The firm is thrilled to announce that Neil Elan has been named to the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” list for 2026. The esteemed list recognizes California’s most accomplished young lawyers and the impact they are making on the state’s legal community.
In his profile for the Daily Journal’s special issue, Neil was recognized for his work representing companies and individuals in technology and business disputes, including matters involving software, artificial intelligence, trade secrets and intellectual property.
Neil said an early mentor helped shape his approach to practicing law, teaching him the importance of keeping perspective even when handling complex and high-pressure matters. “He reminded me that clients hire lawyers to solve problems, not create more of them,” Neil said. “That meant facing difficult issues directly, giving candid advice even when it wasn't what a client hoped to hear, and never losing sight of the long-term relationship. I've carried that with me throughout my career.”
The Daily Journal highlighted two hard-fought trade secret misappropriation cases from the past year involving competing claims to software developed over long-term business relationships. The matters required extensive discovery and analysis of source code, technical specifications, contracts and business records, as well as collaboration with technical experts and engineers.
Neil said one of the biggest challenges was “reconstructing the world as it existed when the parties made their decisions,” particularly as technology, products and memories change over time. He also emphasized the importance of making complex technical information accessible to judges, juries and clients, saying the work required “distilling highly technical concepts into language that judges, juries, and clients could readily understand.”
Ultimately, Neil said his approach to complex disputes is rooted in understanding the history behind them. “Once you understand that history, the legal issues become much clearer because you begin to see not just what happened, but why it happened.”
Congratulations, Neil, on this much-deserved accomplishment!
To read Neil’s full profile in the Daily Journal’s 2026 issue, click below (subscription required).
