Neil O'May
Partner
Criminal law
Neil deals with high-profile cases, including those involving complex fraud, and is a recognised expert in defending cases brought by the Serious Fraud Office, HM Revenue & Customs/ RCPO, and other financial regulatory agencies.
Neil advises individual clients and companies on serious fraud investigations where documents and computer equipment are being sought by prosecuting authorities under compulsion or voluntarily; and represents clients in negotiations with authorities, interviews under caution, and other interviews conducted under specialist regulatory powers. He has extensive trial experience and a proven track record of acquittals. His areas of expertise cover money laundering, price fixing, international mutual legal assistance and extradition, restraint and confiscation proceedings, financial services investigations, market abuse and domestic and international corruption matters.
He is routinely involved at a very early stage in investigations, particularly in relation to situations where individual or companies have been notified of interest from prosecuting authorities and require advice in relation to these early issues.
He also regularly acts for investigative journalists and media professionals whose activities are investigated by the police. He acts for legal and medical professionals who find themselves at the sharp end of the criminal law.
Neil advises a number of companies and individuals in prosecutions and investigations involving corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter. Neil has a scientific background and has the complimentary skills to deal with complex Health and Safety prosecutions brought by the HSE.
Neil qualified as a solicitor in 1985, joined Bindmans in 1990, and has been a Partner and Head of its Criminal Law department since 1991.
What the professional directories say:
He is ranked by independent legal directories (Chambers and Legal 500) in the top tier of London criminal defence solicitors.
He continues to be ranked as a *STAR performer in Chambers 2011, which describes him as "an exceptionally hands-on and talented lawyer."
Chambers 2010 described hime as "one of the best criminal solicitors, with a truly astonishing strategic ability".
Chambers 2008 comments that he “lives the cases - he believes in them in and out, and is not scared of fighting.”
Legal 500 2010 describes him as 'clever and utterly focused’ and as ‘a phenomenal tactician’.
Legal 500 (2007/08) describes him as "one of the best criminal lawyers in the country."
Chambers 2011
Crime (Star Individuals)
Fraud: Criminal (Band 2)
Neil's full profile and ranking status on Chambers 2011
Chambers 2010
Crime - London (Ranked as Star performer)
Fraud: Criminal - UK-wide (Band 2)
Neil's full profile and ranking status on Chambers 2010
Chambers 2009
Crime - London (Ranked as a Star performer)
Fraud: Criminal - Best of the UK (Band 2)
Legal 500 (2010)
Crime: ranked in 1st tier - Leading Individual
Fraud - criminal: ranked in 2nd tier
Neil's full profile on Legal 500 (2010)
Legal 500 (2009)
Crime: ranked in 1st tier - Leading Individual
Fraud - criminal: ranked in 2nd tier
Media and Entertainment - recommended
Neil's full profile on Legal 500 (2009)