Rory Mac Neice > Ashfords LLP > Bristol, England > Lawyer Profile

Horseracing and regulatory mandates constitute particular specialist areas for the sports practice at Ashfords LLP, where the firm acts on behalf of sporting regulators, clubs and retailers, as well as individuals. Adept at handling both contentious and non-contentious matters, the team is led by Rory Mac Neice, who is well versed in race fixing and anti-doping issues, among others. ‘Absolutely superb’ associate Joanne Saye also specialises in equestrian sports, and is frequently sought out by clients for her knowledge of governance, anti-doping and integrity issues. With regard to other sports, the firm is also active in the swimming, football and golf arenas.

At Ashfords LLP, the professional negligence practice is well versed in acting for solicitors as well as clients in the banking, bloodstock and construction sectors. Rory Mac Neice in Bristol jointly heads up the team with Exeter-based Victoria Bonnet, who is often called upon to handle negligence claims pertaining to solicitors. Chris Freeman left the firm for an in-house position in June 2022.

Ashfords LLP handles a broad range of disputes across the IT and technology, waste, retail, sport and financial services sectors, with demonstrable experience in regulatory and risk-related litigation. Rory Mac Neice leads the Bristol-based practice and acts for clients in the financial and technology arenas in litigation, in addition to acting for retail and manufacturing clients on product recall cases. Ian Manners has experience in serious incident representation and crisis management mandates, while Andrew Perkins, who operates from the firm’s Exeter office, is another key contact.

Ashfords LLP‘s commercial litigation practice covers contract disputes, emergency relief, contempt of court proceedings, fraud, asset and tracing claims, and company and partnership disputes. Other key areas range from claims against company directors, to cross-border disputes, defamation, professional negligence claims, and debt recovery and enforcement matters. The principal figures are London office head James Crighton, who is ‘always thinking strategically‘; Exeter-based commercial disputes head Andrew Perkins; and technology and sports disputes expert Rory Mac Neice in Bristol.