Thank you for selecting a date. Due to short notice on your chosen day, The Case Manager will do their best to accommodate your request. However, you may be offered an alternative date. If your request is urgent, please call 800.352.5267.
What is Pending? Another client has already requested this date for this Panelist. However, that request has not been confirmed. If you wish to be put next in line for this date, please complete and submit the form or call us at 800.352.5267.
Currently, calendars are only available for a select group of panelists while we assess the usefulness of this feature. If you would like to provide feedback about this feature, click HERE. To obtain availability, please click on Contact Case Manager.
Hon. Stephen E. Neel (Ret.)
JAMS Neutral Inquiry
T:
*Required Fields
Select up to 4
Practice Areas & Industries
X
Services
Type of Services*
X
In-Person/Virtual
Requested Hearing Format
Select preferred location*
X
Requested session dates within:
Request the same information for up to 8 additional panelist(s) below (optional):
Neutral Not Found
Maximum limit reached
Thank you for contacting JAMS.
Your inquiry is very important to us, and a JAMS associate will respond as soon as possible. We look forward to supporting your alternative dispute resolution needs.
General Biography
Practice Areas
Administrative Law
Business Commercial
Class Action & Mass Tort
Construction
Employment Law
Environmental Law
Insurance
Intellectual Property
Life Sciences
Personal Injury
Professional Liability
Real Property
Securities
Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities
Background and Education
Hon. Stephen E. Neel (Ret.) has extensive experience resolving a wide spectrum of complex civil litigation having served 18 years as a trial judge on the Massachusetts Superior Court and 19 years as a trial attorney in private practice concentrating in complex civil litigation. He was appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court in 1992 and presided in the Business Litigation Session from 2008 to 2010. Moreover, Judge Neel served on the Supreme Judicial Court’s Standing Committee on Dispute Resolution and chaired the Superior Court’s Subcommittee on Alternative Dispute Resolution.
While at JAMS, Judge Neel has mediated and arbitrated matters in a variety of complex business and commercial disputes, including: class actions, construction cases, contracts, employment, insurance, professional liability, securities, tort, and telecommunications.
ADR Experience and Qualifications
Served on the Supreme Judicial Court's Standing Committee on Dispute Resolution
Chaired Superior Court's Subcommittee on Alternative Dispute Resolution
Presided in the successful Business Litigation Session (the "BLS") of the Massachusetts Superior Court from 2008 to 2010, resolving complex litigation including:
Business torts
Corporate governance
Employment agreements
Insurance
Intellectual property
Negligence
Product liability
Professional liability
Securities transactions and shareholder claims
U.C.C.
Unfair trade practices
Served for five years as Regional Administrative Justice for Civil Business for Middlesex County
Handled and resolved complex civil litigation, including construction, securities, broker-dealer, and products liability cases, as a trial partner at Goodwin, Procter and Hoar and Herrick & Smith in Boston
Available to resolve disputes remotely through a number of videoconferencing options
Representative Matters
Business Commercial
Arbitrated to award dispute over interpretation of LLC operating agreement
Dissolution of limited partnership and LLC entities
Consumer fraud involving brokerage firm
Claim by bank for breach of assignment agreement and violation of U.C.C.
Close corporation shareholder freeze-out
Class Action & Mass Tort
Adjudicated class action against pharmaceutical company alleging false marketing
Adjudicated class action against smokeless tobacco producers
Adjudicated class action against automobile insurers seeking post-award interest on arbitration awards
Mediated settlement of class action by borrowers against bank
Construction
Big Dig tunnel collapse/wrongful death claim requiring management of multi-party litigation and coordination with parallel state and federal criminal proceedings
Arbitrated dispute over scope of mixed use residential and retail condominium development project
Chaired tripartite arbitration panel in dispute over indenture provision regarding purchase price of hydroelectric facility by lessor of project site
Multi-party claims arising from leaks in cladding of high-rise building
Mediated settlement of wrongful death claim arising from construction site heavy equipment accident
Employment Law
Arbitrated wrongful termination claims based on violation of public policy
Decided claims against departing employees for breach of restrictive covenants and theft of trade secrets
Settled claims based on, gender, military service, disability, hostile work environment, public policy and claims of retaliation
Decided claim for termination without cause and breach of Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
Insurance
Chaired tripartite arbitration panel in claim by insured against excess carrier
Arbitrated dispute over allocation of insurance proceeds
Decided interpretation of policy exclusions and coverage provisions in claims alleging environmental contamination, asbestos/chemical personal injury, and construction accident
Successfully mediated class action against insurer for payment of post-arbitration award interest
Mediated and settled coverage claim under accidental death/disability policy
Professional Liability
Arbitrated or mediated multiple medical malpractice/wrongful death matters
Decided claims of legal malpractice, fraud on court by law firm
Alleged negligence/breach of contract by architect
Claims for breach of duty by officers, directors
Securities
Action to enjoin shareholder vote on merger because of alleged undervaluing of shares
Claim under Uniform Securities Act for alleged material misrepresentations in solicitation by hedge fund
Action to enjoin corporate acquisition because of alleged material omissions in proxy statement
Derivative action against bank arising from crash of mortgage-backed securities market
Mediated and settled class action claiming aiding and abetting fraud in sale of securities
Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities
Completed Virtual ADR training conducted by the JAMS Institute, the training arm of JAMS.
Recognized as Best Lawyers' Boston "Lawyer of the Year" for Mediation, 2024
Recognized by Best Lawyers as one of the Best Lawyers in America for his work in the practice area of Arbitration, 2016-2024
Liberty Bell Award, Middlesex Bar Association, 1999
Chairman, Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct, 2009-2010 (Member, 2004–2010)
Chair, Superior Court’s ad hoc Civil Steering Committee (developed, implemented Superior Court’s Firm/Fair Trial Date Initiative), 2004-2008
Chair, Superior Court’s Civil Committee, 2005-2007
Member, Supreme Judicial Court’s Standing Committee on Dispute Resolution, 2002-2004
Chair, Superior Court’s Subcommittee on Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2001-2004
Faculty member (“The Interaction Between the Superior Court and the Mediation Process”), Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.’s Civil Mediation Workshop, 2007
Judicial Chair, Massachusetts Bar Association’s Superior Court Practice Bench-Bar Committee, 2002-2004
Team Leader and Lecturer, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.’s Trial Advocacy Workshop, 2003
Trial Lawyer concentrating in complex civil litigation, including construction, securities, broker-dealer, and products liability cases
J.D., Harvard Law School, 1973
B.A., cum laude, Amherst College, 1969
Counsel Comments
“I was impressed with Judge Neel and the JAMS team from the very beginning of the Zoom mediation process. It was clear to me that JAMS has conducted extensive training to prepare and made every effort to ensure that the mediation was secure, efficient, and as close as possible to the in-person experience. JAMS’s had dedicated technological support to ensure that the cameras/sounds/lighting/Zoom platform function. We even had a “test” session to work out any kinks, which I found quite helpful. I had no concerns about online security or safety. I am certain that the mediation would have worked out the same way if we had all been in one location, and my client was able to save the cost/time associated with travel from California in the process. I plan to use Judge Neel and JAMS in the future based upon my experience.”
“You got the parties speaking a common language, you made both sides more realistic about the strengths and weaknesses of our cases, and you brought to bear just the right combination of urgency and patience.” - Prominent Boston Attorney
“He was a gem of a judge and shines equally bright as a mediator with his calm and thoughtful approach to highly emotional cases. I look forward to an opportunity to work with him again, soon.” - Prominent Litigation Attorney
“You brought sensitivity and wisdom to a case that was particularly complicated and difficult. Thank you for the way in which you treated us, and for guiding us through a long day. We very much look forward to working with you again.” - Litigator leading Boston firm
“Going into our mediation I had little-to-no hope of settlement. You did an outstanding job of handling and facilitating a very complicated situation. Your touch/interaction with my clients was perfect."
"Mediation can be tense and emotional. You did a fantastic job of dealing with the issues as well as the personalities involved.” - Employment Litigation Partner
“Judge Neel was outstanding and the mediation was very well organized.”
“Judge Neel remained patient and attentive during a long process.”
“Judge Neel communicated very effectively and sensitively with the parties and their counsel throughout the process.”
“Judge Neel spent a year with the parties to bring an intractable 25-year-old dispute to resolution. We selected Judge Neel for his intellectual power and practical experience -- but what made the most difference in the end was his personal dedication to the case. When the settlement was about to fall apart over a weekend during the winter holidays, he got each of the lawyers on the phone and by Monday the settlement was back on track.”
“Judge Neel did an excellent job. He made my client feel like a significant player in the process and made every effort to relate to her. That was most helpful.”
Home Office
HOME OFFICE
Boston, Massachusetts
One Boston Place, 201 Washington Street, Suite 3300, Boston, MA 02108
This page is for general information purposes. JAMS makes no representations or warranties regarding its accuracy or completeness. Interested persons should conduct their own research regarding information on this website before deciding to use JAMS, including investigation and research of JAMS neutrals. See More
Search our global directory of mediators, arbitrators and ADR professionals.
Counsel Comments
- Prominent Boston Attorney
- Prominent Litigation Attorney
- Litigator leading Boston firm
- Employment Litigation Partner