Neil Hay is a distinguished Solicitor-Advocate and Partner who leads the Private Crime department at Levy & McRae, recognized as one of Scotland’s foremost criminal lawyers. Specializing in high-stakes criminal defense, he stands out as the first-ever recipient of the Legal 500 Crime Lawyer of the Year award in 2023, reflecting his exceptional reputation and expertise in the field.
With over 25 years of experience as a solicitor and 15 as a solicitor-advocate, Neil provides strategic legal advice and robust court representation for individuals, organizations, and companies under investigation or prosecution. His practice is distinguished by a focus on discretion, confidentiality, and reputation protection, often aiming to avoid court proceedings entirely. He is highly regarded for defending sensitive and serious cases and is the preferred referral choice for leading law firms in Scotland, England, and internationally, including Magic Circle firms.
Services Offered
- Criminal Law
- White-Collar Crime
- Fraud & Financial Crime
- Health & Safety Cases
- Regulatory Crime
- Domestic and Sexual Offenses
- Fatal Road Traffic Cases
- Business Offenses
- Common Law Crimes
- Statutory Offences
- Appeal Court Representation
- High Court Defense (including as leading counsel)
- Legal Advice for International Clients
- Corporate Criminal Defense
Neil serves clients throughout Scotland, in London, and internationally, including Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. His clientele includes high-net-worth individuals, professionals, FTSE 100 companies, insurance firms, unions, government institutions, and charities. Fluent in handling complex and high-profile cases, he is recommended by Spears 500 and Chambers & Partners, and featured in The Times Best Law Firms.
