Thomson Reuters names eight Keystone Law partners in its Stand-out Lawyers Guide 2026
Andrea James, Andrew Darwin & Anna McKibbin
Geoff is a Manx Advocate with a practice that includes a wide range of Isle of Man corporate and structured finance work. He has particular experience in advising lenders, investors and developers in the UK and European commercial real estate sector, and in recent years has advised upon many high-profile CRE transactions for blue chip clients relating to prime assets (mainly located in London).
Geoff is a regular attendee at real estate industry events and is a member of the Investment Property Forum. He also works closely with leading advisors in London in developing the Isle of Man’s important role in attracting international business and investment to the City and the UK.
Expertise
Geoff acts for banks, lenders (including, alternative lenders and challenger banks) and borrowers in respect of the financing of Isle of Man entities (companies, partnerships and trusts) including listed vehicles, fund structures, trading companies and asset-holding SPVs holding a broad range of assets, but with particular expertise in respect of real estate finance, including the preparation and review of loan, security and hedging documentation.
Experience
- Advising Kennedy Wilson UK in respect of its £280m acquisition (via an Isle of Man SPV)of 111 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, London (Daily Telegraph HQ).
- Advising various parties in respect of several distressed loan portfolio acquisitions including Rock/Salt.
- Advising a major UK-based hotel investment group in respect of corporate due diligence and financing regarding its proposed £130m acquisition of an Isle of Man SPV owning a central London hotel.
- Advising a major German bank regarding a £300m loan facility in respect of the re-financing of a landmark London riverside hotel.
- Advising a major UK-based developer in respect of the financing of several major student accommodation development projects throughout the UK.
- Advising a syndicate of banks in respect of a £300m re-financing of the London Trocadero.
- Advising and assisting on the establishment and winding-up of an Isle of Man purpose trust structure utilised by two major investment banks to acquire and dispose of debt secured on a high-end Monaco residential development.
- Advising several major European lenders in respect of the restructuring and re-financing of a group of Isle of Man incorporated SPVs owning in excess of £1bn of London real estate assets.
- Instructed to assist in the recovery of client assets following the liquidation of an Isle of Man company with debts in the region of £100m. Also successfully advised on an application to wind up the company and appoint a liquidator
- Advising a leading alternative lender in respect of an investment and development loan facility in respect of the development of several data centres in London Docklands.
- Advising a major UK lender regarding enforcement options and the appointment of receivers and/or administrators in respect of an Isle of Man property unit trust holding approx. 20 UK properties.
- Advised in respect of the sale of the Isle of Man incorporated private equity SPV companies owning Marine Point retail park, New Brighton.
- Advised in connection with the £14.25 million sale by an Isle of Man incorporated private equity special purpose vehicle of Fareham Shopping Centre to Fareham Borough Council as part of its regeneration strategy
- Advised Clarion in relation to the £52 million acquisition of the entire issued share capital of two Isle of Man companies owning distribution warehouses totalling 438,444 sq ft, in Peterborough from Equites Property Fund.
- Acting for Highgate in relation to Isle of Man corporate law matters connected to Project Crow, in which a consortium acquired two private equity funds, one Portuguese and one Luxembourgish, for €850 million euros. The deal also involved the acquisition of a group of Portuguese companies
- Isle of Man corporate and regulatory advice in connection with the pan European restructuring of various Irish group companies including holding companies in the Isle of Man.
- Provided advice in connection with corporate structuring, property acquisitions, loan facilities and the listing of loan notes on The International Stock Exchange relating to several private equity special purpose vehicles owning the Z Hotels in Central London
- Provided a range of corporate and structured finance advice to Citibank in connection with its funding of an share acquisition by a newly incorporated Jersey bidco
- Provided legal advice in connection with the sale of an Isle of Man incorporated private equity SPV owning The Queens Hotel, Leeds to Pandox, a leading owner of hotel properties in Northern Europe.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by Chambers Global for Offshore: Corporate & Finance 2026
Recognised by Chambers UK for Offshore: Corporate & Finance 2024–2026
Recognised as a Leading Individual by The Legal 500 for Isle of Man: Commercial Property 2025–2026
Acknowledged by Chambers 2025 for maintaining a broad practice encompassing both corporate and finance elements, advising clients including financial institutions and private equity funds
Recognised as a Leading Individual by The Legal 500 for Isle of Man: Banking, Finance and Capital Markets 2020–2026
Recognised as a Leading Individual by The Legal 500 for Isle of Man: Corporate and Commercial 2020–2026
Recognised by Best Lawyers UK as Lawyer of the Year Offshore – Isle of Man 2025
Recognised by Best Lawyers UK for Asset Finance Offshore 2014–2025
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Isle of Man: Commercial Property 2023–2024
Recognised by Chambers UK for Offshore: Corporate & Finance 2021 – 2024
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Isle of Man: Banking & Finance and Isle of Man: Corporate and Commercial 2018
Recognised by The Legal 500 in Banking & Finance and Corporate & Commercial 2017
“Geoff Kermeen is also very good in his field.”
The Legal 500 2026
“We work with Geoff Kermeen and have done for many years – he knows his stuff and delivers a consistent and effective service which, particularly on our smaller deals, allows efficient delivery which sometimes we lose with the larger firms.”
The Legal 500 2026
“Geoff offers very good technical advice, and we're reassured in working with him because he's across the subject matter.”
Chambers UK 2024
“Geoff Kerman was excellent in the transaction I worked with him on. He was responsive and dealt with complex issues quickly and efficiently. He dealt with the complex migration of a company and explained things clearly.”
The Legal 500 2023
“Geoff Kermeen is excellent, available, practical, never the part of a transaction that you have to worry about!”
The Legal 500 2022
“He is excellent, responsive and commercial.”
Chambers UK 2021
“He is very approachable and provides timely, commercial advice.”
Chambers UK 2021
“Geoff Kermeen is well regarded for his corporate practice. He advises clients on M&A and financing matters, as well as handling capital markets work.”
Chambers UK 2020
“Geoff Kermeen of Keystone Law is well known among market practitioners for his finance and transactional practice. He has been regularly called upon to handle loan and refinancing agreements, particularly in relation to real estate acquisitions.”
Chambers UK 2019
“Very commercial and client-orientated.”
The Legal 500 2018
“Technically very good, commercial and responsive.”
The Legal 500 2017
Geoff qualified as an advocate in 2001. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2015, he worked at Cains.