Brad Neighbor

.About Brad Neighbor

Brad practices in the areas of local and state government, administrative, utility, and appellate law and litigation. He works with various governmental entities in the broad range of issues affecting them. He has drafted numerous bills, ordinances, and rules over the course of his career and has extensive experience in drafting complex agreements regarding utilities such as water, wastewater, and electricity. He has appeared before or participated in many matters and contested case hearings involving the Texas Public Utility Commission, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other commissions and agencies on both the state and federal levels. Brad is board certified in appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has authored many appellate briefs and participated in oral arguments in state and federal courts of appeal.

Brad retired from the City of Garland, Texas after 37 years of service, the last 17 of which he served as City Attorney. In honor of his service and contributions to the city, Garland renamed its municipal court as the Brad Neighbor Municipal Court Building.  Brad is a member of the Texas City Attorneys Association and has been designated a local government fellow by the International Municipal Lawyers Association. His work for Garland brought him experience in a vast range of legal issues.

Brad was raised in a family of corporate nomads so, after being born and raised in the Cascade Mountains of eastern Washington state on the Idaho border, he lived in several locations as a boy. His family settled in Dallas, Texas in the late 1960s and he believes himself to be thoroughly Texan. He currently resides in the DFW area.

.Education

• B.A. – Public Administration – North Texas State University
• J.D. – Texas Tech School of Law
  • ABA Book Award – Land Use Law
  • ABA Book Award – Local Government Law
• Board Certified in Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

.Bar Admissions

• State Bar of Texas
• Admitted:
  United States Supreme Court
  Texas Supreme Court
  United States Court of Appeals – Fifth Circuit
  United States District Court – Northern District of Texas
  United States District Court – Eastern District of Texas
  United States District Court – Southern District of Texas

.Publications and Presentations

• Author and Presenter, “Round Table with the Experts,” International Municipal Lawyers Association, 69^th Annual Conference.
• Author and Presenter, “Computer Automation Technological & Legal Issues – Privacy in a Public Place,” International Municipal Lawyers Association, 67^th Annual Conference.
• Author and Presenter, “Bankruptcy Issues Affecting Local Government,” International Municipal Lawyers Association, 66^th Annual Conference.
• Author and Presenter, “Suing and Defending Public Entities – Pleas to the Jurisdiction,” State Bar of Texas.
• Author and Presenter, “Automated Red Light Enforcement – Making Red Mean Stop,” Texas City Attorneys Association.
• Author and Presenter, “SafeLight Garland,” Texas Chiefs of Police Association.
• Author and Presenter, “Constitutionality of the Hearing Examiner Process,” Texas Municipal League/Texas Municipal Personnel Association.
• Author and Presenter, “Short Course on Planning and Zoning for Public Officials,” Southwest Legal Foundation/Municipal Legal Studies Center.
• Author and Presenter, “Back to the Basics- A Checklist for the New Civil Service Commissioner or Director,” Texas Municipal League/Texas Municipal Personnel Association.
• Author and Presenter, “Introduction to Zoning,” American Planning Association – Texas Chapter Conference.
• Author and Presenter, “You and the Law,” Code Enforcement Association of Texas.
• Author and Presenter, “Preparing an Artist Engagement Agreement,” Texas Festivals and Events Association.
• Author, “Exploring the Limits of Subject Matter Jurisdiction Through Pleas to the Jurisdiction,” Suing and Defending Governmental Entities, State Bar of Texas (2002).
• Author, “Bankruptcy Issues Affecting Local Governments,” IMLA Annual Conference (2001).
• Author, “Pulling the Plug: The Legal Implications of Utility Terminations for Local Governments,” The Municipal Lawyer (2001).