Mark Keeley

Mark is ranked in the Legal 500 as a Leading Practitioner in contentious trust and probate work and his team at Freeths has for the last three years been ranked as the number one team for contentious trusts and probate work in the East Midlands.

His aim is to achieve the best result for the client at minimal cost and he has considerable experience of alternative dispute resolution as an alternative to trial. Mark provides clear and concise advice to clients and he has been successful in recovering substantial damages for numerous clients.

Recent work

• Mark successfully represented the claimants in the reported cases of Walker v Walker [2007] EWHC 597 and Wilkinson and others v Hicken (Re Last Will of Norman Walter Gill) [2023] EWHC 1983 (Ch)
• Mark has represented well over 200 clients in claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 in estates, ranging from a modest value up to estates exceeding £25 million
• Mark has been appointed by the High Court as replacement administrator in several high value disputed estates, following the removal of the previous personal representatives.

Mark adopts a no-nonsense, down to business approach to mediation. He has genuine hands-on experience of over 500 mediations spanning his 27+ years in practice as a solicitor.

He brings this practical experience to bear by controlling the mediation process and encouraging parties to adopt a common-sense and practical attitude towards dispute resolution

Mark has extensive experience in dealing with contentious trust and probate disputes and is a recognised leader in this area

He is familiar with conducting mediations remotely using virtual platforms such as Zoom and supports the Green Litigation Pledge.

Recent work

• Mark successfully represented the claimants in the reported cases of Walker v Walker [2007] EWHC 597 and Wilkinson and others v Hicken (Re Last Will of Norman Walter Gill) [2023] EWHC 1983 (Ch). He has substantial experience of dealing with disputes from £10,000 up to £100 million. He has mediated cases involving foreign estates and where off-shore trusts are involved.

Mark has successfully mediated cases in the following practice areas:

• Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
• Probate claims (challenges to wills)
• Undue influence and financial abuse
• Trust disputes
• Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996
• Proprietary estoppel
• Family wealth disputes
• Disputes over farming estates
• Professional negligence claims
• Contract disputes/breach of warranty claims
• Boundary disputes
• Licensing/regulatory matters
• Fraud and restitutionary claims
• Contested Court of Protection both financial and welfare
• Statutory will disputes
• Disputes concerning foreign estates and off-shore trusts.

Mark has received instructions to mediate cases from amongst others the following firms:

• Anthony Gold
• Taylor Rose Limited
• Meridian
• Wilsons
• The Smith Partnership
• Howard Kennedy
• Russell-Cooke
• mfg
• Irwin Mitchell
• Wedlake Bell
• Stephens & Bolton
• Farrer & Co
• Womble Bond Dickinson
• Roythornes
• Shoosmiths/Rothley Law
• The Wilkes Partnership
• Gateley plc
• IDR Law
• Nelsons
• Pennington Manches
• Howells Solicitors
• Mishcon de Reya
• Wright Hassall LLP
• Birketts
• Druces
• Browne Jacobson LLP
• Ashtons Legal
• HCR/Hewitsons
• Berrymans Lace Mawer
• The Official Solicitor
• Tollers LLP
• Wilkin Chapman
• Charles Russell Speechly
• Taylor Emmet
• Withers
• Michelmores
• Shakespeare Martineau LLP
• Sintons
• Forsters
• Howard Kennedy
• Jones Myers LLP.