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Areas of expertise

Professional information

  • Devilmasters: Chris Paterson KC, Scott Manson
  • 2021: Appointed Standing Junior Counsel to the Advocate General for Scotland
  • 2020: Called to the Bar
  • 2019: Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency (Scotland) (merit – first place)
  • 2018-2019: Solicitor Advocate, DWF LLP
  • 2014-2018: Solicitor, Brodies LLP
  • 2007-2012 University of Aberdeen: LLB (Hons), DPLP (distinction – first place)
Professional experience

Neale handles a wide range of commercial disputes with a particular emphasis on commercial contracts, corporate, property and insolvency litigation. He is standing junior counsel to the Advocate General for Scotland. He acts mainly for HMRC in tax tribunal and insolvency litigation, the Insolvency Service in proceedings under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, and the Home Office in applications for judicial review.

Neale is a reporter for Session Cases, an Associate Member (ACIArb) of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the Insolvency Practitioners Association and a member of the Association of Business Recovery Professionals (R3). He has a keen interest in technology and sits on the Faculty of Advocates’ AI Working Group.

In 2019, Neale won the Mike Jones Excellence in Advocacy Award.

Notable cases

Commercial

  • Papel Payment Services Provider LLC v Monitox Ltd 2025 SLT 882.
  • Jones v Craigton Holdings Ltd [2024] CSOH 33.
  • Thorntons Investment Holdings Ltd v Matheson 2023 SLT 1305.
  • Thorntons Investment Holdings Ltd v Matheson 2023 SLT 985, 2024 SC 36.
  • Parkash v The Royal Bank of Scotland plc 2023 SCLR 449.
  • Apex Resources Ltd v Macdougall 2021 SLT 781. Acted for the pursuer (led by Paul O’Brien KC).

Insolvency

  • Parkin v Ayres Wynd Developments Ltd 2025 SLT 1047.
  • Secretary of State for Business and Trade v Azam 2024 SLT 614.
  • Joint Administrators of Alexander Inglis and Son Ltd, Noters 2024 SLT 165.
  • Munchener Hypothekenbank eG, Petitioner [2023] CSOH 36 (led by David Thomson KC).
  • Former Joint Administrators of Future Renewables ECO plc, Petitioners [2023] CSOH 27.
  • Kingston Park House Ltd v Granton Commercial Industrial Properties Ltd 2023 SLT 238 (led by Roddy McIlvride KC).
  • King’s Trustees v King [2020] CSOH 101 (led by David Thomson KC).

Product liability

  • Bell v Volvo Car Corp 2025 SLT 1049.
  • Rodgers v Motonovo Finance Ltd [2025] SAC (Civ) 11.
  • King v Black Horse Ltd 2024 SC 296 (led by Gavin MacColl KC).
  • Deas v Park’s of Hamilton (Townhead Garage) Ltd 2022 SCLR 292.

Property

  • EE Ltd and Hutchison 3G Ltd v Verte Development Ltd 2025 SLT (Lands Tr) 26.
  • Neos Networks Ltd v Sorrie’s Trustees [2024] LTS 34.
  • Langskaill v Black 2023 SLT (Sh Ct) 95 (debate); 2023 SLT (SAC) 51 (appeal); [2025] SC EDIN 9 (proof).
  • Manson v Turner 2023 UT 38.
  • Sharif v Moughal [2023] CSOH 42.
  • Logan v Irons 2023 SLT (SAC) 152.
  • EE Ltd v Service LTS/ECC/2022/0006.
  • Scott v Scottish Water [2022] SAC (Civ) 30 (led by Simon Di Rollo KC).
  • Woro v Brown 2022 SLT (Tr) 97.

Professional liability and regulation

  • Madden v McEwan Fraser Legal [2025] SC EDIN 56.
  • Robertson v Hay Cassels Ltd [2025] SC HAM 50.

Public law

  • Dunston Dunfermline Nominees Ltd v Fife Council 2025 SLT 937 (led by David Thomson KC).
  • Heptagon Portfolio Arbroath Ltd v Angus Council [2025] CSOH 75 (led by David Thomson KC).
  • Bridgeport Estates Ltd v Highland Council 2025 SLT 1120 (led by David Thomson KC).
  • 4U2 Ltd v Glasgow City Council 2025 SCLR 253.
  • Quarm v HM Advocate 2024 SLT 473.
  • Central Haulage Ltd v Traffic Commissioner [2024] UKUT 22 (AAC).

Trusts and Tax

  • Aesthetic-Doctor.com Ltd v HMRC [2024] UKFTT 48 (TC).
  • Niven v Niven [2023] CSOH 57.
  • W v W 2022 SLT (Sh Ct) 64.
  • Brownrigg’s Executor 2021 SLT 1145.
Directories

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