Partner Support
We ensure senior-level staffing on every matter, so that each client's case receives the attention and care it deserves.
Who We Are
About Us
Since 1938, Neal & Leroy has delivered superior legal services to the clients we serve.
Our Firm
Who We Are &How We Work
Neal & Leroy, LLC is a law firm built on a singular premise: exceptional legal work with intellectual depth and relentless advocacy. Since 1938, we have represented clients in matters of consequence, from complex real estate transactions and public and project finance, to zoning and land use, and from labor and employment to corporate and complex areas of technology transactions. The outcomes we achieve shape projects, organizations, and communities.
Our work is built on relationships. A focused group of experienced attorneys means every client works directly with a partner from the first call to the final signature, ensuring consistent representation guided by a commitment to people and community above all else.
Our attorneys understand how legal decisions play out in the real world, which allows us to provide advice that holds up long after a matter is closed or a case is resolved.
Why Neal & Leroy
Reasons ClientsChoose Us
Selecting a law firm is a critical decision. Across every practice, we listen closely to what matters most to our clients.
Government & Municipal Experience
Procurement, regulatory approvals, and public-private transactions are a core part of our practice. We handle a substantial volume of these matters, allowing us to bring proven experience to every engagement.
Cross-Practice Integration
Our attorneys collaborate closely, allowing us to identify and address issues while a deal is still being structured.
Nationally Competitive
We have practiced in Chicago for more than 85 years, giving us long-standing relationships and market insights that distinguish us from our national competitors.
Our History
Founded on Principle
Founded in 1938 by Earl J. Neal, Neal & Leroy, LLC began its proud tradition of legal services in Chicago. From the start, the firm distinguished itself through its commitment to excellence in trial advocacy, quickly earning a reputation as a formidable presence in courtrooms across Illinois. Over the decades, Neal & Leroy has grown in both size and scope. Today, the firm is recognized as one of the preeminent real estate and corporate law firms in the nation, with deep experience in real estate transactions and finance, public and project finance, zoning and land use, and commercial transactions and corporate law.
While Neal & Leroy has evolved, we remain grounded in the tenacity and drive that defined our beginnings. We continue to deliver high-caliber legal services with efficiency, integrity, and a forward-looking approach, always focused on helping our clients navigate today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.
Neal & Leroy, LLC
Important Dates in Our History
- 1938
- Earl J. Neal founds the firm now known as Neal & Leroy.
- 1950–1970
- Represented the Chicago Land Clearance Commission in the historic redevelopment and revitalization of the iconic Lincoln Park, Bronzeville, and Hyde Park communities.
- 1970–1990
- Pioneered landmark site acquisitions across Chicago’s North Loop Project, one of the first large-scale urban redevelopment condemnation campaigns in the nation’s history.
- 1990–2010
- Championed the legal preservation of iconic Chicago Loop theaters and historic landmarks, achieving a first-of-its-kind integration of eminent domain and historic preservation law.
- 1992
- Secured the largest single condemnation award in Illinois for the McCormick Place Convention Center.
- 1997
- Won precedent-setting appellate victory upholding Tax Increment Financing acquisitions, establishing new constitutional ground for municipal redevelopment authority.
- 2019
- Orchestrated the transformative Cook County Hospital Campus redevelopment, a groundbreaking public-private partnership revitalizing one of Chicago's most historic sites.
- 2019-2026
- Serving as counsel for the Obama Presidential Center, navigating complex federal, state, and municipal regulatory frameworks to advance a landmark cultural institution.
- 2026
- Over 88 years of continuous practice, delivering superior quality legal advice and services to our clients.
Community & Pro Bono
Giving Back ToOur Clients and Our Community
Pro Bono Practice
Every Neal & Leroy attorney contributes pro bono hours annually. That work spans wrongful-conviction appeals, housing-discrimination disputes, and small-business formation for Chicago entrepreneurs who need legal counsel and cannot easily access it.
Community Investment
Our attorneys serve on boards and lead civic organizations, including:
- Chicago Bar Foundation, Annual Sustaining Sponsor
- Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
- NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Partner Counsel
- South Side Community Arts Foundation, Founding Supporter
- Illinois Access to Justice Commission
Inclusion & Opportunity
Building A FirmThat Reflects Our Tradition
Neal & Leroy has been a diverse and inclusive law firm for over eight decades. The firm continues our founder’s legacy of civic and civil rights leadership. This history is part of why clients entrust us with matters that directly involve not only their businesses, but the communities in which they operate.
Mentorship is not just a formal program, but is embedded in our culture. Partners work directly with associates from day one, continuing the tradition of a collaborative work environment, with senior lawyers developing the next generation of firm members.