About David M.
David M. Neff has spent more than three decades in private practice and the federal courts. He earned a B.S.J. from Northwestern University in 1982 and a J.D. from DePaul College of Law in 1985. Those early academic years set the stage for a long career in law based in Illinois.
He began his legal career in the federal judiciary. In 1985 he served as a law clerk to the Hon. Robert E. Ginsberg of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The clerkship placed him at the center of bankruptcy procedure and insolvency adjudication, and it provided an immediate immersion in complex case management.
Neff moved into private practice after his clerkship. He joined Jenner & Block as an associate in 1986 and became a partner there in 1992. In 2002 he shifted firms, taking a partner position at DLA Piper. He later joined Perkins Coie LLP as a partner. His work has been anchored in Illinois courts and federal practice, and his resume reflects steady advancement through large national firms.
Throughout his career he has handled matters that involve bankruptcy and commercial disputes. Early experience in the bankruptcy court continued to inform his work in private practice. He has represented clients on transactional and litigation issues that arise when businesses face financial distress, and he has handled negotiations, court proceedings, and related legal strategies.
Colleagues describe Neff as a lawyer who brings procedural clarity to complex matters. He has worked alongside teams on large matters and also taken direct roles in litigation and negotiated resolutions. He has been involved in mentoring younger lawyers within the firms where he has practiced and in drafting briefing and filings in adversary proceedings and corporate restructuring contexts.
Today Neff is a partner at Perkins Coie LLP and is licensed to practice in Illinois. He continues to take on matters that draw on his bankruptcy courtroom experience and his years handling commercial litigation and restructuring matters.
His current practice focuses on bankruptcy, commercial litigation, and related corporate restructuring work.
