Neal is a technology and advertising attorney with significant experience in the internet, social/interactive media, software, information technology and advertising industries.ย As the past Chair of the firm’s Technology Industry Team, his practice focuses on providing practical, strategic counseling to companies in a broad range of intellectual property and advertising matters, including handling underlying technology, content, data, software development, licensing and other commercial transactions core to the sale of products and services to consumer and business customers. ย Neal has specific experience in guiding companies through the myriad of legal and commercial issues that arise from doing business and advertising online, including the intersection of technology, privacy and advertising.
Backed with many years of in-house legal experience, Neal has worked with some of America’s leading brands, delivering pragmatic solutions that ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations without sacrificing creativity and impact.ย This โbrand lawโ experience includes advertising review, claim substantiation, sweepstakes, word of mouth marketing, content licensing, website operations, online promotions, privacy, COPPA, behavioral advertising, product placement, sponsorship, endorsement, and virtually all types of promotion related agreements.
From a technology perspective, he has considerable experience in advising companies on intellectual property ownership, use, acquisition, sale, license and protection matters, as well as structuring and negotiating various agreements (e.g., strategic alliance, M&A, joint venture, spin-out, intercompany, etc.) touching on the development, acquisition, marketing, sale and/or distribution products and services that are substantially comprised of or dependent on intellectual property.
Reviewing and counseling on advertising copy throughout all stages (idea to production). Handling all network advertising clearance matters.Substantiating, defending and prosecuting claims before the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, national broadcast networks and other industry self-regulatory bodies.
Handling inquiries and investigations brought by the FTC, state AGs (both multi-state and individual actions), and local consumer protection agencies.
Counseling on various business practices, promotional activities and programs, including those related to gift certificates, telemarketing, price range advertising, sweepstakes, contests, and electronic billing.
Counseling in the areas of product sales and development, including claims, licensing, product liability, warranty, labeling, and related matters.
Counseling on marketing and sales related press releases, as well as crises management and other legal support for public relations groups.
Counseling on all aspects of internet marketing, sales, and support (e.g., transactions, terms of use, COPPA, customer forums, blogs, etc.).
Drafting, negotiating and counseling on a wide variety of contracts and agreements, including sales agreements, consumer terms and conditions, intellectual property licensing agreements, and alliance and other business marketing agreements.
University of Nebraska, J.D., 1997,ย highest distinction
Order of the Coif
Nebraska Law Review,ย Research Editor
The Ohio State University, B.S.B.A., 1992
Selected for inclusion in theย Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Starsยฎ, 2012-2014
Missouri Bar Association
Kansas Bar Association
Ohio Bar Association
Media Bridges, Board of Trustees
Cincinnati Museum of Natural History & Science Advisory Boardย Member
Diversity and Inclusion Committee, former Member
Technology Industry, former Team Leader
โ2013 Social Media Updateโย KBA 23rd Annual Issues for Corporate House Counsel CLE Seminar (April 2013)
โCoupons, Premiums, Loyalty Programs & Rebates,โ โ 34th Annual PMA Marketing Law Conference (November 13, 2012)
โAd Forum: The Golden Age of Social Media, โ ADmerica โ AAF National Conference (June 2, 2012)
โNavigating the Perils and Promises of Social Networking,โ 22nd Annual Issues for Corporate House Counsel/Kentucky Bar Association Corporate House Council. (April 19, 2012)
โSocial Media Program,โ Social Media Program โ Greater Cincinnati Minority Council (March 15, 2012)
โSocial Networking Perils & Promises,โ Southwest Ohio Association of Corporate Counsel Program (December 1, 2011)
โKidsized Marketing: Supersized issues,โ 33rd Annual PMA Marketing Law Conference (November 5, 2011)
โSocial Media in the Workplace: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly,โ 2011 Annual Frost Brown Todd CLE Event (November 1, 2011)
โSocial Media: Practitionersโ Perspectives on Advising Clients and Avoiding Employment Pitfallsโ, Kentucky Bar Association Annual Convention, Lexington, KY (June 2011)
โSocial Media & The Lawโ, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY (January 2011)
โSocial Media Security โ Is Your Company Protected?โ, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Cincinnati, Ohio (June 2010)
โLexAd After-hoursโ, Lexington Ad Club, Lexington, Kentucky (June 2010)
โPrivacy Considerations for Business Use of Social Networking/Behavioral Advertisingโ,
ACC in-house CLE Seminar, Frost Brown Todd LLC (June 2010)
โNegotiating Talent and Endorsement Deals under the New Guidesโ, American Conference Instituteโs 23rd National Advanced Forum on Advertising Law, New York, New York (January 2010)
โComplying With State Laws on Sweepstakes, Contests and Promotions,โ American Conference Institute โ 3rd Annual Advertisersโ and Marketersโ Regulatory Summit, Washington D.C. (June 2009)
โMake It Personal: Behavioral Marketing and Privacy Issues,โ AAF National Conference 2009, Washington D.C. (June 2009)
โYouโve Done What With Our Website?,โ Cincinnati Bar Association, Corporate Counsel Luncheon, Cincinnati, Ohio (May 2009)
โCopyright & Trademark Update,โ The 30th Annual Promotion Marketing Law Conference, Chicago, Illinois (November 2008)
โInteractive Media and the Law,โ AdClub Cincinnati Digital Non-Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio (November 2008)
Your Privacy Policy: Fact or Fiction?,โ Privacy and Information Security Seminar, Frost Brown Todd LLC (May 2008)
โAdvertising in International Markets โ How to be Successful and Avoid the Pitfalls,โ Miami Valley Trade Association (December 2007)
โChildrenโs Online Privacy Protection Act,โ Promotion Marketing Association, Inc. Conference, Chicago, Illinois (November 2007)
โSocial media: Risks & Rewardsโ โ Cincinnati Business Courier Small Business Essentials (July 8, 2014)
โSocial Media & Americaโs Favorite Pastime,โ โ Indiana State Bar Association Intellectual Property Section (July 13, 2012)
โWhoโs Afraid of the FTCโ, AdClub Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio (December 2009)
Expert Roundtable on CARU, The 31st Annual Promotion Marketing Law Conference, Chicago, Illinois (November 2009)
โBehavioral Advertisingโ, Lexington Advertising Club, Lexington, Kentucky (August 2009)
โCause Marketingโ & โBehavioral Advertising,โ Lawyers, Ads & Money, Cincinnati, Ohio (July 2009)
โInteractive Media. Losing Control?,โ The Advertising Federation of Columbus, Columbus, Ohio (January 2009)
โYour Privacy Policy,โ Institute of Management Accountants (Northern Kentucky Chapter) Covington, Kentucky (January 2009)
โInternet and Journalism,โ Legal Handbook for Ohio Journalists, 4th Edition, published by Ohio State Bar Association, August 2007
February 26, 2018 | Press Releases
Frost Brown Todd (FBT) Member Nilesh (Neal) Patel has been selected as a 2018 Fellow of the Leadersh...
September 18, 2017 | Publications
Last December the Copyright Office rolled out its new online filing system for designating an agent ...
November 30, 2016 | Publications
Beginning December 1, 2016, the Copyright Office is rolling out its new online filing system for des...