Biography

Neil’s practice is focused on providing practical, leading-edge advice to companies and their stakeholders on complex, high value debt restructurings.
Neil works with credit funds, senior management and private equity sponsors on stressed, distressed and special situations. He also advises on associated M&A and alternative investments.
Described by clients as “the ideal combination of technical knowledge, diligence and commerciality”, Neil is consistently recognised as a market-leading restructuring lawyer across all major legal directories. In Chambers UK, clients comment that “Neil is able to look through complexity to come up with pragmatic and innovative solutions, and is willing to fight for his clients' interests in difficult circumstances" with others stating that "From a technical perspective Neil is excellent - a 360-degree lawyer".
Representative Matters:
- Advising an ad hoc group of noteholders of Ideal Standard’s senior secured notes due 2026 in relation to its Exchange Offer, Consent Solicitation and Scheme Solicitation
- Advising an ad hoc group of bondholders on Worldwide Flight Services (“WFS”) tender offer
- Advising an ad hoc group of noteholders in relation to the consensual recapitalisation and financial restructuring of Frigoglass S.A.I.C and the group of companies formerly controlled by it (the “Frigoglass Group”)
- Advising an ad hoc group of secured lenders to the world’s largest regional aircraft lessor, Nordic Aviation Capital, in relation to its restructuring by way of chapter 11 proceedings
- Advising an ad hoc group of senior lenders to UK based deepwater drilling contractor, Seadrill, in relation to the Group’s ongoing chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the US
- Advising a range of portfolio companies on strategic options and capital structure solutions
- Advised an ad hoc group of bondholders of Spanish based construction and civil engineering company, Obrascón Huarte Lain, in relation to the Group’s debt for equity swap, implemented through a scheme of arrangement in the UK
- Advised an ad hoc group of bondholders of UK based speciality metals producer, Ferroglobe, in relation to the Group’s financial restructuring
- Advised Europe’s largest cinema operator, Odeon (part of the AMC Entertainment Group), in relation to the Group’s financial difficulties and the refinancing of its European business
- Advised an ad hoc group of senior creditors of UK based drilling and engineering contractor, KCA Deutag, in relation to the Group’s debt for equity swap, implemented through a scheme of arrangement in the UK
- Advised an ad hoc group of bondholders of Caribbean mobile phone operator, Digicel, in relation to the Group’s balance sheet restructuring, implemented through a series of exchanges offers, coupled with a scheme of arrangement and provisional liquidation in Bermuda
- Advised an ad hoc group of bondholders on the restructuring of Galapagos, a German industrials business, involving a distressed disposal of the group implemented through an enforcement sale in Luxembourg.*
- Advised an ad hoc group of senior creditors of Noble, a Singapore listed commodities trader, on the group's new financing and debt for equity swap, involving parallel schemes of arrangement in the United Kingdom and Bermuda, and a "light touch" Bermuda provisional liquidation.*
- Advised an ad hoc group of bondholders on the restructuring of Frigoglass, a Greek-listed glass and refrigeration business, involving a new capital injection and debt-for-equity swap implemented through a scheme of arrangement in the U.K.*
- Advised an ad hoc group of senior bondholders of Avanti Communications, a U.K.-listed satellite operator, on the group's new financing and debt-for-equity swap, involving an exchange offer and English scheme of arrangement.*
- Advised an ad hoc groups of senior creditors on the restructuring of the collapsed Icelandic banks Glitnir, Kaupthing and Landsbanki.*
* Experience gained at previous firm
Firm News & Announcements, Awards and Recognition, Speaking Engagements, Guides and Resources, Latest Thinking
Firm News & Announcements
- Weil Advises on Ideal Standard Exchange Offer Deal Brief — September 15, 2023
- Weil Guides Ad Hoc Group of Lenders in Covis Pharma's Cross Border Restructuring Deal Brief — June 01, 2023
Latest Thinking
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The Weil European Distress Index
Blog Post — Weil European Restructuring Watch
— By
Neil Devaney,
Andrew J. Wilkinson,
Anne-Sophie Noury and
Britta Grauke
— November 01, 2023
Corporate distress has risen over the last quarter – particularly across European healthcare firms – according to the latest Weil European Distress Index. The quarterly study, which aggregates data from more than 3,750 listed corporates and financial market indicators, reveals that shrinking profits, liquidity challenges, and declining investment metrics are all driving this increase. The fading ...
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Weil Advises on Ideal Standard Exchange Offer
Blog Post — Weil European Restructuring Watch
— By
Neil Devaney,
Matt Benson,
Fergus Kent and
Angus Napier
— September 15, 2023
LONDON, September 15, 2023: Weil advised an ad-hoc group of noteholders of Ideal Standard’s €325,000,000 6.375% senior secured notes due 2026 in relation to its Exchange Offer, Consent Solicitation and Scheme Solicitation launched on August 15, 2023 (the “Exchange Offer”). Ideal Standard is a leading manufacturer of bathroom products in Europe and MENA, providing a broad ...
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Galapagos Group Restructuring Prevails Over Junior Creditor Challenge
Blog Post — Weil European Restructuring Watch
— By
Neil Devaney,
Matt Benson,
Lois Deasey and
Natasha Ayres
— August 11, 2023
The Galapagos Group has secured comprehensive affirmation of its 2019 debt restructuring (the “Restructuring”) from the English High Court. This decision is a significant step towards resolution of the highly contested restructuring, and provides market participants with further clarity and certainty when it comes to implementing lender-led transactions in future. The key focus of the ...
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Weil advises bondholder AHG on Worldwide Flight Services tender offer
Blog Post — Weil European Restructuring Watch
— By
Neil Devaney,
Matt Benson and
Malina Tatarova
— July 18, 2023
Weil advising a bondholder ad hoc group on Worldwide Flight Services tender offer, team includes Matt Benson and Neil Devaney ...
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Weil Advises on the Restructuring of Frigoglass Group
Blog Post — Weil European Restructuring Watch
— By
Neil Devaney,
Jonathon New,
Fergus Kent and
Malina Tatarova
— April 28, 2023
LONDON, April 28, 2023: Weil advised an ad-hoc group of noteholders in relation to the consensual recapitalisation and financial restructuring of Frigoglass S.A.I.C. and the group of companies formerly controlled by it (the “Frigoglass Group”). The Frigoglass Group is a Greece-based manufacturer of commercial refrigerators as well as a leading manufacturer of frozen packaging, with ...