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Mark Keeley

Partner & Joint Head of Private Client Services | Nottingham

"Mark Keeley is a very smart, tough but sensible litigator, who because of his vast experience as a mediator is very well tuned to how to find a good resolution."
The Legal 500, 2024

Call: 0345 274 6875 Mobile: 0797 953 7085

About Mark

Mark is joint national head of the Freeths Private Client Services Team. He has over 25 years of post-qualification experience of dealing with contentious trust and probate disputes and professional negligence claims. He also qualified as a commercial mediator in 2010 and has conducted over 500 mediations.

Mark is a member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS)
and the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association (PNLA). He is also an affiliate member of
the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

He is a member of the ACTAPS organising committee and has also completed the ACTAPS
Contentious Trusts and Probate Associate Membership Course that is operated in conjunction
with the College of Law. He is also a member of the Civil Mediation Council.

Mark is a Panel Member of the Association of Midlands Mediators and now sits on their organising committee as secretary. He sits on the Board of the Nottingham Law Centre. He acts
as Trustee for a number of family trusts and estates. He has regularly been appointed as a
replacement Administrator/Trustee by the High Court.

Mark is listed as a Leading Individual for Mediation in Chambers & Partners (2024 edition), as a Recommended Lawyer and is also recognised by The Legal 500 (2024 edition) in the Hall of Fame for Contentious Trusts and Probate. The Hall of Fame highlights individuals who have received constant praise by their clients for continued excellence.

He is also one of only a handful of mediators included in the Chambers HNW Guide Trust Mediators UK-wide list.

Mark and his team at Freeths have for the last 8 + years been ranked as the number 1 team for Contentious Trusts and Probate work in the East Midlands. Legal 500 states that he “commands universal respect in this area” and Chambers and Partners describe him as “one of the best litigators outside of London.”

Education

  • BA (Hons) International History and Politics, First Class, Leeds University
  • CPE/LPC (Distinction), College of Law, York

Memberships

  • Mark is a member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) and the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association (PNLA). He is also an affiliate member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
  • He is a member of the ACTAPS organising committee and has also completed the ACTAPS Contentious Trusts and Probate Associate Membership Course that is operated in conjunction with the College of Law.
  • Mark is a Panel Member of the Association of Midlands Mediators and now sits on their organising committee as secretary.
  • He acts as Trustee for a number of family trusts.
  • Mark is a member of the Civil Mediation Council.

Notable work & expertise

Testimonials

  • "Freeths are undoubtedly one of the leading contentious trust and probate teams in the Midlands. They have strength in depth from Mark Keeley who l...

    The Legal 500, 2024

  • "Mark Keeley is an extremely capable lawyer with strong knowledge and tactical acumen. He is very ably assisted by Max Orbach."

    The Legal 500, 2024

  • “Mark is very good with all sorts of cases and clients, and is good at getting empathy and bringing clients on board.”

    Chambers & Partners, 2024

  • “He is robust, works hard, gets stuck in and is good with a range of clients as a mediator, be they commercial clients or lay clients.”

    Chambers & Partners, 2024

  • "Mark Keeley is rightly regarded as a leading figure in this sector. His knowledge his extensive and his judgment is impeccable. With his calm mann...

    The Legal 500, 2023

  • "Mark Keeley has been a leading figure in contentious probate for many years both in practice and as a much sought after mediator – his skills are...

    The Legal 500, 2023

  • "Mark Keeley knows his stuff. An excellent academic lawyer and mediator."

    The Legal 500, 2023

  • “He's very effective and focuses on the key issues. He's good at getting clients to see the real situation.”

    Chambers & Partners, 2023

  • "Mark Keeley has been a leading figure in contentious probate for many years both in practice and as a much sought after mediator – his skills are...

    The Legal 500, 2023

  • “He knows his stuff and is an expert in our field as a mediator.”

    Chambers & Partners, 2023

Related news & articles

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    UGOLOR & UGOLOR (2021) EWHC 686 Ch – Replacement of Incompetent Executor with Independent Administrator

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    The 1975 act and life interests

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