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How to enforce a prenuptial agreement
Jane Keir
"One of the best" and "a really good example of how family lawyers should be"
Chambers UK 2020, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession
Jane Keir is a partner in the family and divorce team. Described as a "class act" by her peers and colleagues alike, she is "absolutely dedicated to getting the job done for her clients many of whom are high profile or international".
Jane's strengths lie in her early analysis of a case and in making the arguments that lead to an early settlement. She is highly adept at finding the right angles which can make all the difference and uncovering and using the facts to secure the best outcomes for those she represents. Jane is often consulted by senior family members for an overview as to how family wealth, often accumulated over generations, can be protected and in the use and application of pre and post nuptial agreements. In 2018, she represented the successful wife in protecting the wider family’s wealth in the case of Daga v Bangur.
Jane acts for equal numbers of men and women and many of her clients come from across the country and abroad, as well as London. Much of her work involves an international element and she enjoys working with other lawyers, accountants, actuaries, financial advisers, wealth managers and investigators in order to provide a thorough and comprehensive service to her clients. In addition, she has immediate recourse to all the other leading teams at Kingsley Napley LLP, including Private Client, Immigration and Real Estate.
Jane is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and in November 2019, she spoke at the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers meeting in Chicago on ‘Discovery Beyond our Borders' where she shared techniques and tips on financial discovery and asset tracing as between England and the USA. Jane will be chairing the ThoughtLeaders4's HNW Divorce Litigation conference in London on 19 May 2020.
Jane has won numerous industry awards and has most recently been shortlisted as Family Lawyer of The Year for the Spear's Wealth Management Awards 2019.
In a highly popular, albeit unusually early move, she became Kingsley Napley’s Senior Partner in 2013, being then one of only four women to lead a UK Top 100 law firm. She fulfilled the role for five years before handing on to the current Senior Partner, Stephen Parkinson in 2018.
Jane is a very keen follower of horse racing. She owns and breeds thoroughbreds in the UK. In 2016 she was appointed a Trustee of the Racing Foundation.
"Peers say she is "top class," "excellent," and "has an instinct about things which is really impressive""
Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2019
"When clients are at their most vulnerable, they need to know they can rely on their solicitor. Jane has it all: fabulous client care skills, in-depth knowledge of the law, great instinct, sound relationships with her peers; all delivered with a twinkle in her eye and a steady hand."
Citywealth Leaders List
What clients and directories say
"extensive experience in financial remedy cases involving considerable wealth. One source notes: "Jane is absolutely assured and has a fantastic way with clients," while another labels her "a class act."
Chambers UK 2019, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession
"She is robust, she is tough, easy to deal with, sensible, doesn't make bad points "
Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2018
"Excellent client management skills – clients feel highly supported as she is very patient – looks at a situation very humanely"
Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2018
“I often recommend her because she has all the ingredients of a fantastic lawyer - she is extremely clever, very client-friendly and takes just the right approach to negotiations”.
"You are my security blanket"
A client of Jane's
"The ‘tough, thorough and calm’ Jane Keir ‘has seen it all’"
Legal 500 UK 2017, The Clients Guide to The Law
"The "excellent" Jane Keir brings to family and matrimonial matters a "breadth of knowledge and a lightness of touch."
Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2016
"She's excellent, knows her stuff inside out and has a brilliant manner"
Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession
"Her strengths are client care skills. She is efficient and businesslike [and] she's got a good eye on getting a case sorted and finished"
Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2016
"Hugely experienced"
Legal 500 UK
"Jane utilises all the experience, authority and personality that marks her out as senior partner. She is a serious, top class lawyer who flourishes in her demanding, highly impressive, role as senior partner of Kingsley Napley. She is one of the industries real Powerwomen."
Citywealth Leaders List, 2016
"Jane Keir's 'modest and straightforward manner is very reassuring.' She is 'pragmatic and sensible' and 'extremely knowledgeable about how to proceed and the best strategy to take'..."
Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession
"...Responsive, solutions orientated...a pleasure to deal with...an excellent grasp of the law and the tax consequences."
Citywealth Leaders List, "Family & Matrimonial Honours List"
"Absolutely dedicated to getting the job done for her clients, many of whom are high profile or international. Jane utilises all the experience, authority and personality that marks her out as Senior Partner. She is a serious, top class lawyer who flourishes in her demanding, highly impressive, role as senior partner of Kingsley Napley, whilst maintaining a respected, quality family practice and consistently demonstrating an absolute commitment to her clients’ interests."
Citywealth Leaders List, 2016
“Jane Keir’s promotion to senior partner ‘emphasises the importance of family law at the firm’”
Legal 500 UK
"very clear on negotiations and extremely effective"
Chambers UK (ranked band 1): A client's guide the UK's legal profession
"I often recommend her because she has all the ingredients of a fantastic lawyer – she is extremely clever, very client-friendly and takes just the right approach to negotiations"
Chambers UK (ranked band 1): A client's guide the UK's legal profession
“A likeable and approachable character in an area of law that can easily become confrontational and over-wrought”
Chambers UK: A client’s guide to the UK legal profession
"[She] combines commercial awareness and acuity with extremely good client care skills”
Chambers UK: A client’s guide to the UK legal profession
“Jane Keir heads the family team at Kingsley Napley with ‘grace, style and a sharp intellect’ with strength across the department in both financial and children work”
Legal 500 UK
"…worth every penny and thanks again for every little bit of sympathy and patient advice. I maintain my sanity in no small part because of your efforts on my behalf”
A client of Jane's
Recent cases
Jane has acted in the following reported cases among others:
- Daga and Bangur [2018] EWFC 91 - Contested high value finances involving trusts and non-matrimonial assets
- AW v Executors of the Estate of HA & Others [2015] EWHC 2233 (Fam) concerning the setting aside of a Financial Order made at the conclusion of divorce proceedings and revising the amount to be paid whilst dealing with the existence of a Prenuptial Agreement.
- A v B & C [2012] EWCA Civ 285 acting for the father in a ground-breaking case in the Court of Appeal as a result of which she was named as the “The Times Lawyer of the Week” in April 2012.
- Z v A [2012] EWHC 467 (Fam) acting for a wife, following an overseas divorce and securing a substantial order for her client and the payment of her client’s costs.
Publications, press and speaking engagements
- Jane will be chairing the ThoughtLeaders4's HNW Divorce Litigation conference in London in 2020 alongside Jonathan Hilliard QC
- Lawyer in the news: Jane Keir - The Law Society Gazette, March 2020
- Jane spoke at the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers annual meeting in Chicago in November 2019 on "Discovery Beyond our Borders'' , where she shared techniques and tips on financial discovery and asset tracing as between England and the USA
- How a prenup can help defend you from ‘Corbygeddon’ - Spear's, July 2019
- Pre-nups and second look States - not so different after all? - Family Law, May 2019
- Courts must not rip up precedent on pre-nups - The Times, April 2019
- ‘It takes a lot to persuade a judge to send someone to jail’ – an expert opinion on the Al Zawawi divorce - Spear's, April 2019
- Divorce Day - Jane Keir comments in Mail on Sunday’s This is Money section about ways to reduce the costs of a marriage break-up - This is Money, January 2019
- Daga v Daga: a warning to all gold-digger spouses - Spear's, December 2019
- UK targets overseas territories transparency - Jane quoted in Financier Worldwide Magazine, August 2018
- New rules on property disclosure are hot topic for divorce lawyers - Property Week, June 2018
- But who drives the tractor? – Jane Keir in BDLN on why sexism is alive and well in professional services and how to tackle it - BDLN, March 2018
- The surprising new way to save your marriage: discuss divorce terms — while you're still together - Daily Mail, December 2017
- Your marriage on the rocks but still willing to give it one more try? ... then a post-nup is just what the Doctor ordered - The Mail on Sunday, September 2017
- Having a divorce wobble? Try a reconciliation contract - the new pre-nup - The Telegraph, August 2017
Professional memberships and awards
- Listed as Top Recommended Family Lawyer in Spear's Indices 2019
- Listed as the ‘ eminent pracitioner’ in the Chambers HNW Guide 2017 and in the current Chambers UK Family/Matrimonial Guide
- Listed in the Top 10 Family Lawyers and Top 20 Women in Wealth, 2018, by Citywealth
- Winner of the Citywealth PowerWomen Gold Award in 2017 for Company of the Year – Female Leadership ( Professional Services)
- Listed in Spear's Indices - Family Lawyers 2017 as Top Recommended
- Ranked Band 1 in the current Legal 500
- Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (formerly the IAML) and speaker at the American Chapter meeting, in Los Angeles in February 2016 and in New Delhi in September 2016
- New entry to Who’s Who in 2016
- Winner of the Editor’s Choice Awards at the 2015 City Wealth Power Women Awards
- The Times Lawyer of the Week; April 2012
- Winner in 2007 of the Women in the City Women’s Achievement Awards for the legal services category
"Jane is absolutely assured and has a fantastic way with clients"
Chambers UK 2019, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession
"A superstar"
Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2019
"an ‘outstanding lawyer’ "
Legal 500 UK 2019
"Worth every penny"
A client of Jane's
"She is robust, she is tough, easy to deal with, sensible, doesn't make bad points "
Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2018
"Excellent client management skills – clients feel highly supported as she is very patient – looks at a situation very humanely"
Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2018
"Absolutely excellent," and "She has a very high profile and she's also extremely good at client care. She's a very hard worker and she's very well respected."
Chambers UK 2018, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession
"The ‘tough, thorough and calm’ Jane Keir ‘has seen it all’"
Legal 500 UK 2017, The Client's Guide to The Law
"Absolutely dedicated to getting the job done for her clients, many of whom are high profile or international."
Citywealth Leaders List
