Contact details

Jenny McKeown

T: +44 20 7809 2172 Email Jenny | vCard Office: London

Awards

Pensions litigation

Pensions litigation

Pensions (dispute resolution) and Contentious trusts and probate

Pensions (dispute resolution) and Contentious trusts and probate

Private wealth disputes

Private wealth disputes

Jenny McKeown Practice group leader

Contact details

Jenny McKeown

Jenny McKeown
Practice group leader

T: +44 20 7809 2172 Email Jenny | vCard Office: London

Head of the employment, pensions and private wealth practice group, Jenny is a leading contentious trusts specialist. She is widely recognised for her experience in complex, high value, trust disputes in the private wealth, pensions, banking and financial services sectors (both onshore and offshore). She acts for trustees, beneficiaries, corporates, financial services firms, financial institutions, insurers and private individuals.
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Jenny has acted on a number of high profile claims and trust disputes both onshore and offshore.  Her experience ranges from advising on technical areas of rectification and construction of trust documentation to applications for disclosure of information and seeking to hold trustees to account. Jenny has particular expertise in professional negligence claims against trustee advisors and representing trustees in fraud proceedings.

Jenny is valued by clients for bringing a commercial and pragmatic approach to complex legal issues.  She also has extensive experience of third-party litigation funding and insurance arrangements and recovering assets obtained in breach of trust. Jenny is ranked as a leading individual in Contentious Trust and Probate and Pensions Litigation in Legal 500 UK and as a Notable Practitioner in both in Chambers & Partners UK. She is included in the Private Client Global Elite directory and has recently been ranked in two separate Citywealth lists: the ‘Top 10 Power Women Trust Litigators’ and ‘Top 100 Trust Litigators and Polymaths’ where clients and peers described her as “discerning with great acumen, innovation and shrewdness. Quick witted, ingenious and clever”.  Whilst heading the contentious trust team Jenny won the Trust and Estates Litigation Team of the Year at Legal Week’s Commercial Litigation and Arbitration Awards for her victory last year in the Privy Council in Sachak Khan & Ors v Gany Holdings & Ors (regarding a £100 million cross border trust dispute).

She is regularly asked to speak at conferences on topical issues and has written a number of published articles.

"Jenny McKeown is an excellent partner, with great strategic insight. She ensures that her team remains focused on the client’s overall objective so that – no matter how complicated a case becomes – everyone is always working towards securing the best possible outcome for the client."

The Legal 500 UK 2021

  • Private wealth
  • Pensions dispute resolution
  • Corporate trusts
  • Professional and management liability
  • Fraud and asset recovery
  • Finance litigation
  • Private client, trusts and fiduciary services

Jenny’s practice covers acting for both private individuals and trustees in complex high value trust disputes, often in a fraud context. Jenny has particular expertise in applications to construe, rectify and vary trust documents.

Zorin Sachak Khan & Others v Gany Holdings (PTC) [Civil Appeal BVIHCMAP 2014/0018]

Acting for three beneficiaries of a family trust in a claim for an account and removal of a trustee where substantial assets have been misappropriated from the Trust.

Theta Investments Ltd v Rysaffe & Others [CL-HC-2014-000840]

Acting for a trustee defending the validity of an assignment of proceeds of sale into a trust and the validity of the trust. Advising the trustee on compliance with freezing orders.

Rectification Application

Acting for the Trustees of a large family trust in an application to resolve the issue of whether or not the settlor’s wife obtained an entitlement to the income of the Trust following the death of the Settlor.

Application to vary a Trust

Acting for the adult beneficiaries in an application to vary a number of family trusts where the paternity and beneficial status of a family member is uncertain.

Negligent investment of trust assets

Advising the beneficiaries of a family trust on claims against the trustee for negligent investment of trust assets.

Application for Letter of Request

Successfully obtaining an order for a Letter of Request asking the English Court to order the deposition of a partner of a leading law firm in relation to confidential files and information to assist in determining the assets of a trust.

Application for pre-trial Norwich Pharmacal Orders in the BVI

Obtaining disclosure from BVI company registered agents to identify and trace assets belonging to a trust.

Probate dispute

Acting for the partner of a high profile deceased in connection with a dispute over chattels left to her under the deceased’s will.

Removal application

Acting for the trustee in relation to a claim for mismanagement of trust investments and expenses and a claim for removal of the trustee.

Probate dispute

Advising on jurisdiction issues in relation to a potential dispute and subsequent division of certain high value memorabilia assets between beneficiaries located in different jurisdictions.

More: Private wealth

Jenny acts for corporates, trustees, financial services firms, law firms, insurers and representative beneficiaries in all aspects of pensions litigation with a particular expertise in applications to construe or rectify trust documents and defending professional negligence claims against advisers.

Danks & Others v QinetiQ Holdings Ltd & Others HC11C04105 [2012] EWHC 570 (CH)

Acting for the Representative Beneficiary in a Part 8 Application to determine whether the scheme documentation could be amended to change the basis of indexation from RPI to CPI.

Unomedical Pension Plan v Sedgwick Financial Services Ltd & Others HC11C041163

Defending a professional negligence claim for a purported failed equalisation of benefits.

Honda Motor Europe Ltd & Another v Powell & Another

Acting for the sponsoring employer in an application to rectify scheme documentation to record the agreed benefits to be provided to a category of pension scheme members.

Negligent drafting of pension scheme documents

Acting for a major UK law firm and its professional indemnity insurers in relation to claims made against it in connection with pensions advice.

Unauthorised payments

Advising the Trustees of a pension scheme in relation to a dispute with a spouse of one of the deceased members over payments made in breach of trust to the spouse.

Failed Equalisation of benefits

Advising a household name on the effectiveness of the implementation of equalisation of benefits for its UK pension scheme and the steps to be taken to rectify the position.

More: Pensions dispute resolution

Security trustee of a distressed mini bond scheme

Working with the restructuring and insolvency team to advise the security trustee on the administration of a high profile mini-bond scheme.

Contentious retirement of security trustee of a corporate bond

Advised the security trustee of a corporate bond on a contentious retirement under pressure from an aggressive activist bondholder. Advised the security trustee on potential enforcement strategies against a high profile insolvent corporate issuer in India.

Security Trustee of a project finance transaction in an ICC arbitration

Successfully acted for the security trustee in its role in the financing of a major energy project in an arbitral claim brought by the borrower against the main sub-contractor. We are now advising on seeking to enforce the Arbitral Awards forming part of the security package against the sub-contractor.

Calculation agent of a securitisation

Advised the calculation agent on the successful resolution of complex errors identified in the administration of an esoteric student loan securitisation and its potential exposure to claims from other parties to the transaction.

The manager of a distressed Unit Trust

Advised the manager of a distressed Unit Trust on a dispute with the Unitholders and a difficult retirement process complicated by the invalidity of the underlying transaction documents.

Issuer of a private placement bond

Advised on a dispute with the bondholders and security trustee of a private placement bond seeking to enforce the bonds and the subsequent redemption of the notes by the issuer.

Nordic Trustee ASA v Sea Trucks Group Limited (in Liquidation)

Acted for a minority bondholder and beneficial shareholder of a BVI shipping company in a dispute with the majority bondholders and the bond trustee. We advised the minority bondholder and beneficial shareholder in attempts to restructure the bond and subsequently in taking steps seeking to prevent the liquidation process.

BNY Mellon Corporate Trustee Services Ltd v Taberna Europe CDO Plc & Barclays Bank Plc ([2016] EWHC 781 (Ch))

Acted for the Security Trustee in highly contested proceedings in the Financial List of the Chancery Division seeking a declaration as to whether Events of Default has occurred.

More: Corporate trusts

Jenny has experience of acting for both Claimants and Defendants in professional liability claims and is particularly experienced in claims in a pensions, private wealth, tax and contentious probate context.

Unomedical Pension Plan v Sedgwick Financial Services Ltd & Others HC11C041163

Defending a professional negligence claim for a purported failed equalisation of benefits.

Negligent investment of trust assets

Advising the beneficiaries of a family trust on claims against the trustee for negligent investment of trust assets.

Negligent drafting of pension scheme documents

Acting for a major UK law firm and its professional indemnity insurers in relation to claims made against it in connection with pensions advice.

Negligent extension of lease

Advising an individual on a claim against a major law firm for a negligent extension of a lease on a high value prime residential property.

Negligent sale and purchase agreement

Advising a major US bank on a claim against its former legal advisors for negligent drafting of contractual indemnities in a share sale and purchase agreement.

Negligent drafting of Life Interest Trust

Acting for the Trustees of a Life Interest Trust in a claim against a major law firm and accountants for negligent drafting of a trust deed.

Negligent tax advice

Advising a major investment company on potential claims against a major law firm and auditors for negligent advice on structuring and auditing investment vehicles.

More: Professional and management liability

As a contentious trust expert, Jenny is experienced in representing trustees and beneficiaries in proceedings involving fraud and is experienced in asset tracing.

Zorin Sachak Khan & Others v Gany Holdings (PTC) [Civil Appeal BVIHCMAP 2014/0018]

Acting for three beneficiaries of a family trust in a claim for an account and removal of a trustee where substantial assets have been misappropriated from the Trust.

Theta Investments Ltd v Rysaffe & Others [CL-HC-2014-000840]

Acting for a trustee defending the validity of an assignment of proceeds of sale into a trust and the validity of the trust. Advising the trustee on compliance with freezing orders.

Application for Letter of Request

Successfully obtaining an order for a Letter of Request asking the English Court to order the deposition of a partner of a leading law firm in relation to confidential files and information to assist in determining the assets of a trust.

Application for pre-trial Norwich Pharmacal Orders in the BVI

Obtaining disclosure from BVI company registered agents to identify and trace assets belonging to a trust.

More: Fraud and asset recovery

Jenny specialises in representing corporate finance trustees in Part 7 and 8 Proceedings and Arbitrations. She also advises and guides corporate finance trustees and other advisers through remediation exercises.

BNY Mellon Corporate Trustee Services Ltd v Taberna Europe CPO Plc & Barclays Bank Plc [FL-2015-000005 (CH)]

Acting for the Security Trustee in Part 8 proceedings in the Financial List of the Chancery Division seeking a declaration as to whether an Event of Default has occurred.

CBRE Loan Servicing Limited v Gemini (Eclipse 2006-3) & Others [2015] 2769 (CH)

Acting for the cash manager in Part 8 Proceedings to construe unclear provisions of the Cash Manager Agreement.

Acting for the security trustee in an ICC arbitration

Representing the security trustee in a high value contractual dispute between the Borrower and the main engineering and construction company engaged as a contractor in the project.

Acting for the security trustee on potential breaches of loan warranty

Advising the security trustee on steps to take following notification of potential breaches of Loan Warranty by the special servicer.

Acting for the security trustee on potential claims under a credit default swap

– which included looking at whether the Notes had been validly cancelled.

Acting for the Paying Agent in relation to calculation issues that arose following the change in definition of LIBOR

Advising the Paying Agent on remediation and communication exercise.

More: Finance litigation

Jenny’s practice covers acting for both private individuals and trustees in complex high value trust disputes, often in a fraud context. Jenny has particular expertise in applications to construe, rectify and vary trust documents.

Zorin Sachak Khan & Others v Gany Holdings (PTC) [Civil Appeal BVIHCMAP 2014/0018]

Acting for three beneficiaries of a family trust in a claim for an account and removal of trustee where substantial assets have been misappropriated from the Trust.

Theta Investments Ltd v Rysaffe & Others [CL-HC-2014-000840]

Acting for a trustee defending the validity of an assignment of proceeds of sale into a trust and the validity of the trust. Advising the trustee on compliance with freezing orders.

Rectification Application

Acting for the Trustees of a large family trust in an application to resolve the issue of whether or not the settlor’s wife obtained an entitlement to the income of the Trust following the death of the Settlor.

Application to vary a Trust

Acting for the adult beneficiaries in an application to vary a number of family trusts where the paternity and beneficial status of a family member is uncertain.

Negligent investment of trust assets

Advising the beneficiaries of a family trust on claims against the trustee for negligent investment of trust assets.

Application for Letter of Request

Successfully obtaining an order for a Letter of Request asking the English Court to order the deposition of a partner of a leading law firm in relation to confidential files and information to assist in determining the assets of a trust.

Application for pre-trial Norwich Pharmacal Orders in the BVI

Obtaining disclosure from BVI company registered agents to identify and trace assets belonging to a trust.

Probate dispute

Acting for the partner of a high profile deceased in connection with a dispute over chattels left to her under the deceased’s will.

Removal application

Acting for the trustee in relation to a claim for mismanagement of trust investments and expenses and a claim for removal of the trustee.

Probate dispute

Advising on jurisdiction issues in relation to a potential dispute and subsequent division of certain high value memorabilia assets between beneficiaries located in different jurisdictions.

More: Private client, trusts and fiduciary services

  • Banks and banking
  • Professional services
  • Pensions

Jenny specialises in representing corporate finance trustees in Part 7 and 8 Proceedings and Arbitrations. She also advises and guides corporate finance trustees and other advisers through remediation exercises.

BNY Mellon Corporate Trustee Services Ltd v Taberna Europe CPO Plc & Barclays Bank Plc [FL-2015-000005]

Acting for the Security Trustee in Part 8 proceedings in the Financial List of the Chancery Division seeking a declaration as to whether an Event of Default has occurred.

CBRE Loan Servicing Limited v Gemini (Eclipse 2006-3) & Others [2015] 2769 (CH)

Acting for the cash manager in Part 8 Proceedings to construe unclear provisions of the Cash Manager Agreement.

Acting for the security trustee in an ICC arbitration

Representing the security trustee in a high value contractual dispute between the Borrower and the main engineering and construction company engaged as a contractor in the project.

Acting for the security trustee on potential breaches of loan warranty

Advising the security trustee on steps to take following notification of potential breaches of Loan Warranty by the special servicer.

Acting for the security trustee on potential claims under a credit default swap

which included looking at whether the Notes had been validly cancelled.

Acting for the Paying Agent in relation to calculation issues that arose following the change in definition of LIBOR

Advising the Paying Agent on remediation and communication exercise.

More: Banks and banking

Jenny has experience of acting for both Claimants and Defendants in claims against professional services firms.

Unomedical Pension Plan v Sedgwick Financial Services Ltd & Others HC11C041163

Defending a professional negligence claim for a purported failed equalisation of benefits.

Negligent investment of trust assets

Advising the beneficiaries of a family trust on claims against the trustee for negligent investment of trust assets.

Negligent drafting of pension scheme documents

Acting for a major UK law firm and its professional indemnity insurers in relation to claims made against it in connection with pensions advice.

Negligent investment of trust assets

Advising the beneficiaries of a family trust on claims against the trustee for negligent investment of trust assets.

Negligent extension of lease

Advising an individual on a claim against a major law firm for a negligent extension of a lease on a high value prime residential property.

Negligent sale and purchase agreement

Advising a major US bank on a claim against its former legal advisors for negligent drafting of contractual indemnities in a share sale and purchase agreement.

Negligent drafting of Life Interest Trust

Acting for the Trustees of a Life Interest Trust in a claim against a major law firm and accountants for negligent drafting of a trust deed.

Negligent tax advice

Advising a major investment company on potential claims against a major law firm and auditors for negligent advice on structuring and auditing investment vehicles.

More: Professional services

Jenny acts for corporates, trustees, financial services firms, law firms, insurers and representative beneficiaries in all aspects of pensions litigation with a particular expertise in applications to construe or rectify trust documents and defending professional negligence claims against advisers.

Danks & Others v QinetiQ Holdings Ltd & Others HC11C04105 [2012] EWHC 570 (CH)

Acting for the Representative Beneficiary in a Part 8 Application to determine whether the scheme documentation could be amended to change the basis of indexation from RPI to CPI.

Unomedical Pension Plan v Sedgwick Financial Services Ltd & Others HC11C041163

Defending a professional negligence claim for a purported failed equalisation of benefits.

Honda Motor Europe Ltd & Another v Powell & Another

Acting for the sponsoring employer in an application to rectify scheme documentation to record the agreed benefits to be provided to a category of pension scheme members.

Negligent drafting of pension scheme documents

Acting for a major UK law firm and its professional indemnity insurers in relation to claims made against it in connection with pensions advice.

Unauthorised payments

Advising the Trustees of a pension scheme in relation to a dispute with a spouse of one of the deceased members over payments made in breach of trust to the spouse.

Failed Equalisation of benefits

Advising a household name on the effectiveness of the implementation of equalisation of benefits for its UK pension scheme and the steps to be taken to rectify the position.

More: Pensions

Awards

Pensions litigation

Pensions litigation

Pensions (dispute resolution) and Contentious trusts and probate

Pensions (dispute resolution) and Contentious trusts and probate

Private wealth disputes

Private wealth disputes

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