Mr. Neff has been practicing law in northeast Minnesota since 1978. His work has primarily been in the areas of real estate, estate planning and municipal law. He has been a Real Property Law Specialist, licensed by the Minnesota State Bar Association since 1989, the first-year specialization became available. He was a member of the governing body of the State Bar Association’s Real Property Section from 1990 through 2007. During the years he has represented buyers, sellers, neighbors, developers, surveyors, lenders and road associations in a variety of circumstances throughout the Arrowhead area of Minnesota.
In the last four decades he has handled dozens of contested real estate matters including boundary disputes, access matters, including cartways, easements and road development, condemnation hearings, partitions, construction liens and claims, ownership disputes and land trusts. The goal in representing all of his clients is to achieve a fair and correct result in as economical manner as possible. Neff has worked with dozens of other real estate specialists including realtors, brokers, bankers, surveyors, and foresters. With years of experience in working with these other specialists, Neff knows the proper experts to include in the handling of your real estate issue.
Neff grew up in Virginia, and the lakes of northeastern Minnesota drew him to return to the area after higher education took him to the “lower” (i.e.- southern) part of the state. As a lake lover, he has helped hundreds of families with acquisition and related issues of lakeshore law. Neff has been awarded the prestigious status of Super Lawyer many times during his career.
Neff also continues a tradition of over 60 years where lawyers at Trenti have represented clients with respect to mineral rights. As mining is a huge part of the area, Neff has represented many families, trusts and corporate interests in the transfer of mineral rights from generation to generation. He has also worked with mining companies and other land owners in relation to their real estate holdings in and around area mines. This mining practice started at Trenti Law by Vern Saxhaug, and was continued by Robert Stephenson until his retirement in 2010.
Areas Of Practice
- Real Estate
- Elder Law & Estate Planning
- Municipal Law
- Labor Law
- Corporate Law
- Mining and Mineral Law
- Land Use
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1978
- U.S. Federal Court, 1980
Education
- William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota
- J.D. – 1978
- Honors: cum laude
- Carleton College
Honors and Awards
- Mesabi Family YMCA, founding president and Volunteer of the Decade, 1980 Distinguished Service Award from Virginia
- Jaycees Virginia Kiwanis Club, president 1990-91; Sand Lake Association, founding president; Virginia Area Alpine Ski Team, coach; Iron Range Rehabilitation Center past board member
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Real Property Law Specialist, 1989-present
- Real Property Council of the Minnesota State Bar Association, Pres. 2005-2006
- Range Bar Association, President 1983 – 1984
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Minnesota School Board Association
- National School Board Association
Pro Bono Activities
- Mesabi Family YMCA, Founding president and Volunteer of the Decade
- Service Award from Virginia Jaycees Virginia Kiwanis Club, 1980
- Sand Lake Association, Founding President
- Virginia Area Alpine Ski Team, Coach
- Iron Range Rehabilitation Center Past Board Member