 Urban Lawyer 533 (Summer 2012) (with Robert H. Freilich). Neil M. Popowitz, Book Review, Joan Fitzgerald, Emerald Cities: Urban Sustainability and Economic Development (Oxford University Press, 2010) in 42 Urban Lawyer 759 (Summer 2010) (with Robert H. Freilich). Neil M. Popowitz, The Umbrella of Sustainability: Smart Growth, New Urbanism, Renewable Energy and Green Development in the 21st Century, 42 Urban Lawyer 1 (Winter 2010) (with Robert H. Freilich). Neil M. Popowitz, Nano-Tex: How an Accidental Startup Got Funded, Perfected its Product and Saved Not Only Burlington Industries, but maybe the Entire U.S. Textiles/Apparel Industry (The USC Technology Commercialization Alliance, Anthology of High Technology, September 2003). Neil M. Popowitz, Compromising Positions: The Good Faith Requirement of Section 998 Offers to Compromise is Judged Case by Case (Los Angeles Lawyer, December 1995).