Mr Neil Hay > Levy & McRae > Edinburgh, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile
Levy & McRae Offices
Exchange Place 2
5 Semple Street
Edinburgh
EH3 8BL
United Kingdom
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Mr Neil Hay
Work Department
Criminal Law
Position
Partner & Solicitor Advocate – Crime Department
Neil specialises in criminal law, complex regulatory crime, fraud and financial crime, historical allegations and road traffic cases. Neil has a very substantial referral practice and is instructed by, and acts for, leading law firms in Scotland and England, as well as internationally for clients requiring his expertise. He is particularly highly regarded for his skill and experience in defending domestic, sexual and financial cases and allegations.
As the solicitor of choice for law firms seeking to refer criminal law matters, including Magic Circle firms, the focus of Neil’s work is always on discretion and confidentiality, with the aim of avoiding court prosecutions and protecting reputations. If court proceedings cannot be avoided, Neil has vast experience of successfully representing clients in Scottish courts at all levels, including acting in High Court prosecutions and in the Criminal Appeal court.
His individual clients are usually professional, high-profile or of high-net-worth. Corporate clients include FTSE100 companies, insurance companies, unions, partnerships, other law firms, government institutions, religious organisations, pressure groups and charities.
Specialist services include advice and representation at interviews for individuals and organisations facing investigation or prosecution by authorities such as Police Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal, HSE, SEPA, OSCR and the pensions regulator. This work entails detailed case investigations to identify and evaluate important evidence from witnesses, documents or electronic sources and negotiating with authorities to keep a case out of court. Additionally, Neil also provides specialist advice to clients (individuals or corporates) outside the UK, for instance in Europe, the Middle East and in the United States.
Many of Neil’s cases are international and cross-jurisdictional, reflecting the lifestyle of individual clients and the operations and interests of global corporations. As well as being a formidable courtroom advocate, Neil is an expert at managing reputational issues and negotiating out of court settlements wherever possible. All of this makes him the defence lawyer of choice for people and organisations in the public eye.
Career
Languages
English
Memberships
National Institute for Trial Advocacy
Education
The University of Edinburgh – Diploma in Legal Practice 1994 – 1995
University of Glasgow – LLB, Law 1992 – 1994
University of Dundee – M.A. (Hons) , Political Science and Modern History 1988 – 1992
Personal
Neil is active in promoting the legal profession and has a long-standing interest in legal education. He has lectured in the law of Evidence and in Court & Tribunal advocacy at Scottish universities, and he has a particular interest in improving access to the legal profession for under-represented groups. Neil regularly speaks at legal conferences and writes articles for legal journals.
Lawyer Rankings
Scotland > Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: general
(Leading individuals)Levy & McRae has ‘a long tradition of providing an exceptional service‘ to private clients, including professionals and high-net-worth individuals in Scotland, across a range of criminal areas including environmental, regulatory, sexual and domestic, financial, as well as tax investigations and inquiries. Neil Hay leads the team and specialises in complex regulatory, fraud and financial crime, while co-head Callum Anderson has significant expertise in defending leading political figures and other high-ranking public officials. David McKie brings vast experience of police investigations and inquiries, including public, parliamentary and fatal accidents, while Andrew Seggie is another key member of the team.
Lawyer Rankings
- Crime: general Scotland > Crime, fraud and licensing
- Leading individuals Scotland > Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: general