Barristers

Ciaran Keller

Ciaran Keller

Position

Commercial and chancery litigation and arbitration (domestic and international), including: business agreements and contractual disputes of all kinds; banking and financial services litigation; civil fraud and asset tracing; energy and minerals; jurisdiction disputes; company, partnership and insolvency matters; shareholder disputes; fiduciaries; professional negligence; enforcement of judgments and awards; and claims for and against sovereign states.

Admitted as a member of the Bar of the British Virgin Islands.

Notable cases include: Maximov v NLMK [2017] (Comm – enforcement of annulled award); Hellas II v Apax Partners [2017] (Ch - transaction defrauding creditors); Nogotkov v Browder [2017] (Ch - Cross Border Insolvency Regulations; public policy); British American Tobacco v Sequana [2016] (Ch – unlawful dividends; breach of fiduciary duty; transactions defrauding creditors); Krys v KBC Partners [2015] (Privy Council – construction of articles of a limited partnership); Yukos Capital v Rosneft (No. 2) [2014] (Comm – enforceability of annulled arbitral awards); Barnsley v Noble [2015] (Ch – deceit, breach of contract and fiduciary duty); Cifal Groupe v Meridian Securities [2013] (Comm – jurisdiction challenge); Yukos Capital v Rosneft [2012] (CA - act of state, issue estoppel); Favor Easy Management v Wu [2012] (CA – civil fraud); NML v Argentina [2011] (Supreme Court - sovereign immunity); Crossco v Jolan [2011] (CA - constructive trust, proprietary estoppel); Star Energy v Bocardo [2010] (Supreme Court – trespass by oil pipelines at depth); Crest Nicholson v Akaria [2010] (CA - contractual formation); IPCO v NNPC [2009] (CA – part enforcement of New York Convention awards); Meretz v ACP [2008] (CA – conspiracy; inducing breach of contract); Donegal v Zambia [2007] (Comm - debt recovery against a sovereign state); Gamlestaden v Baltic Partners [2007] (Privy Council – unfair prejudice remedy for shareholders).

Career

Formerly a Member of HM Diplomatic Service (serving at the United Nations and the British Embassy, Lisbon). Called to the Bar 2004.

Memberships

Commercial Bar Association; Chancery Bar Association; Financial Services Lawyers Association

Education

Educated at Cheadle Hulme School and Brasenose College, Oxford (MA, 1st Class Honours; Gibbs Prize, John House Prize, Shell Prize; Open Scholarship), City University (Distinction) and the Inns of Court School of Law (Barstow Scholarship, Sweet & Maxwell Company Law Prize). Member of Lincoln' s Inn (Hardwicke, Lord Haldane, Lord Mansfield and Megarry Scholarships; Buchanan Prize; Sir Louis Gluckstein Advocacy Prize).

Mentions

London Bar

Banking and finance (including consumer credit)

Leading junior2
Ciaran Keller – Essex Court Chambers ‘Ciaran’s written advocacy is outstanding. His ability to take complex and intricate arguments and present them compellingly and in a straightforward manner is extraordinary.’
London Bar

Commercial litigation

Leading junior1
Ciaran Keller – Essex Court Chambers 'Ciaran is one of the best senior juniors in London. He has an enormous work ethic and an incredible mind. His written work in particular stands out as being exceptional.'
London Bar

Energy

Leading junior3
Ciaran Keller –Essex Court Chambers ‘Ciaran's ability to present complex and intricate arguments compellingly is extraordinary.’
London Bar

Fraud: civil

Leading junior1
Ciaran Keller –Essex Court Chambers 'A rigorous barrister with the ability to develop persuasive legal arguments in the face of challenging facts. His advocacy is precise and effective.'
London Bar

Partnership

Leading junior1
Ciaran Keller – Essex Court Chambers 'Ciaran is a very creative and innovative problem solver; he is a master of the detail and this area of law and combines these abilities to develop very effective case winning legal strategies.  He is unflappable and a calm presence on any team and a real asset.' 
The English Bar Offshore

The English Bar Offshore

Leading junior2
Ciaran Keller –Essex Court Chambers 'Ciaran is extremely intelligent and hard working and is able to provide helpful and practical advice that cuts through the complexity. He works extremely collaboratively in large teams and is a real asset and team player. As an advocate, his no nonsense style, mastery of his case, and eloquence wins him plaudits on the bench.'