Neil is a partner in the firm's award-winning commercial litigation practice.
Neil helps clients deal with a wide range of commercial disputes and all forms of dispute resolution, including High Court and appellate litigation, arbitration, adjudication and mediation. Neil has defended some of the most legally significant class actions in the UK.
Neil has extensive experience of commercial disputes of all kinds, including contractual and tortious disputes, professional negligence claims, M&A litigation, claims for breach of directors' duties, and shareholder and bondholder disputes.
Neil has a particular interest in class actions, particularly those arising from ESG and product liability issues, and has acted in several of the leading cases in the area.
Neil has substantial experience in media and sports law, advising clients on sector-specific regulation and contentious matters. Neil also advises a broad range of clients on claims in defamation, privacy and breach of confidence and in connection with reputational issues more broadly. He has extensive experience of advising in connection with Parliamentary Select Committee Inquiries.
Neil has been recognised as a 'Key Lawyer' for the firm in "Commercial Litigation: Premium" and "Reputation Management" by Legal 500 UK, which has also described him as "extremely experienced in acting for corporate clients on reputational crisis management."
Experience & capabilities
Selected matters
Class actions:
- Vedanta Resources in the defence of a group action brought in the English High Court on behalf of 3700 members of a Zambian community, including in connection with a jurisdictional challenge in the UK Supreme Court
- BHP in relation to claims arising out of the collapse of the Fundão dam in Brazil
- Toyota in the industry-wide group litigation concerning diesel NOx emissions
- a multinational agribusiness in its defence of a group claim in respect of alleged flood damage, statutory infringements and physical violence under the law of Malawi
- a mining company in its defence of a group claim in respect of alleged environmental damage and human rights infringements under the law of Sierra Leone
M&A and transactional litigation:
- Johnson Matthey in its defence of claims in deceit and fraudulent breach of warranty in connection with the sale of its health business
- the shareholders of Optal in an expedited claim in the English Commercial Court relating to sale of the company where the buyer sought to rely on the COVID-19 pandemic as a Material Adverse Effect
- a global private equity business in its claim for the wrongful termination of an SPA by its purchaser counterparty
- a private equity firm in connection with warranty claims arising from the sale of a portfolio company
- a national law firm in connection with misrepresentation claims arising from its acquisition of another firm
Commercial and financial litigation
- a FTSE 100 consumer business in connection with claims and applications for injunctive relief arising from the wrongful termination of IP licences
- Vanquis Bank in a novel economic tort claim against a claims management company
- various investment funds in connection with English litigation arising from the default by the Republic of Argentina on its sovereign debt obligations
- a mining business in connection with claims of force majeure arising from the COVID-19 pandemic
- a member of the Bahrain royal family in his defence of claims for breach of contract in the English Commercial Court
Shareholder and partnership litigation:
- shareholders in an agricultural commodities business in connection with unfair prejudice proceedings under the Companies Act 2006
- a big 4 accounting firm in connection with claims arising from the defection of partners to a rival firm
- a global private equity business in an appeal to the Privy Council concerning the legal validity resolutions said to have been passed at portfolio company meetings
- a partner in a venture capital fund in a dispute with the firm and the other partners
- an investment management firm in the management and resolution of a dispute with a dissident partner
Reputation and crisis management:
- a global expert consultancy in connection with its defence of defamation claims in the Californian courts
- a large vehicle leasing company regarding adverse media coverage and investigations into its affairs by certain UK government bodies
- a high net worth individual in relation to defamation claims and Norwich Pharmacal applications arising from anonymous online postings
- a professional regulator in connection with the defence and strike out of defamation and human rights claims
- a global investment bank with regard to claims in defamation and harassment against a former employee
Background
Neil was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University. He became a partner in the firm in 2015. He is a solicitor-advocate and a CEDR-accredited mediator. He is a co-author of the leading textbook, Class Actions in England and Wales.
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