Thomson Reuters names eight Keystone Law partners in its Stand-out Lawyers Guide 2026
Andrea James, Andrew Darwin & Anna McKibbin
“I have worked closely with Ian Cooke on countless high-value Real Estate transactions in Prime and Super-Prime Central London since 1994. Ian has the technical skills, personality and ability to charm his client, and the other side, whilst delivering the most efficient, commercially beneficial and highly professional legal services to secure the best outcome for those he represents. I recommend him without hesitation or reservation to anyone needing world-class legal representation in their high-value London property deals.”
- Archie Riby-Williams, Chairman and CEO, Portman Heritage
“I have worked with Ian for the last four years and I cannot recommend him highly enough. Ian is an excellent lawyer with standout levels of integrity and professionalism. His advice, client care and attention to detail is nothing short of exceptional.”
- Chris Jones, Managing Director, Warnerheath Limited
Ian is a residential property solicitor with over 30 years’ experience handling prime and super-prime London residential property transactions. He has advised some of the world’s most powerful people investing in the London prime residential property sector on buying, selling, and developing in London.
Most of Ian’s clients are international, and have included foreign royal families, country leaders, and the owners of successful businesses. As well as advising high-net-worth individuals, Ian advises major property companies. He has also assisted international banks with property finance deals.
Ian is dual-qualified in England and Wales and in the British Virgin Islands. He often advises banks, companies, and law firms on the ability of BVI companies to enter into property and other transactions.
Expertise
Ian advises on buying and selling prime and super-prime London homes, acting for royalty, global leaders, and business owners in landmark deals.
Experience
- Acted in the purchase of London’s most expensive apartment for an international buyer for a total “spend” including fit-out of in excess of £180 million.
- Advising the developers of The Old War Office on Whitehall on their £1 billion residential sales programme.
- Advising the developers on their £500 million+ residential development at 60 Curzon Street, Mayfair.
- In 2023, advised an Indian Billionaire in a Mayfair property purchase for a price exceeding £135 million.
- Advised an international family in 2024 on the acquisition of a building in Grosvenor Square for £43 million.
- Advised a Middle Eastern family on the acquisition and refurbishment of a prime London residential house worth in excess of £50 million.
- Advised British Land plc on its sales of Clarges, Mayfair – one of Mayfair’s most exclusive and high-value residential development projects in recent years.
- With his team, advised on London residential property deals worth in excess of £3 billion per annum in each year between 2019 and 2025.
- Handled the sale for a developer client of an apartment worth £62 million.
- Advised a European buyer on the acquisition of an apartment for over £45 million in Eaton Square.
- Along with a colleague, travelled to Hong Kong and Singapore to advise and place into contract over 200 apartment buyers at the Battersea Power Station redevelopment project.
- Assisted an international businessman on the acquisition of three adjoining buildings near Buckingham Palace, which buildings he will develop into prime residential apartments, some for use by his family and some for sale.
- Advised a number of international families acquiring apartments and townhouses at Chelsea Barracks.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by The Legal 500 Hall of Fame for Residential Property 2022, 2024–2026
Recognised by Chambers High Net Worth for Real Estate: High Value Residential 2018–2026
Recognised by The Legal 500 as a Leading Individual for Residential Property 2019–2021, 2023
Top Flight Lawyer in The Spear’s 500 Property Law Index 2021–2023
Recognised by The Spear’s 500 as “Eminence Grise” for High Value Residential Property 2015–2019
Recognised by The Spear’s 500 as a Top 6 UK Lawyer for High Value Residential Property 2019
“Ian Cooke and Sakhjit Randhawa are always available to talk through any potential issues with the conveyancing process as they come up. Both of them are very good at ensuring everyone is on the same page throughout the process and happy to work with us to solve any potential sticking point during the transaction.”
The Legal 500 2025
“Ian is the best of the best and we've always enjoyed working with him. Our clients are always happy to be introduced to Ian and his no-nonsense approach is always welcomed.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2024
“Ian is legally and technically excellent. He brings great commercial savviness - he loves and understands property.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2024
“He is one of the most charming, well respected and liked lawyers in this market. He has got an incredible reputation and charming to deal with. He is also extremely brilliant at what he does.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2024
“Ian Cooke is in a class of his own.”
The Legal 500 2024
“Ian Cooke is quite simply an exceptional lawyer who really cares about delivering excellent advice and service to all his clients. His service and advice is nothing short of outstanding and highly professional.”
The Legal 500 2024
“Ian is an exceptionally experienced property lawyer possessing the critical legal skill set required by UK and international clients at the very top end of the London real estate industry.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2023
“Ian is one of the most professional lawyers I've ever had the pleasure of working with. He is completely calm and unflappable under pressure and always delivers the results.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2023
“I work very closely with Ian Cooke who quite simply operates on another level. His property law knowledge and advice is excellent - and his client care, respect and availability is nothing short of outstanding. In my 25 years of business I haven’t experienced advice and service like it. Furthermore, he is lovely to work with and his results speak for themselves.”
The Legal 500 2023
“Ian Cooke has been exceptional in delivering a first class service in advising us on the legal front. His market knowledge and intel is truly impressive, as he seems to have his finger on the pulse of what is happening real time in the market place. He is exceptionally pro-active, where he will foresee a potential issue, and provide a solution even before it has been raised.”
The Legal 500 2023
“Ian is an impressive and outstanding operator who consistently delivers high-quality work and service levels.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2022
“He is a delight to deal with, an exceptionally good lawyer if you get him on the other side. You’re going to get well-set-out documents and he is a formidable negotiator.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2022
“The finest property expert in London. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the market in the UK, and is quick with his work.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2022
“As a firm, we only recommend an Ian Cooke and Sakhjit Randhawa to our overseas clients as we know they”ll do an incredible job and trust them wholeheartedly not to disappoint.”
The Legal 500 2022
“Ian Cooke has been brilliant on multiple occasions helping to keep ours sales on track whilst continuously working in the clients best interests. Ian is very knowledgeable about the property market, he knows residential law inside out and has great communication skills regardless of who he is dealing with.”
The Legal 500 2022
“Sakhjit has been instrumental to the success of our transactions and is pleasure to deal with. On many occasions, Sakhjit and Ian have worked over the weekends and late into the evening to ensure a transaction takes place on time.”
The Legal 500 2022
“By far the best property lawyer I have had the pleasure to work with.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2021
“He is a real master class in the high-end residential market in Central London adapting to the particularities of client and properties.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2021
“Ian is very knowledgeable about the property market, he knows residential law inside out and has great communication skills regardless of who he is dealing with.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2021
“Ian Cooke and Sakhjit Randhawa are highly experienced, high-value property lawyers working absolutely at the top of the market and the top of their game. They are effective “deal-doers” who find solutions for clients and who offer world class legal advice – delivered commercially. They are pro-active, responsive, bright and switched-on.”
The Legal 500 2021
“Ian Cooke and Sakhjit Randhawa are two highly skilled senior law firm partners at the pinnacle of their professional careers. They have recently established their legal offices in the heart of SW1 and are able to offer their clients very smart and confidential private offices within which to hold private meetings and to discuss clients’ business objectives and to work to secure the best interests of their clients at all times.”
The Legal 500 2021
“Ian Cooke and Sakhjit Randhawa are simply the very best in this industry within the central London property market. The ultra-high end of the residential property market is the sector within which they both operate at their optimum and where they really have no rivals, in my humble opinion. They have acutely bright legal minds, they are able to cut to the point swiftly and as a result, they are best able to deliver deals for clients quickly but safely in a way that other lawyers might struggle to match.”
The Legal 500 2021
“Ian is very approachable, friendly and a committed professional. His client care and advice is nothing short of outstanding, and he is so incredibly thoughtful. His commitment to a deal is phenomenal and his speed of response is very good.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2020
“Ian is exceptional at complex and bespoke transactions, with a particular strength at being able to defuse potentially volatile situations.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2020
“Best in class. He's extremely capable and has a very personal touch. He is incredibly professional and reliable.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2019
“He is without hesitation or deviation, the very best lawyer I have ever worked with. He possesses an extensive and very impressive knowledge of his field of expertise.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2019
Ian qualified as a solicitor in 1993. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2019, he worked at the following firms:
- Charles Russell Speechlys
- Norton Rose Fulbright