Neil is a successful criminal defence barrister, called to the Bar in 1989, with expertise in a range of specialist areas — foremost among them health and safety — and extensive experience in coroner’s inquests, inquiries and courts martial. He undertakes trials around the country and abroad and is the go-to barrister for aviation, fire and rail defence. Over the last 30 years he has successfully defended in many notable trials, receiving considerable acclaim for his thorough approach and skilful but determined cross examination.
Neil was called to the Bar in 1989 and practises from 187 Chambers. His work covers criminal defence, fraud and financial crime, asset forfeiture and confiscation, courts martial and military law, alongside a substantial regulatory, professional discipline and inquests practice.
He is instructed in homicide, large-scale drugs conspiracies, firearms, kidnapping and serious sexual offences, and defends at courts martial in this country and abroad. He undertakes trials around the country and is the go-to barrister for aviation, fire and rail defence.
Over more than thirty years he has received considerable acclaim for a thorough approach and skilful but determined cross examination.
Notable cases
Homicide
- R v Edwards (Chelmsford Crown Court) — murder trial in which the defendant stabbed his partner seventeen times. Acquitted of murder on the basis of provocation and convicted of manslaughter.
- R v Buckingham — murder, the accused having stabbed a road sweeper while attempting to escape a burglary.
- R v Neil Boyle — murder where the victim died six years after the assault. The accused was found unfit to stand trial.
- R v Yograj Rai (Court Martial, Belize) — murder of a young Belizean boy outside a nightclub. The soldier was acquitted and returned to his regiment.
Drugs
- R v Dhir (Winchester Crown Court) — conspiracy to supply cocaine, £20 million of it collected from cold storage disguised as pallets of chicken. Not guilty verdict secured.
- R v Waqas Khan (Luton Crown Court) — multi-million pound multi-handed Class A conspiracy. Acquitted after a trial lasting several months. Cocaine was found in the dock during the trial; Neil successfully argued the evidence be excluded as highly prejudicial.
- R v Williams — Class A conspiracy in which the accused was filmed handing over cocaine. Acquitted on a defence of lack of knowledge.
- R v Clark — large-scale supply, with significant quantities of drugs and cash found on the premises. Acquitted on all counts.
Firearms, violence and sexual offences
- R v Doherty (Chester Crown Court) — possession of a firearm. Acquitted following submissions on DNA transference by indirect or secondary contact.
- R v Gueli — kidnapping of two young boys, held overnight at knifepoint.
- R v Goldie (Sennelager Court Martial Centre) — grievous bodily harm with intent, the accused alleged to have cut a soldier with an eight-inch knife causing sixty wounds. Defence of self-infliction. Acquitted.
- R v J.J. — serious sexual offences following contact made through Facebook. The accused was acquitted.
- R v Quilligan (Winchester Crown Court) — industrial-scale burglary by a family gang. The client was acquitted.
Fraud and money laundering
- R v El Kurd and Others (Blackfriars Crown Court) — multi-handed £80 million money laundering trial lasting over six months. The defendant Neil represented was acquitted.
- R v Ikram Ali (Southwark Crown Court) — conspiracy to supply prescription-only medication over the internet, imported and distributed worldwide. Acquitted after a three-month trial.
- R v Athenou (Southwark Crown Court) — VAT fraud concerning gas sales and alleged non-payment to HMRC. Acquitted.
- R v Okrah (Kingston Crown Court) — multi-million pound Oyster card fraud involving manipulation of the TfL revenue ticketing system.
People smuggling
- R v Fatmir Dragoshi — conspiracy to smuggle Albanian nationals across the Channel from France. Acquitted.
Client identities are protected. Every case turns on its own facts; past results are not a guarantee of any particular outcome.