Overview
Clients look to John Neiman in high-stakes cases that are on appeal or likely to get there. A former U.S. Supreme Court clerk and Solicitor General of Alabama, John chairs the Firm’s Appellate Practice Group, which strives to provide clients the highest level of appellate advocacy at value-driven rates. Best Lawyers® has named him the region's "Lawyer of the Year" for Appellate Practice three different times—in 2017, 2021, and 2024.
At any given time, John has multiple cases pending in the Alabama Supreme Court and Eleventh Circuit. In recent years, John has helped clients obtain reversals by the Alabama Supreme Court of multiple jury verdicts, including an $18 million verdict in one case and an $11.4 million verdict in another. In another pending state appeal, John’s team obtained the complete remittitur, to zero, of a $6 million punitive damages verdict. He also recently helped clients obtain reversal by the Alabama Supreme Court of orders refusing to compel arbitration of class actions and discovery sanctions that otherwise would have required a judgment against it on a claim for wrongful death. He has successfully represented clients in the Eleventh Circuit multiple times, in cases involving claims in excess of $50 million.
John also represents clients in a wide array of appeals throughout the country. In 2024, he orally argued a high-profile criminal matter in the Fourth Circuit that resulted in the vacatur of the client’s convictions and a new trial on all charges. In recent years he has presented oral argument for insurance-sector clients in the highest courts in New York and California, as well as the Fourth, Seventh, and Eighth Circuits. John has appeared for alcohol-industry clients in the Supreme Court and the First, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Circuits. As state Solicitor General from 2011 to 2014, John orally argued two merits cases at the United States Supreme Court.
John also routinely serves as counsel at high-stakes trials, including three jury trials in 2024. The subject matter has varied from alleged bad-faith denial of insurance coverage, to claims of environmental contamination, to personal-injury claims, to securities litigation. In this role he helps trial lawyers—whether at Maynard Nexsen or other firms—preserve clients’ objections, argue motions for judgment as a matter of law, and otherwise posture the case for effective results on appeal.
John’s practice extends to constitutional and administrative challenges to legislation and agency action. He is currently part of a team that represents clients challenging the federal Corporate Transparency Act. As counsel for the State of Alabama in water litigation, he recently helped his client negotiate an agreement that—if adopted by the Corps of Engineers after a public-comment period—will set minimum-flow targets at critical points of the Chattahoochee River for the first time in history.
John is a fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business distinguishes him as a Band 1 leading attorney in the area of Appellate Litigation.
Community & Professional
- American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
- American Bar Association; Appellate Committee Chair (2012-2013)
- American Law Institute
- Eleventh Circuit Appellate Practice Institute Planning Committee (2014)
- Alabama Rules of Appellate Procedure, Advisory Committee (2011-present)
- Alabama State Bar
- Birmingham Bar Association
- Living River, Board of Directors (2011-2015)
- Leadership Birmingham Class of 2014-2015
- Alabama Leadership Initiative Class of 2012
Admissions
- State Bar: Alabama
- U.S. District Court: Alabama (Northern, Middle, Southern), District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals: Second Circuit, Fourth Circuit, Fifth Circuit, Sixth Circuit, Seventh Circuit, Eighth Circuit, Ninth Circuit, Eleventh Circuit, Federal Circuit, D.C. Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Clerkships
- The Honorable Anthony M. Kennedy
U.S. Supreme Court; 2001-2002
The Honorable Paul V. Niemeyer
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit; 2000-2001