Heather A. Neal-Peles
Partner
Scottsdale Office
8800 East Raintree Drive, Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Heather A. Neal-Peles is a partner in the Scottsdale office of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. Ms. Peles is a seasoned litigation attorney with experience in general civil litigation, medical malpractice defense, long-term care litigation, product liability/medical device, pharmacy/pharmaceutical and catastrophic injury cases. She manages administrative claims before a variety of different boards governing healthcare practitioners.
Ms. Neal-Peles represents a variety of healthcare practitioners and healthcare institutions including physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, certified nursing assistants, physical therapists, home caregivers, hospitals, urgent care facilities, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and group homes.
Before joining QPWB, Ms. Neal-Peles was a member and partner of a Phoenix mid-size law firm where she was a founder of the firm's medical malpractice litigation group. She represented clients in various jurisdictions and litigation settings including state court, federal court, private mediations, binding arbitration proceedings, and administrative law courts involving highly complex cases concerning wrongful death and elder abuse claims. She obtained several defense verdicts and case dismissals in both medical malpractice and long-term care cases. Prior to moving to Phoenix, she practiced as a litigation attorney representing plaintiffs with a South Carolina law office where she practiced for a few years primarily handling matters involving personal injury, construction defect, labor and employment law, and collections.
In 2003, Ms. Neal-Peles received her Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Virginia in 2000.
Licensed to practice law in Arizona and South Carolina, Ms. Neal-Peles is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. She is a member of the State Bar of Arizona, and the South Carolina Bar Association, and is an active member of numerous professional organizations. Her professional associations include:
- Arizona Association of Defense Counsel
- Arizona Health Care Association
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
- Defense Research Institute
- Ladder Down of Arizona
- Professional Liability Defense Federation
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
Ms. Neal-Peles is specifically interested in those supporting the progression of women attorneys in the workplace, such as the Ladder Down Program, an affiliate of the Arizona Association of Defense Counsel. She has also served as Judge Pro Tempore with the Maricopa County Superior Court.
Ms. Neal-Peles is a frequent lecturer and author on various topics relating to civil litigation, health law, medical malpractice, administrative, and regulatory law. She has served as a speaker for various organizations and has co-authored and contributed to the "Medical Malpractice Tort Liability" section of the State Bar of Arizona's Tort Law Handbook. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Arizona Summit Law School, where she teaches health law.
Presentations and Publications
- Presenter, "Advanced Medical Malpractice - Doctor and Attorney Perspectives," National Business Institute (2017)
- Presenter, "A Paralegal's Guide to Pleadings, Motions, Discovery Request and Briefs," National Business Institute (2017)
- Presenter, "Electronic Medical Records in Medical Malpractice Cases: Hidden Gems and Problems for Both Sides," National Business Institute (2016)
- Presenter, "Top Challenges in Medical Malpractice Cases: Plaintiff and Defense Perspectives," National Business Institute (2016)
- Presenter, "Social Media Trends and Implications of HIPAA," Arizona Health Care Association (Long-Term Care Association) (2016)
- Presenter, "Medical Malpractice from Start to Finish," National Business Institute (2015)
- Presenter, "A Paralegal's Guide to Pleadings, Motions, Discovery Requests and Briefs," Institute for Paralegal Education (2015)
- Presenter, "Medical Malpractice from A to Z," National Business Institute (2014)
- Author, "How Should Experts Be Retained and Utilized in Pain Pump Cases?" Medical Law Perspectives (2014)
- Co-Author and Contributor, Chapter 18 of "Arizona Tort Law Handbook" entitled 'Medical Malpractice Tort Liability,' State Bar of Arizona (2012)
- Co-Author and Contributor, "ALFA Health Care Law Compendium 2011: Physician Extenders, A Fifty State Survey of the Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Scope of Practice Regulatory Requirements for Nurse Practitioners, CRNAs, Nurse Midwives and Physician Assistants," ALFA International (2011)
- Co-Author, "ALFA 50-State Healthcare Compendium: Document Retention", Course Book Materials (2008)
- Co-Author and Contributor, "ALFA Fifty State Health Care Law Compendium: Medical Spa Law," ALFA International (2007)
- Presenter, "Reasonable Accommodations, the ADA & Discrimination," Association of Corporate Counsel - Arizona Chapter (2014)
- Presenter, "A Paralegal's Guide to Pleadings, Motions, Discovery Requests, and Briefs," Institute for Paralegal Education (2014)
- Presenter, "Using Experts to Win Defective Medical Device Cases," National Business Institute (2014)
- Presenter, "Enforceability of Arbitration Agreements in Healthcare Settings," Professional Liability Defense Federation (2013)
- Presenter, "Assessing and Addressing Fraud in the Claims Environment," CLM Live Training (2013)
- Presenter, "Case Assessment and Evaluation," Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (2013)
- Presenter, "Handling the Medical Malpractice Case in Arizona," National Business Institute (2013)
- Presenter, "A Paralegal's Guide to Pleadings, Motions, Discovery Requests and Briefs," National Business Institute (2013)
- Presenter, "Drafting Motions and Pleadings for Paralegals," Institute for Paralegal Education (2012)
- Presenter, "Medical Records Law," Lorman Education Services (2011)
- Presenter, "Medical Records Law," National Business Institute (2011)
- Presenter, "Drafting Pleadings for Paralegals," Institute for Paralegal Education, (2010)
- Presenter, "Legal Drafting for Paralegals," Institute for Paralegal Education (2010)
- Presenter, "Medical Records Law in Arizona," Lorman Education Services (2009)
- Presenter, "The Course of a Medical Malpractice Suit: How to Obtain a Positive Outcome and Avoid Common Pitfalls," Arizona Podiatric Medical Association (2009)