Personal bio
Neil specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration, aiming to deliver clear, pragmatic advice and decisive advocacy in high value challenging disputes.
His practice encompasses complex commercial contracts, arbitration, professional negligence, property, defamation, construction, telecommunications, employment, group litigation and public inquiries.
Neil recently served as Junior Counsel to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, which involved navigating vast amounts of evidence, supporting Senior Counsel, and dealing with complex technical issues within a high-profile public inquiry.
He brings substantial and varied experience to his practice, drawing from:
•PRIVATE PRACTICE: Extensive experience working in leading law firms, WS Signet Accredited in commercial litigation and on the LexisNexis Expert Scottish Dispute Resolution Panel.
•IN-HOUSE INSIGHT: Former in-house counsel for a Danish global leader in renewable energy working on large FIDIC-based construction projects.
•ARBITRATION: He has solid experience in arbitration proceedings (including reported court appeals challenging awards).
SELECTED ARBITRATION CASES
• Arbitration Appeal No 1 of 2025, [2025] CSOH 86 (Legal Error)
Appeared for petitioner at the leave for appeal hearing concerning the interpretation of a repairing obligation in a commercial lease. Successfully resisted the respondent’s challenge that the arbitration clause excluded the petitioner’s right to appeal. Leave was not granted on basis high statutory threshold not met.
• Arbitration Appeal No 1 of 2025, [2026] CSOH 2 (Serious Irregularity)
Appeared for the petitioner in a serious irregularity challenge arising from an arbitration part award on basis that arbitrator had failed to determine an interpretation issue underpinning a mutuality defence. The application required detailed analysis of the scope of the threshold for establishing failure by an arbitrator to address an issue. The challenge was not upheld as the court ultimately concluded the issue had not been put to arbitrator.
SELECTED INSTRUCTIONS
•COMMERCIAL: Secured an interim interdict in the Court of Session to prevent the disclosure of confidential information by a competitor.
•CONSTRUCTION: Negotiated a commercially favourable settlement in a six-figure breach of contract claim involving alleged defective construction.
•TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Represented a UK infrastructure provider in obtaining new Code agreements before the Lands Tribunal for Scotland.
•COMPANY LAW: Successfully reduced a decree by default in the Court of Session on the basis of procedural irregularities.