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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 called to the Bar in 2020 after practising as a solicitor for five years. He qualified as a solicitor advocate in 2018. Neale deals with a broad range of commercial disputes. His practice is focused on commercial, property, insolvency and professional liability litigation. He has particular experience in banking disputes and appears regularly in the commercial court. Neale has been appointed as standing junior counsel to the Advocate General for Scotland. He acts mainly for HMRC in tax tribunal and insolvency litigation. He also has experience in handling applications for judicial review, mainly in immigration cases. Neale is a reporter for Session Cases. He is 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). Neale won the Mike Jones Excellence in Advocacy Award in 2019.

Notable cases

Commercial

  • Jones v Craigton Holdings Ltd [2024] CSOH 33
  • King v Black Horse Ltd [2024] CSIH 3, 2024 SLT 135, 2024 SCLR 203 (led by Gavin MacColl KC)
  • Gilchrist v Govan Dental Centre [2024] SC GLA 5
  • Thorntons Investment Holdings Ltd v Matheson [2023] CSOH 85, 2023 SLT 1305
  • Thorntons Investment Holdings Ltd v Matheson [2023] CSOH 63, 2023 SLT 985, 2023 SCLR 640
  • Parkash v The Royal Bank of Scotland plc [2023] CSOH 33, 2023 SCLR 449
  • McKenzie v City of Edinburgh Council [2023] SC EDIN 21, 2023 SLT (Sh Ct) 127
  • Ward v ADR Network [2022] SAC (Civ) 35, 2022 SLT (SAC) 114
  • Scott v Scottish Water [2022] SAC (Civ) 30 (led by Simon Di Rollo KC)
  • Deas v Park’s of Hamilton (Townhead Garage) Ltd [2022] SAC (Civ) 18, 2022 SCLR 292
  • Apex Resources Ltd v Macdougall [2021] CSOH 40, 2021 SLT 781 (led by Paul O’Brien KC)

Insolvency

  • Secretary of State for Business and Trade v Azam [2024] CSOH 53, 2024 SLT 614
  • Joint Administrators of Alexander Inglis and Son Ltd, Noters [2024] CSOH 12, 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 [2022] CSOH 97, 2023 SLT 238 (led by Roddy McIlvride KC)
  • King’s Trustees v King [2020] CSOH 101 (led by David Thomson KC)

Property

  • EE Ltd and Hutchison 3G Ltd v Verte Development Ltd [2025] LTS 5
  • Neos Networks Ltd v Trustees of George Alexander Sorrie [2024] LTS 34
  • Langskaill v Black [2023] SC EDIN 7, 2023 SLT (Sh Ct) 95 (debate); [2023] SAC (Civ) 17, 2023 SLT (SAC) 51 (appeal); [2025] SC EDIN 9 (proof)
  • Manson v Turner 2023 UT 38
  • Niven v Niven [2023] CSOH 57
  • Sharif v Moughal [2023] CSOH 42
  • Logan v Irons [2023] SAC (Civ) 9, 2023 SLT (SAC) 152
  • EE Ltd v Service LTS/ECC/2022/0006
  • Woro v Brown 2022 SLT (Tr) 97
  • W v W 2022 SC GLA 2, 2022 SLT (Sh Ct) 64
  • Brownrigg’s Executor [2021] CSIH 46, 2021 SLT 1145

Professional liability and regulation

  • Central Haulage Ltd v Traffic Commissioner [2024] UKUT 22 (AAC)

Public law/tax

  • 4U2 Ltd v Glasgow City Council [2025] SC GLA 10
  • Aesthetic-Doctor.com Ltd v Commissioners for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs [2024] UKFTT 48 (TC)