Keystone Law welcomes 11 new partners

Keystone Law has welcomed 11 new experienced partners, who join from firms such as Kirkland & Ellis, Irwin Mitchell and Goodwin. Philip McEachen, Marcus Collins, Eric Lim, David Wise, Antonia Shield, Frank Maher, Sue Mawdsley, Robert Coombe, Gianna Lisiecki-Cunane, Nick Owers, and Nadia Milligan will enhance Keystone’s offering across its Banking & Finance, IP, Commercial Property, Family, Professional Discipline and Regulatory, and Commercial practices.

James Knight, Founder and CEO of Keystone Law, said:

“As Keystone Law continues to develop, we are recruiting some of the most highly regarded experts in their field. This is evidenced by our latest round of Partner hires, who I am delighted to welcome to the firm. 

 “Philip, Marcus, Eric, David, Antonia, Frank, Sue, Robert, Gianna, Nick, and Nadia are excellent additions to their respective teams, given the depth of their experience and they will significantly bolster our offering to clients.”

The new appointments are:

Philip McEachen – Banking & Finance

Philip has extensive experience in UK and EU financial services regulation and funds matters, including work relating to the interpretation of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

He is an expert in navigating the regulatory challenges and compliance needs of the private investment fund industry, addressing issues such as fund formation, operational compliance, and investor relations, with a specific focus on the regulatory challenges faced by private investment funds and investment managers.

Philip was a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis before he joined Keystone.

Marcus Collins – IP

Marcus is an IP lawyer with a particular focus in the fields of UK, EU and international trade mark prosecution, trade mark portfolio management, branding and infringement matters. He also advises on internet domain name, industrial design, copyright, defamation and social media platform content issues. Marcus also has a sub-specialism in election law.

Marcus’ clients include well-known brands in the pharmaceutical, sports franchising/merchandising, social media and financial services sectors.

Before joining Keystone, Marcus was a Partner at Irwin Mitchell.

Eric Lim – Commercial Property

Eric is a private equity real estate specialist. He advises on complex domestic and cross-border transactions involving assets and businesses that engage with the built environment. These include M&A and joint ventures; formation of, and investments into, private funds or co-investment platforms; secondaries and GP stakes; and bespoke investment management and operating partner arrangements.

Eric advises both users and providers of capital in the real estate space, and regularly works with real estate private equity funds, asset managers, operating partners, multi-managers, and institutional investors.

Eric joins Keystone from Goodwin, where he was a Partner.

David Wise – Property Litigation

David is a property litigation lawyer and Solicitor Advocate who specialises in advising on disputes involving land and property within both the private and public sector.

As a former transactional property lawyer, David has detailed knowledge and understanding of land transactions and the landlord and tenant relationship. He has a particular expertise in business lease renewal litigation (1954 Act claims) and in trespasser (‘squatter’) evictions.

David was previously a Partner at Armstrong Teasdale.

Antonia Shield – Commercial Property

Antonia is a commercial property lawyer focussed particularly in the retail, leisure and development sectors. She advises on clients’ strategies relating to commercial acquisition, development and disposal of pubs and hotels, offices, retail and warehouses (including acquisition and forward funding as well as straightforward growth by multiple unit acquisition).

Antonia joins Keystone from BPE Solicitors.

Frank Maher – Professional Discipline & Regulatory

Frank is a regulation and insurance lawyer who advises law firms, their insurers, and other professions on anti-money laundering compliance, professional regulation, and professional indemnity insurance coverage disputes

He also advises on law firm and ABS authorisation and partnership issues, as well as in conduct and discipline, conflicts, data protection, and privacy.

Frank was a Partner at Legal Risk before joining Keystone.

Sue Mawdsley – Professional Discipline & Regulatory

Sue is a specialist regulatory lawyer with over 35 years of experience advising law firms and property professionals on regulatory issues. She has particular expertise in relation to anti-money laundering and other financial crime, as well as risk management, and claims prevention.

Sue joins Keystone having been a Partner at Legal Risk.

Robert Coombe – Commercial Property

Robert is an experienced commercial property lawyer who specialises in property development work including promotion agreements, options, rights of pre-emption, and overage and clawback provisions. He advises and assists developers in acquiring sites conditional on obtaining, or with the benefit of, planning permission, and advises on strategic land development projects.

Robert also advises companies and businesses acquiring and disposing of premises as well as landlords and tenants in relation to commercial leases and other property management work.

Robert was a Director and Head of the Property Team at Whitehead Monckton before he joined Keystone.

Gianna Lisiecki-Cunane – Family

Gianna is an experienced family lawyer and trained mediator who advises on all family-related issues including divorce, financial relief, cohabitation, schedule 1 applications, and complex children disputes.

Gianna’s clients include business owners, medics, lawyers, bankers, stockbrokers, and former partners of sportsmen.

Gianna was Director of Family Law at O’Donnell Solicitors before moving to Keystone.

Nick Owers – Commercial

Nick is a commercial lawyer who advises on contract negotiation and regulatory compliance for technology, media, e-commerce, gaming and digital advertising businesses.

He has also provided external and in-house legal support to music, film and television companies including Universal Music Group, ITV, and Film4 where he was seconded to work on all aspects of the development and financing of multiple Oscar-winning productions.

Nick advised in-house at Microsoft, including as Head of the Consumer & Marketing Legal Team before moving to Keystone.

Nadia Milligan – Commercial Property

Nadia is an experienced commercial property and commercial lawyer with a particular focus in the hotels, hospitality & leisure, and retail sectors.

She has extensive expertise in advising owners and investors of hospitality assets, their landlords and international brands in the amicable resolution of operational and relationship issues.

Nadia was Associate General Counsel at Sonder Inc prior to her move to Keystone.