Neil is a qualified Solicitor with over 20 years of litigation experience. Neil specialises in Contentious Wills, Trusts and Inheritance Disputes, advising executors, trustees, beneficiaries and those who have been left out of Wills on either bringing or defending contentious matters.
Neil qualified as a Barrister in 2003 before cross-qualifying as a Solicitor in 2008. He initially worked for a leading white-collar crime firm before practising in general civil and commercial litigation for a number of years, at a leading boutique firm in the City and a well-established firm in Hertfordshire. For the last 10 years, Neil has specialised Wills, Trusts, Tax & Inheritance Disputes.
Neil is a full member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS), the The Contentious Trusts Association (ConTrA) and the Solicitors’ Association of Higher Court Advocates.
Neil works closely with his clients to understand their goals and with the aim, wherever possible and if in their interests, to seek cost-effective resolution of disputes through negotiation and compromise. Where this in not possible, Neil is tactically astute and thorough in his preparation, providing his clients with calm and effective advice so that their cases are effectively and persuasively presented in court.
By way of example, Neil advises on:
· Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) 1975 for both Claimants and Defendants
· Claims challenging the Validity of Wills on the grounds of:
o Want of Valid Execution
o Undue Influence
o Want of Knowledge and Approval
o Lack of Testamentary Capacity
o Forgery
· Acting for Executors or Beneficiaries in Breach of Executors’ or Trustees’ Duties Claims
If you or your family need clear, expert advice on any of the above or any broader litigation issue, please feel free to connect with Neil at neil.johnson@theburnsidepartnership.com.
See insights from Neil
Discover articles and useful insights from Neil below.
The practice is highly esteemed, with a national reputation for the quality of their work. They provide a high-end service to rival any other private client practices
Legal 500 | 2024
The Burnside Partnership offers very strong expertise both in UK domestic and international situations
Chambers High Net Worth | 2024
The Burnside Partnership is proud to be an award-winning firm
We’ve plenty of awards and accreditations to our name, as do many of our specialists. These include The Legal 500 Leading Firm 2026, Chambers High Net Worth 2025, The Legal 500 Next Generation Lawyers, Leading Private Client Lawyer, eprivateclient Excellence Awards 2024, Chambers High Net Worth Solicitor Firm of the Year 2020, eprivateclient Top Law Firms, Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award.
