J.D., 1977
- Editor, Louisiana Municipal Law Journal
- Attended Washington University (St. Louis) School of Law, 1974-75
Education
LSU Law Center
J.D., 1977
J.D., 1977
Professional and Community Involvement
Louisiana State Bar Association
State Bar of Texas
American Planning Association (Planning & Law Division)
Louisiana City Attorneys Association (Executive Board)
International Municipal Lawyers Association
Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (Past Chair)
Professional Presentations
"ABC's of Planning and Zoning," Louisiana City Attorneys Association, Fall, 2010; Louisiana Parish Attorneys Association, Winter, 2011.
“A Downtown Renaissance: Revitalizing Main Street and Overcoming the Legal Hurdles,” Louisiana City Attorneys Association, Spring, 2010.
Chair, Annual Upstate Louisiana Land Use Planning and Real Estate Development Conference, 2007 & 2008 (LSU-Shreveport).
Seminar chair or co-chair, Zoning and Land Use in Louisiana, 2003 – 2006, Shreveport, Bossier City, Baton Rouge, Lafayette (Lorman).
Seminar chair, Advanced Zoning and Land Use in Louisiana, 2004 & 2005, Baton Rouge (Lorman).
“A Downtown Renaissance: Revitalizing Main Street and Overcoming the Legal Hurdles,” Louisiana City Attorneys Association, Spring, 2010.
Chair, Annual Upstate Louisiana Land Use Planning and Real Estate Development Conference, 2007 & 2008 (LSU-Shreveport).
Seminar chair or co-chair, Zoning and Land Use in Louisiana, 2003 – 2006, Shreveport, Bossier City, Baton Rouge, Lafayette (Lorman).
Seminar chair, Advanced Zoning and Land Use in Louisiana, 2004 & 2005, Baton Rouge (Lorman).
Publications
Chapter author: “Sandra Day O’Connor, Tall in the Saddle.” Leaders of the Pack: Great Justices of the U. S. Supreme Court (William D. Pederson, Editor; Peter Lang Publishing, New York, 2003).
Chapter co-author: “Inactive and Abandoned Sites.” Louisiana Environmental Handbook (Lawyers Cooperative Publishing, Rochester, 1997 & 1998).
Chapter co-author: “Inactive and Abandoned Sites.” Louisiana Environmental Handbook (Lawyers Cooperative Publishing, Rochester, 1997 & 1998).
Education
LSU
- Master of Public Administration (MPA), 2010; Specialization: Political Communications
- BA, Communication Studies, 2008
Professional and Community Involvement
Young Professionals Initiative, Greater Shreveport/Bossier Chamber of Commerce (Executive Committee)
Loyola Flyer Alumni Association (Board Member)
Krewe of Justinian
LSU Alumni Association
The Cotillion Club and Holiday in Dixie
National Association of Professional Women
About
Neil T. Erwin
Attorney at Law
Neil Erwin’s law practice has focused for over 30 years on creative smart growth solutions for government and business.
He assists a growing number of local governments, as well as private developers and citizen groups, in resolving a variety of significant contested projects and decisions. This assistance includes, when required, representation in litigation to enforce or defend a client’s legal rights.
He is admitted to legal practice in both Louisiana and Texas.
Representative Experience
- Extensive zoning and land use regulation legal services for local governments on a regular and comprehensive outsourced basis, typically coordinated with the principal municipal or parish attorney.
These services encompass drafting, staff and citizen commission administration assistance, legal interpretation, and any necessary judicial enforcement.
Services often involve the initial crafting or redrafting of zoning, subdivision, planned unit development, conditional use, variance, or similar ordinances customized to the individual needs of each community.
Should existing enabling legislation not support client goals, changes in the law may be suggested and coordinated through enactment.
- Legal advice and management assistance in developing future land use plans mandated by law as well as inclusive master planning to guide decision-making and the cost-effective investment of public resources.
Implementation can incorporate public-private partnerships and cooperative endeavor and intergovernmental agreements to achieve mutually beneficial goals.
- Regulatory practice, including experience in representing governments, large businesses (including Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway, and Rite-Aid), and neighborhood associations, resulting in a unique perspective and understanding of the aims and concerns of different sides. This often has aided in achieving the speedier adoption of a desired strategy.
- General legal representation of local government, including administrative, real estate, contracts, and local-state relations.
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Litigation representation in a broad range of complex governmental and commercial legal matters, from contractual enforcement to the defense of personal injury claims and the support of the actions and decisions of local governments.
This includes experience in contested cases in the areas of zoning and land use, public records, sexually oriented business regulation, lease rights, and boundary adjustment.
Caroline E. Erwin, MPA
Policy Analyst
After receiving her Master's degree in public administration from LSU-Baton Rouge in 2010, specializing in political communications, Caroline joined Neil Erwin Law, LLC, as the firm's Policy Analyst. Her work incorporates special analysis and research of local government regulations and ordinances for creative smart growth solutions, plus litigation support.
Caroline's experience includes internships in the United States Congress (Rep. Bobby Jindal) and the Louisiana Legislative Research Library.