Neill studied law at Queens University Belfast, has a Master's degree in European Business Law from the University of Amsterdam and an MBA from DCU.
He joined Ulster Investment Bank in 1990 while lecturing part-time in QUB in Company Law before moving to GE Capital Woodchester in 1992. He was appointed a Director of AIB Capital Markets in 1996.
Neill was CEO of Island Capital from 1998 to 2004, an in-house corporate finance resource and investment vehicle for Denis O’Brien. Neill led the fund-raising for the growth of Digicel from license purchase /start-up; he had previously financed 98FM and subsequently Esat Telecom for Mr O’Brien, which was bought off the NASDAQ for $3bn + in 2002.
Immediately prior to setting up FL, Neill was a Director of IBI Corporate Finance where he completed a number of significant plc and private company transactions. Neill has also sat on the Board’s of several professional sports management companies.