Neil Blackmon

Experience

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  University of Florida Center for Study of Race and Race Relations

  Sept 2006 - Dec 2007

  Research Assistant

  At the only center devoted to race scholarship housed at a southern law school, helped research and write legal articles on issues ranging from residential segregation and fair housing to the Voting Rights Act and Hurricane Katrina. Wrote press releases on activities of the Race Center with an aim toward supporting the Center’s vision of promoting cooperation, awareness and scholarship on issues of race inside and beyond academic communities.

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  The Yanks Are Coming

  Aug 2008 - now

  Founder, Editor

  Independent website covering soccer in the United States, with a focus on longform journalism and the US National Teams. While serving as Editor-in-Chief, have overseen growth of website from small blog to mainstream soccer media outlet with one of largest readerships of an independent, US-based soccer website in the United States. Written and edited thousands of articles, with a central focus on the US Men and Women’s National Teams, and outside focus on Major League Soccer, the English Premier League and the North American Soccer League. Nominated for Best US Soccer blog by US Soccer fans twice, The Yanks Are Coming has also seen its writing nominated frequently as some of the nation’s best soccer journalism. Show less

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  Various Judicial Circuits

  Apr 2011 - Mar 2017

  Assistant Public Defender

  Criminal defense. Civil rights. In multiple stints at one of the busiest Public Defender offices in the nation, handled a caseload ranging from 100-200 cases in any given time period; experienced 30 jury trials and secured multiple not guilty verdicts. Drafted and argued countless motions and proposed orders, including multiple appellate briefs. Argued motions, including multiple appeals; investigated and drafted responsive discovery. Served as co-counsel on one homicide trial and served as first chair to not guilty verdict on an armed kidnapping, a capital sexual battery, and a three count attempted first-degree murder. Other trials ranged from misdemeanors to assorted felonies, including sexual battery and drug trafficking trials to verdict.While practicing in Gainesville, served as counsel on a caseload ranging from 50-90 first and second degree felony cases in any given time period; drafted and argued several motions. First chair on multiple trials to verdict, with charges ranging from felonies punishable by life to third degree grand theft and drug possession felonies. Argued motions and when necessary, crafted habeas writs. Helped assist, train and try cases with new attorneys in the office’s misdemeanor divisions.Florida Bar, Government Lawyer Section, Executive Council Membership Committee, 2015 Criminal Law Section 2014-2017 Government Lawyer Section, 2014-2017 National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2017Federal Bar Admissions:U.S. District Court for the Southern District of FloridaU.S. District Court for the Middle District of FloridaU.S. District Court for the Southern District of New YorkEleventh Circuit, United States Court of AppealsSupreme Court of the United States Show less

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  Various publications & books

  Jan 2015 - Mar 2017

  Freelance Writer

  Writing published, as well as social media and journalism appearances in the following publications and/or podcasts:Howler Magazine, multiple, April 2016-presentThe Sports Illustrated Soccer Podcast (guest, multiple)Alligator Army, SB NationESPN FCThe Total Soccer ShowMLS Soccer.Com, June 2017-presentIn All Kinds of Weather, FOX Sports Florida blogFlorida Football MagazineMedium.com SB Nation, Dirty South Soccer (Atlanta United FC Blog)World Soccer Talk (guest columnist, various) Show less

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  Gaebe Mullen Antonelli & DiMatteo

  Mar 2017 - Feb 2020

  Associate at longstanding South Florida civil litigation firm. Specialization areas in complex civil and civil rights litigation, insurance coverage and appeals.Drafted and argued multiple motions, including motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, motions to stay, motions to compel arbitration and various complex discovery motions. Drafted appellate briefs and prepared appellate argument. Investigated and filed responsive discovery, conducted and defended depositions., attended and participated in mediations. In civil litigation, worked specifically in following areas: construction defect, trucking litigation, autism, disability and special needs law, various 1983 claims and constitutional claims related to prison and jail conditions. Also experienced with federal practice in voting rights and election law. Show less

  • Partner

    Jan 2020 - Feb 2020

  • Associate Attorney

    Mar 2017 - Jan 2020
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  Saturday Down South

  Aug 2017 - now

  Florida Beat Writer and columnist

  Beat writer, opinion and editorial columnist covering Florida Gators football and basketball at national online sports publication. Also authored coliumns on Southeastern Conference sports generally and appeared as guests on various podcasts and national television programs. Beginning in August 2020, also contribured opinion pieces for Ohio State football at related site Saturday Tradition.

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  Callahan & Fusco, LLC.

  Jan 2020 - Sept 2021

  Senior Counsel

  I handle complex civil litigation and general liability defense matters from inception to trial. Principal areas of practice include premises liability, catastrophic trucking liability, employment and products liability matters. I also have extensive experience handling civil rights matters, including prison conditions, special education, employment discrimination, voting rights and election law issues, in both plaintiff and defense capacities. I have multiple years of experience handling insurance coverage matters, appellate matters and claims involving catastrophic injury, substantial monetary loss and wrongful death. Show less

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  Kramer, Green, Zuckerman, Greene & Buchsbaum, P.A.

  Sept 2021 - Feb 2023

  Associate Attorney

  Associate Attorney at longtime boutique law firm where I practice in the areas of litigation support , appeals, and complex civil litigation, in both federal and state court. My experience includes assisting trial lawyers with a wide range of cases, including but not limited to products and general liability cases, subrogation matters, first property litigation, admiralty and maritime law, and catastrophic liability cases. I also have extensive experience handling civil rights matters, including election law and voting rights issues, and have represented and continue to represent a number of political candidates in both local and state elections in this context.It has also been my privilege to represent clients from inception to trial and:or administrative hearings in special education cases and employment discrimination litigation. Show less

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  Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP

  Mar 2023 - Feb 2025

  Senior Associate

  Senior Associate focused on areas of first and third party coverage, liability defense, and appeals. Extensive experience in both federal and state courts in the areas of insurance coverage, civil rights, election law, professional malpractice, employment, product liability, commercial carrier, and complex civil litigation. He has also briefed and argued several appeals from inception to conclusion Throughout his career, he has represented clients with committed attention to detail, whether his client is a Fortune 500 corporation, an institutional insurance carrier, a political candidate, or a small family business. Show less

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  Sandberg Phoenix

  Aug 2024 - now

  Counsel

  I joined Sandberg Phoenix in 2024 and am a member of the firm’s Business Litigation Practice group. l am an experienced litigator, appellate and litigation support attorney who practices in a variety of areas of civil law. I am also an experienced election and political lawyer, having represented candidates from each major political party in local administrative matters and federal court proceedings.My practice has focused, in both a plaintiff’s counsel and defense counsel capacity, on representing parties in matters involving business torts, employment law matters, including civil rights claims, premises and product liability torts, general commercial litigation, commercial carrier litigation, the Uniform Commercial Code (Articles 3, 4 and 4A), professional malpractice litigation and insurance coverage disputes. I have also regularly assisted both fellow lawyers and large, institutional corporate clients with issues regarding appellate strategy, subpoena compliance, and internal investigations and pre-litigation strategy in an outside counsel capacity. I have also consulted organizations and athletes on name, image, and likeness issues in college athletics.I have defended large corporations in all phases of complex civil litigation and appeals. I have successfully briefed, argued, and defended on appeal several summary judgment motions, both in state and federal courts. I have prepared and defended corporate representatives from Fortune 500 to small businesses and parties in depositions, represented those parties in court hearings, and prepared, argued, and prevailed on multiple motions in a second-chair capacity for civil jury trials.Neil is licensed to practice law in Florida, North Carolina, all federal courts sitting in Florida, the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Show less