About
Keystone Law is a pioneering law firm, driven by the belief that the traditional model needed to evolve. By designing a firm that puts clients first, we created something fundamentally different and dynamic, giving top-tier lawyers the freedom, tools and support to deliver an exceptional service. Our unique structure allows experienced lawyers to work more flexibly and efficiently by using cutting-edge proprietary technology so they can focus on what really matters: their clients. By removing unnecessary overheads and bureaucracy, our lawyers can build closer, more collaborative relationships. Keystone is home to over 450 experienced partners across 24 sectors and more than 25 areas of specialisms, and our clients benefit from direct access to senior legal talent. From fast-growing start-ups to multinational corporations and high-net-worth individuals, our lawyers provide legal advice that’s commercially sharp, tailored to clients’ needs and grounded in genuine understanding to resolve matters quickly and efficiently. - Types of work undertaken Keystone Law undertakes a wide range of high-value and complex legal work across multiple practice areas and sectors. The corporate and commercial team advises on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions, joint ventures, reorganisations, and the drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts for businesses at all stages of development. The dispute resolution team manages litigation, arbitration, and mediation, representing clients in a broad range of contentious matters and helping them achieve strategic and cost‑effective outcomes. The firm’s employment and immigration lawyers advise employers and individuals on workforce matters, compliance, workplace investigations, and mobility issues. Keystone’s real estate team handles commercial, residential, and development‑related work, acting for developers, investors, landlords, tenants, and lenders. Specialist expertise is also available in intellectual property, technology, data protection, privacy, regulatory compliance, banking and finance, restructuring and insolvency, family law, private client and tax, media and reputation management. Across these areas, Keystone’s sector knowledge and flexible model enable the firm to provide tailored, commercially focused advice aligned with each client’s specific industry context and strategic objectives. Other offices: Bristol, Douglas (Isle of Man), London, Newcastle, Manchester, Manchester, Leeds Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Sunshine Coast and Perth ### Staffing Figures - 450 Number of UK partners
Office locations
Douglas
Douglas
Keystone Law The Old Courthouse Athol Street Douglas IM1 1JD Isle Of Man
Practice areas
Lawyers in this office
Andrew Langan-Newton
Andrew is an Isle of Man advocate who specialises in resolving commercial disputes on behalf of a wide range of local and international clients. He is experienced in advising on commercial disputes involving alleged fraud, professional negligence, insolvency, and commercial debt recovery. Andrew also has a particular interest in trust and corporate disputes. Andrew has argued cases before the Isle of Man High Court and Appeal Court, and also has experience of advising clients in relation to claims before the Isle of Man Employment and Equality Tribunal. He often provides data protection advice and prepares non-contentious applications to the Isle of Man Court and to the Isle of Man Companies Registry. · Commercial Litigation
Ben Hughes
Ben has advised on pensions and employee benefits for twenty-five years. He has a broad range of experience in occupational and personal pension schemes, both domestic and international. Ben provides legal counsel on corporate transactions as well as the establishment, maintenance, restructuring, and insolvency of pension schemes. His clients include major multinationals and publicly listed corporations, insurers, banks, pension providers, and leading UK and American law firms as well as the Isle of Man Government. · Pensions
Geoff Kermeen
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. · Corporate / M&A
John Melia
John is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer with significant experience in finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, capital markets transactions, restructurings and commercial contracts. He is qualified to practise in England and Wales, Hong Kong, the Isle of Man and the British Virgin Islands, and has extensive experience in transactional matters across those jurisdictions. Areas of expertise: Corporate and Commercial Law Flotations (LSE & AIM) Mergers & Acquisitions Joint Ventures Fundraising Private equity Company restructuring and disposals · Corporate / M&A
Sally Cranshaw
Sally is a Manx Advocate whose practice includes a broad variety of Isle of Man (IoM) corporate and structured finance work with a particular emphasis on UK commercial real estate (CRE). Her client base comprises special opportunity funds and high-net-worth individuals investing in London and the South East, as well as regional assets across a range of asset classes. Sally is also skilled in dealing with key areas of CRE-related work, from the establishment of IoM vehicles (including companies, limited partnerships, and funds), associated acquisitions and related financing, through to the disposal of the relevant corporate vehicles or underlying assets. · Real Estate
Stephen Rodd
Stephen is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer with a wide range of expertise across of number of jurisdictions. He has experience of advising borrowers on tax- and VAT-efficient offshore structures that hold UK-based real estate assets and expertise in advising lenders in relation to the financing of such offshore structures. In addition to providing commercial law advice to a wide range of businesses, Stephen also has extensive experience of advising IT, telecoms and e-gaming companies on technology-based commercial agreements and has previously worked as a telecommunications consultant with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture). His clients include an online card payment company that provides multi-currency bill payment services to online and traditional businesses. Stephen has multi-jurisdictional experience and connections having worked in London, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Dubai as well as Glasgow and the Isle of Man. · Corporate / M&A
Vicci Laslett
Vicci is an expert in conveyancing law and advises on both commercial and residential property law. She is experienced in dealing with a range of landlord and tenant issues, as well as property disputes. Vicci is also a trusted adviser on property finance, the acquisition of land, joint venture agreements, the set-up of estate developments, and building contracts. Private clients also turn to Vicci for advice on wills, trusts, and wealth and succession planning. · Real Estate
William Margot
William is both a Manx Advocate and qualified Solicitor in England and Wales advising on a range of legal issues affecting corporate organisations. He also advises on a range of real estate and asset finance matters acting for banks, lenders (including alternative lenders and challenger banks) and borrowers in respect of the financing of Isle of Man entities, in particular companies, partnerships and trusts. In addition to his private practice experience, William served as In-house Legal Counsel at OCRA Worldwide. · Corporate / M&A
