Latest
Our lawyers are experts in their fields. Through commentary and analysis, we give you insights into the pressures impacting business today.
VIEW ALLLegal 500 2024Amanda McNeil has a sharp legal brain complimented with bags of common sense and is a go-to solicitor for clients who want someone knowledgeable, practical and commercial in their approach.
About
Recent work
Accolades
Did you know
Amanda McNeil specialises in contentious issues relating to commercial and residential property. She focuses on enabling clients to find the best outcome for their unique circumstances. She heads our Real Estate Dispute Resolution team.
Amanda has a diverse client base. She advises landlords, retailers and other commercial occupiers with their asset management needs. She works with commercial developers on restrictive covenant issues, boundary and other disputes. She acts for high-net-worth individuals on disputes relating to their personal property portfolios and their homes in the UK.
Amanda’s expertise in commercial property disputes includes acting on Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 lease renewals (including opposed renewals), forfeiture actions, rent recovery, service charge disputes, dilapidations claims, enforcement of covenants, and withholding of consent to assign/sublet/carry out alterations.
She additionally guides clients through original tenant liability and liability of guarantors, rent review advice, disputes over rent deposits, and property insolvency issues.
Meanwhile, her residential property experience includes advising on exercising the right to manage, service charge disputes, enforcement of covenants, and possession proceedings (both Rent Act tenancies and Assured Shorthold tenancies).
Amanda acts for landlords and tenants advising on all aspects of leasehold enfranchisement including lease extensions of flats, collective enfranchisement (whereby the leaseholders in a building join together and buy the freehold), freehold purchase and lease extension of leasehold houses.
She works closely with her clients and their professional advisers to create a strategy and approach that seeks to achieve the best possible outcome in line with their unique needs.
Her alternative dispute resolution experience includes mediation, arbitration and advocacy. She represents clients in the Privy Council, Court of Appeal, High Court, County Court and increasingly in the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Chamber.
Amanda is a member of the Property Litigation Association, the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners and Women in Property.
- Acting for a landowner in seeking the removal/modification of restrictive covenants to enable a substantial residential development to proceed.
- Successfully opposing a tenant’s claim for relief from forfeiture following an unlawful subletting of a retail unit.
- Acting for a restaurant chain on a new tenancy of its flagship site against a landed estate landlord who opposed on the ground of redevelopment.
- Obtaining the Tribunal's approval to undertake major works, recovering the £2m costs through the service charge for a London mansion block.
- Defending a claim brought against a tenant of his former head offices for damages in excess of £1m in respect of dilapidations.
- Defending a claim of excessive use of a right of way.
- Acting for a household name leisure group on property issues from it entering into a Company Voluntary Arrangement.
- Acting for the administrators of a landmark London tourism site on £1m+ rent deposit issues as part of the forfeiture of the lease.
- Ranked Band 4, Real Estate Litigation, Chambers UK 2024
- "Clients love Amanda and she does a great job getting them what they want." Chambers UK 2024
- "She's always sensible and knowledgeable." Chambers UK 2024
- "She's an excellent lawyer who is as knowledgeable as she is empathetic." Chambers UK 2024
- Ranked Band 4, Real Estate Litigation, Legal 500 UK 2023
- Listed as Key Lawyer, Real estate: Property litigation, Legal 500 UK 2023
- "Amanda McNeil – experienced and canny, understands how to achieve the client's objectives.", Legal 500 UK 2023
- "Amanda knows the law and she is also someone you can deal with and work towards a solution together." Legal 500 UK 2023
- "Amanda McNeil is extremely personable, easy to work with and creates confidence." Chambers UK 2022
- "She identifies the issues quickly and provides clear, calm and commercially-minded advice, but is more than capable of fighting her client's corner." Chambers UK 2022
- "Her communication and approach is very strong, as is her knowledge." Chambers UK 2022
Amanda enjoys all outdoor pursuits and is a seasoned participant in assault/obstacle course races.
