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.
Contact Mark
Call: 0345 274 6875
Mobile: 0797 953 7085
Notable work & expertise
Mark is ranked in the Legal 500 as a Leading Practitioner in Contentious Trust and Probate work and his team at Freeths have for the last 3 years been ranked as the number 1 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 £100,000,000. 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 Finance 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
- Meridian
- Wilsons
- The Smith Partnership
- Howard Kennedy
- Russell-Cooke
- mfg
- Irwin Mitchell
- Wedlake Bell
- Stephens & Bolton
- Farer & 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 & Emmett
- Withers
- Michelmores
- Shakespeare Martineau LLP
- Sintons
- Forsters
- Howard Kennedy
- Jones Myers LLP
Accreditations
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
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