Neil Hay
Neil is one of Scotland’s leading criminal lawyers, providing strategic legal advice and specialist court representation to individuals, companies and organisations under investigation or facing prosecution.
Neil’s corporate client base includes FTSE 100 companies, insurers, trade unions, partnerships, government bodies, religious organisations, pressure groups and charities. His work is underpinned by a strong focus on discretion and confidentiality, with the aim of resolving matters without court proceedings wherever possible and protecting clients’ reputations. Where proceedings cannot be avoided, he leads specialist teams to deliver robust and effective defence strategies.
He has extensive experience representing clients at all levels of the Scottish courts, including the High Court and Appeal Court, and is particularly well regarded for his expertise in domestic, sexual and financial crime cases.
Neil has been recognised in several directory rankings:
- Ranked by Band 1 by Chambers & Partners for crime and financial crime.
- Ranked by Legal 500 as a Leading Partner for Crime.
- The only Criminal lawyer in Scotland recommended by Spears 500.
- In 2025, his team won the Legal 500 Crime Team of the Year award
- In 2024, he received the Legal 500 Crime lawyer of the Year award.