Thomson Reuters names eight Keystone Law partners in its Stand-out Lawyers Guide 2026
Andrea James, Andrew Darwin & Anna McKibbin
Sharon has been a solicitor for over 30 years and has acted as either claimant or defendant solicitor for corporate entities, high-net-worth individuals, and various national and international financial institutions. She now acts exclusively for claimants and uninsured defendants, both in relation to claims and any policy disputes arising from them.
Sharon has extensive experience of professional negligence claims, having been instructed over the years upon numerous high-value claims against solicitors, valuers, financial advisers, pension trustees, monitoring surveyors, insurance brokers, accountants, and construction professionals. In addition to defending claims against banks and other financial institutions, she has also advised on matters relating to coverage and the aggregation of insurance policies.
Sharon is skilled in all stages of litigation, from initial advice to enforcement, as well as very experienced in mediation and other alternative dispute resolution.
Expertise
Sharon advises both individuals and corporates on complex claims involving professional negligence, breach of trust, and fiduciary duties.
Experience
- Acted for a hotel and restaurant in connection with a £1.3m claim against its insurance broker for negligent advice relating to the reinstatement value of the building and the value of and indemnity period for business interruption cover.
- Advised the executors of a will in relation to a potential £5m claim against former pension trustees and administrators.
- Acted for a business against its former financial advisers in connection with the negligent establishment of a workplace pension scheme.
- Acted in a £2.5m claim against solicitors for failure to identify overage obligations in connection with the acquisition and refinance of property for a substantial residential development.
- Advised a property developer in connection with a substantial claim against its former solicitors arising out of failures to confirm access and easements for the purpose of the intended development.
- Acted in a £2.2m claim against monitoring surveyors for failure to identify cost overruns.
- Acted in a £2.2m claim against insurance brokers following a fire at a large car repair workshop after insurance cover had been declined.
- Acted in a £250,000 claim against a printed circuit board designer following the failure of engines into which the boards were placed and the consequential loss of business.
- Acted in a £5m claim against a well-known firm of valuers relating to the valuation of a substantial property development in South London.
- Acted for a large financial institution in connection with a claim against valuers for in excess of £4m relating to the valuation of a substantial residential property for refinancing and which involved potential issues of fraud.
- Acted for an international bank on a £6.3m claim against a well-known firm of valuers in connection with the financing of the acquisition of a famous London bar and restaurant.
- Acted for a clearing bank on a £3.5m claim against valuers in respect of the acquisition of commercial units in Bristol.
- claim by a blue-chip company for £750,000 misappropriated by online fraudsters.
- Acted for a major high-street bank in a £3m claim against both valuers and solicitors in connection with the refinancing of a holiday park in Norfolk.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Professional Negligence 2021–2026
“We have been working with Sharon Duncan at Keystone Law. Sharon demonstrates exceptional efficiency and extensive knowledge. She is dedicated to advancing our case and consistently updates us on its progress. We hold a significant level of trust in Sharon’s work; she maintains a high degree of professionalism and ease of interaction. Her performance has been outstanding so far and very thorough.”
The Legal 500 2026
“Sharon demonstrates exceptional efficiency and extensive knowledge. She is dedicated to advancing our case and consistently updates us on its progress. We hold a significant level of trust in Sharon’s work; she maintains a high degree of professionalism and ease of interaction. Her performance has been outstanding so far and very thorough.”
The Legal 500 2025
“Sharon is commended for being ‘very knowledgeable’ in her field and for her ‘sound advice’. She is also recognised for being ‘open and honest‘ with her clients.”
The Legal 500 2025
“The level of service was exceptional. All communication was received in a timely manner and representation of my case was of the highest level. I dealt with Sharon Duncan and the level of service was unquestionable.”
The Legal 500 2024
“Sharon is praised for delivering an ‘exceptional’ level of service and for providing the ‘highest level’ of representation.”
The Legal 500 2024
“Sharon is credited for being ‘Attentive to details and thoroughly involved and invested’ and for her ability to ‘swiftly assimilate all the information and provide professional and timely feedback’.”
The Legal 500 2023
“Very knowledgeable and experienced particularly in mis-selling cases.”
The Legal 500 2021
“A friendly, client-facing lawyer.”
The Legal 500 2019
Sharon qualified as a solicitor in 1995. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2020, she worked at the following firms:
- DLA Piper
- Squire Patton Boggs
- Addleshaw Goddard