About Katherine Christie
Katherine Christie Neal is a Florida Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer and the Managing Partner at Neal & Solevilla Personal Injury Lawyers, located in Clearwater, Florida. With nearly 20 years of legal experience, she has dedicated her practice exclusively to personal injury, wrongful death, and funeral home, cemetery, and crematory malpractice cases. This focused specialization has allowed Katherine to hone her trial skills and develop effective pre-litigation strategies—resulting in numerous multimillion-dollar settlements for her clients. Born in San Antonio, Texas, Katherine's childhood was marked by frequent relocations due to her father's military career. This diverse upbringing provided her with a unique perspective that she brings into her practice. In 2002, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Pennsylvania State University, complemented by minors in Political Science and Italian.
Her academic journey continued at Stetson University College of Law, where she graduated cum laude in 2004. At Stetson, Katherine served as a senior associate of The Stetson Law Review and received the St. Petersburg Times Award for the Best Competition Paper, showcasing her commitment to legal scholarship. Katherine was admitted to the Florida Bar on April 19, 2005, and has maintained her status as a member in good standing since that date. In 2014, she achieved Board Certification in Civil Trial Law, a prestigious distinction held by less than 7% of Florida lawyers. This certification not only recognizes her expertise but also her unwavering commitment to excellence in the field of civil trial law.
In 2023, Katherine took a significant step in her career by co-founding Neal & Solevilla Personal Injury Lawyers with her colleague Melissa Solevilla, marking a new chapter in her professional journey. Before establishing her current firm, Katherine served as the Managing Partner at Carey Leisure & Neal, a position she held since joining the firm in 2005. Under her leadership, the firm garnered recognition from U.S. News & World Report as a "Best Law Firm," reflecting her dedication to high-quality legal representation. Active in the legal community, Katherine is a member of the American Association for Justice and the Florida Justice Association. She has received the "Top 10" Client Satisfaction award from the American Institute of Personal Injury Lawyers multiple times, further underscoring her commitment to her clients.
Katherine's success in securing substantial verdicts and settlements is also reflected in her membership in the Million Dollar and Multimillion Dollar Advocates Forums. Fluent in English, she prioritizes personalized service, ensuring that each client receives accessible and effective communication. Katherine offers free consultations and operates on a contingency fee basis, allowing clients to pursue justice without the burden of upfront legal fees. Her dedication to her clients and her expertise in personal injury law make her a advocate in the legal arena.
