Neal W. Adams

Mr. Adams is one of the three founding principals of the Law Firm and has 50 years of experience in a wide range of complex business and commercial transactions. Mr. Adams has a complex public school law practice of 33 years representing school superintendents of the State of Texas in their employment matters with public school districts as General Counsel for the Texas Association of School Administrators. Mr. Adams also has extensive experience in representing university and college presidents of public and private institutions.

Mr. Adams also has a very extensive practice in health care law having represented the third largest public hospital (Tarrant County Hospital District d/b/a John Peter Smith Hospital) for 20 years with the past 13 years as General Counsel for the District.

Mr. Adams has extensive experience in all aspects of real estate and lending practice that includes real estate projects throughout the U.S. His litigation experience in such matters includes condemnation, administrative hearings, professional licensing, ad valorem taxes, title, business entity, ownership and land use. His clients include lending institutions, corporations, developers, investors, cities, schools, hospital and religious organizations.

Mr. Adams has extensive experience in all aspects of both state and federal civil litigation in the areas of real estate, employment law (both public and private and both employer and employee) and health care matters.

Mr. Adams holds an A.V. rating, which is the highest possible rating from Martindale-Hubbell for both legal ability and ethical standards.

Areas of Practice

• Education Law (public education and higher education)
• Health Care Law (hospital and physicians)
• Employment (public and private and employer and employee)
• Administrative Certification and License
• Real Estate Law (Commercial, Residential, and Farm and Ranch)
• Civil Litigation (State and Federal Courts)
• Religious Organizations
• Trade Associations

Professional Activities and Memberships

• Sustaining Life Fellow – Texas Bar Foundation (1986-date)
• Charter Member and Sustaining Life Fellow – Tarrant County Bar Foundation (1998-date)

Education

• Baylor University School of Law, J.D., 1970
• Texas A & M University, B.B.A. Marketing, 1968

Awards and Recognition

• Texas A&M University:
  • Hall of Honor, Corps of Cadets (2010)
  • Distinguished Alumni, Association of Former Students (2008)
• Recipient of the 2020 Dan Rugeley Price Memorial Award by the Texas Bar Foundation
• Kelly Frels Lifetime Achievement Award, State Bar of Texas, School Law Section (2016)
• Hall of Fame, Hurst-Euless-Bedford I.S.D. (2015)
• Region 4 Superintendents Award for Outstanding Support of the Superintendents of Region 4 (2008)
• Texas Super Lawyer for School Law, recognized by Thomson Reuters, as published in Texas Monthly Magazine (2003-2016, 2018, 2019, 2020)
• Top attorney in Education (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020) by 360 West Magazine to acknowledge the achievement of being named a “Top Attorney in Tarrant County”
• Texas Super Lawyer for Health Law, recognized by Thomson Reuters, as published in Texas Monthly Magazine (2012)
• Power Attorney by Fort Worth Business Press (2011)
• State of Texas, Texas Lawyer (“Go-To” Guide, Top Notch Lawyers for School Law) (2002 and 2007)
• Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers Association Honorary Life Membership (1985)
• Paul Harris Rotary International Foundation Award (1985)
• Distinguished Service Award, H-E-B Jaycees (1978)
• Outstanding Young Men of America (1978)
• Honorable Discharge, U.S. Army (1972)
• Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service (1972)

Admissions

• State Bar of Texas (1970)
• Trial and appellate courts of the State of Texas
• United States District Courts for the Western, Southern, Northern, and Eastern Districts of Texas
• United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, New Orleans, Louisiana
• United States Supreme Court

Civic Activities

• Member, Board of Directors and Fellows Chair (2011-2012), Texas Bar Foundation (2009-2012)
• Chairman (2008) and Member of District 7, Texas Bar Foundation, Fellows Nominating Committee (2008)
• Member of Board of Directors, Tarrant County Bar Foundation (2013-to date)
• Chair Elect, Board of Directors, Tarrant County Bar Foundation (2017)
• Member, Tarrant County New Civil Courts Building Design Task Force (2008-2013)
• Chairman (2002) and Member, District 7A Grievance Committee, State Bar of Texas (2000-2002)
• Member of Board of Directors, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of Texas (2000-2003)
• Chair, State Bar of Texas School Law Section (1999-2000)
• Co-Editor, State Bar of Texas, School Law Section Newsletter (1997-1999)
• Vice Chairman (2000) and Member, Real Estate Law Advisory Committee Texas Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of Texas (1999-2000)
• Member, Texas Bar College (1986-date)
• First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Adjutant’s General Corps, Trial Counsel, Headquarters Command, Fort Jackson, South Carolina (1971-1972)
• Cross City Church (formerly First Baptist Church of Euless):
  • Deacon (1987-to date)
  • Campaign Chairman, Stewardship Enrichment Campaign (1985-1986)
  • Building Committee (1984-1985)
  • Budget and Finance Committee (1985-1988, 1992-1994)
  • Chair – Moral and Civic Action Team, Deacon Body (1987-1989)
  • Chairman, Stewardship Committee Campaign (1987-1988)
  • Vice-Chairman and Member, Capital Structure Steering Committee (1987-1996)
• Texas A&M University:
  • Member, Search Committee:
    • President of the University (2009-2010)
    • Vice President of Student Services (2003-2004)
    • Dean of the School of Law (2013-2014)
    • Dean of the School of Law (2017-2018)
  • Member, President’s Advisory Council (2009-date)
  • Member, Academic Master Plan Steering Committee (2008-2009)
  • Chair (2010-2012) and Member, Chancellor’s Century Council (2003-2014)
  • Member, Association of Former Students Leadership Council (1998-2012)
  • Member, Association of Former Students Nominating Committee (2003)
  • President (2003 and 2014-2015) and Member of Board of Directors, Former Yell Leaders Association (1997-to date)
  • Co-Class Agent, Class of ’68 (1998-2003)
  • Chair (2005-2006) and Member of President’s Board of Visitors, Corps of Cadets (2003-date)
  • Member, Corps Development Council (1994-to date)
  • Member, Bush School Development Council (2003-to date)
  • Chairman (2011) and Member, Board of Trustees (2001-2003; 2005-2012) and Member, 12th Man Foundation (1971-to date)
  • Member, Attorneys Advisory Board and Development Council for School of Law (2012-to date)
  • Member, Board of Trustees, A&M PAC (2012-2015)
  • Member, Vision and Strategic Planning Committee for School of Law
  • Chairman of the Board of Trustees, A&M PAC (2013-2015)
• Vice-Chairman (1995) and Member, City of Euless, Charter Review Committees (1991, 1995)
• Member, Goals and Objectives Team, City of Euless Long Range Development Plan (1992-1994)
• Member, City of Euless Nonprofit Industrial Development Authority (1980-1989)
• Chairman (1979) and Member, City of Euless, Planning and Zoning Commission (1976-1979)
• Member, Board of Directors, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Education Foundation (1997-2000)
• Member, Board of Directors, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Sports Hall of Fame Foundation (1995-2000)
• Chairman and Member, Facilities Review Committee, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District, Strategic Planning Committee (1990)
• Member, Board of Directors, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Foundation (1988-1991)
• Member, Board of Directors, Tarrant County Crime Stoppers, Inc. (1983-1984)
• President (1979-1980) and Member of Board of Directors (1975-1981) and Member, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Chamber of Commerce (1975-to date)
• President (1980-1981) and Member, Hurst Mid-Cities Rotary Club (1977-date)
• Vice-Chairman (1979) and Member, Board of Management, Northeast YMCA (1977-1979)
• Chairman (2011-date) and Member, College for All Texans Foundation (2009-to date)
• Vice-Chairman (2005-2007) and Member, Board of Directors, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (2001-2007)
• Member, Board of Managers, Tarrant County Hospital District (2000-2004)
• Member, Tarrant County Civil Service Commission (1998-2000)
• Delegate, Texas Republican Party Convention (every other year, 1978-2008)
• Alternate Delegate, National Republican Convention (2000)
• Director, Texas Public Policy Foundation (1990-1991)
• President (1981-1985) and Member, Board of Trustees, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District (1979-1986)
• Member, State of Texas Advisory Committee, Education to Handicapped (1980-1982)
• Member, Board of Trustees, Texas Association of School Boards (1984-1986)
• Member, Legislative Council, National Association of School Boards (1980-1986)
• Chairman (198-1986) and Member, Board of Trustees, Texas Learning Technology Group Foundation (1985-1986)
• Member, Advisory Council on Child Abuse & Neglect, Texas Parent and Teacher Association (1983-1984)
• Member, Sid Richardson Foundation Task Force on Delivering a High-Quality Teachers Workforce for Texas (2009-2010)
• Member, Board of Directors, Lincoln National Bank (1983-1986)
• Member, Board of Directors, Bank of North Texas (1982-1983)
• Member, Board of Directors, First City Savings Association (1979-1983)
• Member, Board of Directors, First National Bank of Euless (1979-1981)