Frank X. Neuner Jr. (P.C.)

Born:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, May 23, 1951

College:

Louisiana State University, B.S., 1972

Law School:

Louisiana State University, J.D., 1976

Admissions:

1976, Louisiana; 1993, Texas

Membership:

Lafayette Parish (Past President), Louisiana State (Past Chairman and Member, Professionalism and Quality of Life Committee; Past Member, Board of Governors; Past Treasurer; President, 2005-2006; Team Leader) and American (Member, House of Delegates) Bar Associations; Acadiana Inns of Court (Past President); Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel; Defense Research Institute; Maritime Law Association of the United States; Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute; Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel; International Association of Defense Counsel

Biography:

A founding partner of Laborde & Neuner, Frank X. Neuner, Jr. practices admiralty, insurance, employment, commercial law and toxic tort litigation. With more than 30 years of experience, Neuner has been on the vanguard of these evolving fields, and has represented clients ranging from local and regional Fortune 500 companies to small businesses to individuals, including insurance firms, oilfield operators, royalty owners and service companies. Neuner serves as the managing partner of Laborde & Neuner.

Perhaps the most trying time in his career came in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita while Neuner was serving as President of the Louisiana State Bar Association. With more than half of the state’s attorneys displaced from their homes and offices, Neuner worked tirelessly to help set up accommodations for displaced attorneys and establish programs to help them get back on their feet. Laborde & Neuner opened its office to those in need by providing office space for the Louisiana State Bar Association for 2 months following Hurricane Katrina. Neuner also worked to organize a temporary office center for 80 practicing attorneys in St. Bernard Parish and helped raise funds for numerous causes, including three public defender positions in New Orleans, a study by the National Legal Aid & Defenders Association of the criminal justice system and indigent defenders office in New Orleans, and a conference on indigent defense in Louisiana with Yale Law School. In addition, Neuner worked with the Texas and American Bar Association in establishing a call center and database to help re-connect attorneys with their clients.

For these and other efforts, Neuner has received numerous accolades. On January 21, 2006, Neuner was honored by the Louisiana State Bar Association with its Professionalism Award. On June 8, 2006, Neuner was honored by the Louisiana Bar Foundation with the 2006 President’s Award in recognition of outstanding leadership, volunteer service and dedication to the mission and goals of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. On June 9, 2006, the Louisiana State Bar Association’s twenty living Past Presidents honored Neuner for his outstanding service to the profession, the judiciary and the public in response to the unprecedented challenges of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In December of 2006, The Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers presented Neuner with the Public Defender Gideon Award.

In 2008, the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center named Neuner as the Distinguished Alumni of the Year, joining the likes of Judge Alvin B. Rubin, Senator Russell B. Long, J. Bennett Johnston, Patrick A. Juneau and Michael Rubin. The award is given annually to an alumnus who exemplifies the highest quality and ethical standards of the legal profession. It also recognizes personal and professional achievements, as well as loyalty to the LSU Law Center. Commenting on the recognition, Chief Justice Catherine “Kitty” Kimball of the Louisiana Supreme Court, a 1970 graduate of the LSU Law Center and the 1999 Distinguished Alumna of the Year, said “Frank has excelled in many legal and leadership arenas that bring credit both to the Law Center and the profession, but maybe none greater than his contribution as President of the Louisiana State Bar Association during the time of the 2005 hurricanes.”

Recently, Neuner was appointed by Gov. Bobby Jindal as chair of the state Public Defender Board. He continues to work on improving the criminal justice system throughout the state with a primary emphasis on New Orleans and the areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Giving back to his profession has been central to Neuner’s career. In 2004 the Louisiana State Bar Association honored Neuner with the David A. Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award for his demonstrated commitment to the promotion of legal services to the poor and his significant contributions which have enhanced pro bono efforts in the State of Louisiana during his lifetime. He was also honored in 2004 by the National Client Protection Organization with its prestigious Isaac Hecht law Client Protection Award for his leadership and guidance in reforming the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Client Protection Program.

Neuner has also played an active role in the local community. He is a past Chairman and Board member of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center and serves on the Lafayette Advisory Board for Iberia Bank Corporation. He served as inaugural Co-Chairman of the Lafayette Outreach for Civil Justice in 2003 and 2004. Neuner also previously served as President and Campaign Chair of United Way of Acadiana and remains involved with the organization. Neuner was a founding member and Board member of Community Foundation of Acadiana for 9 years (1999 - 2008).

Frank Neuner has been married to Tracy Owens Neuner for thirty-seven years and they have four children and one grandson.