First Admitted: 1987, Pennsylvania

Professional Webpage: https://odonnell-law.com/our-team/neil-t-odonnell/

Bar/Professional Activity:

Co-Chair, Judicial Selection Advisory Committee for the Middle District of Pennsylvania(2018, 2021, 2023 and 2024)
Hearing Examiner for Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board, 2018 - 2024
Volunteer Attorney – Luzerne County Court Credit Card Mediation Program
Volunteer Attorney – Luzerne County Court Mortgage Mediation Program
Volunteer Attorney – Hope Center
American Association for Justice (Member, Board of Governors)
Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association
Pennsylvania Association for Justice (Member, Board of Governors)
Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association
Northeastern Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (Member, Board of Directors; Past President)
Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association--Executive Committee-2022-2024
Pennsylvania, American and Federal Bar Associations
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Lifetime Achievement Membership – America’s Top 100 Attorneys
United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Bar Relations Committee, member
Court Appointed Trial Master in the Luzerne County Special Trial Masters Program
Pennsylvania Appellate Rules Advisory Committee, 2017 - 2023
Pennsylvania Committee on Racial and Gender Bias in the Justice System
Board Certification in Civil Pretrial Practice Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy
The Pennsylvania Society
Senior Counsel: American College of Barristers College of Master Advocates and Barristers
Litigation Counsel of America Fellow, 2013
Court Appointed Trial Master in the Luzerne County Special Trial Masters Program
The Roscoe Pound Society
Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy
Court Appointed Mediator, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Round Table Participant, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Gender Bias in the Justice System, November, 2001
Fellow of the National College of Advocacy
The Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):

American Board of Trial Advocates Member, 2024

Videos:

Honors/Awards:

2004-2024, Pennsylvania Super Lawyer
https://www.kings.edu/aboutkings/leadership/board_of_directors.html, Board of Trustee, King's College, 2024
https://www.timesleader.com/news/1598132/odonnell-named-man-of-the-year-by-greater-wb-friendly-sons-of-st-patrick, Man of the Year, Wilkes Barre Friendly Sons, 2023
2016-2024, Philadelphia Super Lawyers, Listed in Top 100
2008, 2019-2024, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Top 10
2007,2024, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Top 100
Multi-Million Dollar Advocate, 2007-2024, Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Society
2021-2024, National Association of Premises Liability Attorneys
American's Top 100 Attorneys, Lifetime Achievement Membership, 2020
Best Lawyers in America, 2010-2024, Best Lawyers
Lawyer of the Year, 2014, 2018, 2021, 2024, Best Lawyers, 2014
Best Attorneys of America - 2015-2024, Rue Ratings
America’s Top 100 Attorneys, 2024, Lifetime Achievement Membership, 2020
Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers, 2024
National Trial Lawyer Top 100, 2010-2024, National Trial Lawyer
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating, 2012-2024, Martindale-Hubbell
National Association of Distinguished Counsel (NADC) - 2015-2022, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
10 Best Attorney – Client Satisfaction, American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, 2024
Litigation Counsel of America Fellow 2018-2024, Litigation Counsel of America
Top 100 Lawyer, 2013 – 2024, American Society of Legal Advocates
Melvin Belli Society Inductee, Melvin Belli Society
Lawyer of the Year, 2018, 2021, 2024, Best Lawyers

Educational Background:

King’s College, B.A., summa cum laude, 1984

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

Melvin M. Belli Seminar, “What Persuades in Brain Damage Cases”, September 14, 2022
webinar, speaker, Deposition Strategies--PAJ Masters' Series, Pennsylvania Association for Justice, Plaintiffs' Attorneys, 2024
Wilkes Barre, PA, moderator, Ethics Panel, Northeast PA Trial Lawyers, Plaintiffs' Attorneys, 2024
Wilkes Barre, PA, moderator, Ethics Hour, Northeast PA Trial Lawyers, Plaintiffs' Attorneys, 2023
Las Vegas, NV, speaker, Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation, Advocacy360, Trial Lawyers, 2023
Boston, MA, speaker, Sexual Exploitation Cases, National Crime Victims Bar, 2023
Philadelphia, PA, speaker, Educator Sexual Abuse, Melvin Belli Society, Trial Lawyers, 2023
Wilkes Barre, PA, moderator, Legal Ethics Panel Discussion, Northeast PA Trial Lawyers, Plaintiffs' Attorneys, 2023
webinar, speaker, Jury Selection in Civil Cases, Erie Bar Association, All Attorneys, 2023
Miami, FL, speaker, Ethics Palooza, National Trial Lawyers, 2023
Wilkes Barre, PA, speaker, No Throwaway Depositions, Northeast PA Trial Lawyers, Plaintiffs' Attorneys, 2022
Bench Bar Seminar, speaker, TBI Litigation, Luzerne County Bar Association, All Attorneys, 2022
Webinar, speaker, Traumatic Brain injury Litigation, Melvin Belli Society, Trial Lawyers, 2022
Atlantic City invited speaker, Speaker, Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation, Pennsylvania Association for Justice, Plaintiffs' Attorneys, 2022
Nashville, TN invited speaker, Speaker, Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation, Connectionology, Trial Lawyers, 2022
TBI Med Legal Conference, featured speaker on maximizing damages in traumatic brain injury cases, September 23, 2021
Northeastern Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association Personal Injury Potpourri, “Trial Tips, Tactics and Lessons Learned”, December 16, 2021
Connectionology Traumatic Brain Injury Seminar, Featured Speaker, May 3, 2022
Pennsylvania Association for Justice Annual Summer Retreat, "What Persuades in Brain Damage Cases", July 21, 2022
Luzerne County Bar – “Remote Compulsory Arbitrations”, Lecturer, 2020
Connectionology: “Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation” – Nashville, TN (invited speaker), Lecturer, 2022
Northeastern Pa. Trial Lawyers Association – “Trials, Tips and Lessons Learned”, Lecturer, 2021
Brain Injury Association of California – “Strategies for Enhancing Value”, Lecturer, 2021
Connectionology – “Winning with Knock Out Depositions”, Lecturer, 2021
Melvin Belli Society – “Winning Depositions in Bad Faith Cases”, Lecturer, 2021
PBA Mid Year Meeting – “Considerations for Discovery, Jury Selection,and Trial in Post-COVID Era”, Lecturer, 2021
Melvin Belli Society – “Deposition Strategies in Bad Faith Cases”, Lecturer, 2021
Northeastern Pa. Trial Lawyers – “Remote Trials, Arbitrations, and Mediations”, Lecturer, 2020
Connectionology – “Deposition Strategies”, Lecturer, 2020
“Auto Law Update”, Lecturer, 2017
“Tactical Considerations In TBI Cases”, Lecturer, 2020
“Handling Brain Injury Cases”, Lecturer, 2020
“How to Read an Insurance Policy”, Lecturer, 2020
“Depositions of Corporate Designates” September 2019: Connectionology – “Increasing Case Value”, Lecturer, 2019
“Taking and Defending Depositions”, Lecturer, 2019
“Effective Depositions”, Lecturer, 2019
“Winning Cases Through Depositions”, Lecturer, 2018
“Witness Presentation Techniques”, Lecturer, 2018
“Using Depositions at Trial”, Lecturer, 2018
“Civil Litigation Update”, Lecturer, 2017
“Expert Cross-Examination”, Lecturer, 2016
“Maximizing the Value of Your Case”, Lecturer, 2017
“Koken Update”, Lecturer, 2017
“Handling Trucking Cases”, Lecturer, 2017
“Trucking Cases”, Lecturer, 2014
“Re-Evaluating Your Case Before Trial”, Lecturer, 2016
“Deposing Claims Professionals”, Lecturer, 2015
“Koken and Related Issues”, Lecturer, 2015
“Bad Faith Update,” December, Lecturer, 2004
“Spotting Causes of Action”, Lecturer, 2014
“Case Value Drivers”, Lecturer, 2014
“Bad Faith Update,” December, Lecturer, 2005
"Distribution Dilemma," March, Lecturer, 2006
"Auto Law Update," December, Lecturer, 2011
"Auto Law Update," December, Lecturer, 2013
"Insight into Evidence Issues", Lecturer, Pennsylvania Association for Justice Annual Update, 2013
"Settlements, Arbitrations and Mediations", Lecturer, 2014
"Identifying New Causes of Action" June, Lecturer, 2014
"Technology and the Law", Lecturer, 2013
Committee for Justice for All [CJA] annual CLE seminar, December, Featured Speaker, 2015
“Dram Shop Liability”, December, Featured Speaker, 2015
“Dram Shop Responsibilities to not serve Visibly Intoxicated Individuals”, August, 2015
“Identifying New Causes of Action,”, Lecturer, 2014
Settlements, Arbitrations and Mediations”, Lecturer, 2014
"Underinsured Motorist Practice and Procedure,” March, Lecturer, 1995
“Auto Law Update,” November, Lecturer, 1995
“Bad Faith Insurance Practices,” November, Lecturer, 1996
“Civil Litigation Update,” November, Lecturer, 1996
“Pennsylvania Auto Law,” November, Lecturer, 1997
“Civil Practice in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” April, Lecturer, 1998
“The New Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence,” August, Lecturer, 1998
“Pennsylvania Auto Law Update,” December, Lecturer, 1999
“Pennsylvania Auto Law Update,” December, Lecturer, 2000
“Examination of Vocational and Expert Witnesses,” June, Lecturer, 2001
“Bad Faith Update,” December, Lecturer, 2001
“Civil Practice in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” April, Lecturer, 2002
“Bad Faith Update,” December, Lecturer, 2002
“Bad Faith Update,” December, Lecturer, 2003

Neil T. O'Donnell