Fox Rothschild congratulates Neale T. Johnson, who was selected for the second consecutive year to the Construction Power List by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly. The annual list recognizes North Carolina’s leading lawyers in construction.

Johnson is co-chair of the firm’s nationwide Litigation Department. With more than 25 years of experience, he works with clients to resolve construction disputes and negotiates contracts that reduce the likelihood of disputes by allocating risks before project commencement.

“Clients turn to me first for help writing contracts designed to avoid and resolve problems without litigation,” Johnson told North Carolina Lawyers Weekly. “When we can’t avoid litigating or mediating a dispute, I help my clients win the right way and leave relationships intact whenever possible,” he added.

Johnson is well versed in collaborative practice and mediation. He is certified as a Superior Court Mediator by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission and listed as a mediator and arbitrator on the American Arbitration Association’s construction industry and commercial arbitration panels.

When asked about his most meaningful case, Johnson noted it actually had no connection to the construction industry. He recalled his first trial, a pro bono case in which he helped a single mother get custody of her sister’s children because she couldn’t provide them with a safe home. “We can’t solve everything, but we can use the power that comes with access to the justice system to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Johnson.