Neil T. Erwin, JD
Neil Erwin’s law practice has focused for over 40 years on practical, creative solutions in the field of local government law. This has included, when necessary, litigation of rights and obligations.
During his career, he has had the privilege to represent both governmental bodies and businesses (including Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, and Rite-Aid), gaining a unique perspective and understanding of the problems and opportunities of different sides.
This perspective and experience allows the creation of customized, practical approaches to assist in achieving client’s unique goals and projects aimed at community growth.
He is admitted to legal practice in Louisiana.
Extensive zoning and real estate regulation legal services for local governments on a regular and outsourced basis, which can be coordinated with the principal municipal or parish attorney.
Litigation representation of local governments, citizen groups, and individuals in a broad range of complex governmental and commercial legal matters (including zoning and land use, expropriation, lease rights, access control, and contract interpretation and enforcement).
Economic development, including public-private partnerships, cooperative endeavor agreements, intergovernmental agreements, and special districts.
LSU Law Center
JD 1977
Editor, Louisiana Municipal Law Journal
Attended Washington University (St. Louis) School of Law, 1974-75
Southern Methodist University
BFA Political Communications, 1974
Louisiana State Bar Association
State Bar of Texas
Louisiana City Attorneys Association (Member and Past President)
Member, International Municipal Lawyers Association
Member, Congress for the New Urbanism
Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (Past Chair)
Top Attorneys, Shreveport-Bossier (SB Magazine)
LSUS Chancellors Advisory Board (Past Chair)
Member, LSUS Foundation
Member, Louisiana Tech Foundation
Southern University-Shreveport “Southern Gentleman” community service award
Member, Past Captain, and Past King, Krewe of Justinian
Past Board member, Metropolitan Shreveport Zoning Board of Appeals
Member, First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport
“Clean Sweep: Practical Tips on Property Nuisance Abatement”, Louisiana Municipal Association, Summer 2019
“Getting it Right in Zoning & Land Use Decisions”, Upstate Rising Conference, Bossier Parish Community College, Summer 2018
“Warning: Legal Quicksand. Some Common Municipal Employment Tangles and Suggested Guidance to Avoid Them”, Louisiana Municipal Clerks Association, Spring 2018
“Top 3 Troublesome Nuisances of Louisiana Communities & Your Legal Arsenal for Solving Them”, Upstate Rising Conference, Bossier Parish Community College, Summer 2017
“2017 Troublesome Top 3 Nuisances of Louisiana Communities & Your Legal Arsenal for Solving Them” Louisiana Municipal Association, Summer 2017
“Who Are You Calling Arbitrary? A Guide to Help Protect Your Land Use Decisions Without Inviting Lawsuits”, Louisiana Chapter, American Planning Association, Winter, 2016
“Who Rules? State-Local Government Preemption Controversies in Louisiana” , Louisiana City Attorneys Association, Fall, 2016
“Who Are You Calling Arbitrary? A Guide to Help Protect Your Land Use Decisions Without Inviting Lawsuits”, Louisiana Municipal Association, Summer, 2015
“The Troublesome Top 5 Nuisances of Louisiana Communities and Your Legal Arsenal For Solving Them”, Louisiana Municipal Association, Summer, 2015
“Nonconforming Uses”, Louisiana City Attorneys Association, Spring 2014
“ABC’s of Planning and Zoning”, Louisiana City Attorneys Association, Fall, 2010; Louisiana Parish Attorneys Association, Winter, 2011
“A Downtown Renaissance: Revitalizing Main Street and Overcoming the Legal Hurdles”, Louisiana City Attorneys Association, Spring, 2010
“The Role of the Comprehensive Plan in Creating a Sense of Place”, Panel Moderator, Louisiana Chapter American Planning Association, 2009
Chair, Annual Upstate Louisiana Land Use Planning and Real Estate Development Conference, 2007 & 2008 (LSU-Shreveport)
Seminar chair or co-chair, Zoning and Land Use in Louisiana, 2003 – 2006, Shreveport, Bossier City, Baton Rouge, Lafayette (Lorman)
Seminar chair, Advanced Zoning and Land Use in Louisiana, 2004 & 2005, Baton Rouge (Lorman)
Contributor: Fight the Blight, A Guide to Addressing Common Public Nuisances. (Karen Day White, Editor; Louisiana Municipal Association, Baton Rouge, 2019).
“Tackling Blighted Property – or Else?” Louisiana Municipal Review, October 2019.
“Tackling Blighted Property and other Top Nuisances.” Louisiana Municipal Review, July 2019.
“How Grand Cane Transformed Nuisance Structures into Thriving Local Businesses.” Louisiana Municipal Review, January 2019.
“Want to Attract Residents to your Downtown? Some Practical Tips from Personal Experience.” Louisiana Municipal Review, November 2018.
“Some Common Legal Pitfalls to Avoid, especially to help out your Municipal Attorney.” Louisiana Municipal Review, February 2022.”
Chapter author: “Sandra Day O’Connor, Tall in the Saddle.” Leaders of the Pack: Great Justices of the U. S. Supreme Court (William D. Pederson, Editor; Peter Lang Publishing, New York, 2003).
Chapter co-author: “Inactive and Abandoned Sites.” Louisiana Environmental Handbook (Lawyers Cooperative Publishing, Rochester, 1997 & 1998).