Andrew O'Keeffe

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Andrew O’Keeffe

Partner Private Client

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About Andrew

Expertise Down arrow

Andrew advises on a wide range of contentious trust and probate matters, with particular expertise in disputes concerning the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, where he has acted for spouses, partners, adult and minor children as well as dependants. He has also acted for and advised executors in relation to such claims.

Andrew is regularly asked to advise on issues regarding the validity of wills, including issues relating to testamentary capacity, lack of knowledge and approval, undue influence and fraud as well as lack of due execution and revocation.

He also has considerable experience in disputes relating to the administration of both trusts and estates where he has advised trustees, executors and beneficiaries on matters such as allegations of breach of trust, actions for an account and disclosure of trust documents. He has also acted in claims relating to the removal of personal representatives or trustees.

Andrew also undertakes Court of Protection work and has a particular interest in the professional negligence side of contentious trust and probate matters.

Experience Down arrow

  • Acting for the successful applicant in the reported case of Cherfan v HM’s Senior Coroner for West London [2024] EWHC 3261 (Admin), in which the findings of an inquest were quashed and a fresh inquest ordered.
  • Acting for the successful claimant in the reported case of Fraser v Khawaja [2023] EWHC 3143 (Ch), in which a will was set aside on the grounds of forgery and fraud.
  • Advising on a number of variation of trust applications, including one involving assets of £500m and a successful application for anonymity.
  • Acting for a major beneficiary of a farming partnership in respect of claims for rectification and construction of the terms of his deceased partner’s will.
  • Acting for the granddaughter of a patient of the Court of Protection in respect of a statutory will application in respect of an estate worth over £3m.
  • Advising clients in respect of a claim for proprietary estoppel over their entitlement to the deceased uncle’s interest in a substantial farm.

Publications Down arrow

  • Andrew has been widely quoted in national and regional newspapers.

Endorsements Down arrow

Member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) since 2006.

Testimonials

  • Andrew O'Keeffe and Helena Fairley: Both are a pleasure to work with, providing timely and accurate instructions and papers and bring a pragmatic approach to litigation.

    Legal 500 2026

  • Andrew O'Keefe - nothing phases him and he has loads of experience.

    Legal 500 2026

  • Andrew O'Keeffe has a calm, authoritative pragmatism, which has led to many good results for clients. He is able to take the animosity out of private client disputes and interacts well with the other side's lawyers.

    Legal 500 2026

  • He is extremely tenacious but also very down to earth about dealing with things.

    Chambers High Net Worth Guide, 2025

  • Andrew O'Keefe is an outstanding but unpretentious lawyer.

    Chambers High Net Worth Guide, 2025

  • His USP is really pragmatism. He is good at narrowing in on objectives and tries to find the angle on what the goal is.

    Chambers High Net Worth Guide, 2025

  • This is a very well-known team for private client disputes; having a very well-known private client team means they are often involved in substantial disputes. Andrew O'Keeffe is a realist who sees early on how things will go.

    Legal 500, 2025

  • Andrew O'Keeffe is my standout figure within the disputed trusts and estates side of the firm. A relentless opponent, reasoned and thorough tactician and litigator. He is a shrewd operator who I rate very highly.

    Legal 500, 2025

  • Andrew O'Keeffe runs the shop with aplomb as the managing partner of the team. He's very happy to get his hands dirty, especially with negotiation, but delegates appropriately to his talented team of associates.

    Legal 500, 2025

  • Andrew O'Keefe is unflappable, he has good judgement and he's seen it all in all sorts of difficult cases." "He has got great experience and great international connections.

    Chambers High Net Worth, 2024

  • Andrew is clever, considered and a class act

    Chambers High Net Worth, 2024

  • I think he is very good - a sensible and pragmatic lawyer.

    Chambers High Net Worth 2023

  • Andrew O’Keeffe is experienced and dependable, and has deadly dangerous negotiation skills. Tom Klemme is his reliable and switched-on right-hand man.

    Legal 500, 2023

  • I think Andrew is good with clients and very commercial. He is very experienced and understands the detail and issues but equally he is very commercial and pragmatic.

    Chambers High Net Worth 2023

  • The contentious partner with whom I have worked recently is Andrew O’Keefe, who is extremely steady and whose low key approach belies the effectiveness of the way in which he runs matters.

    Legal 500, 2023

  • This firm handles some very large trusts and this feeds into a strong and successful contentious team. Andrew O’Keefe and Caroline Miller are both great to work with.

    Legal 500, 2023

  • This team has good experience and provides a consistently good service. Andrew O’Keefe works diligently for his clients, and is a formidable litigator.

    Legal 500, 2023

Andrew's insights

    • In Trust
    • Feb 20, 2025

    How easy is it to disinherit your children?

    In England and Wales, in line with most common law jurisdictions, there is testamentary freedom. Put simply, this means that a testator can leave their worldly assets to whomever they want. In the coming decades, it is predicted that there

    More about How easy is it to disinherit your children?
    • News
    • Dec 19, 2024

    Cherfan v Hm’s Senior Coroner For West London [2024] EWHC 3261

    Challenging the Outcome of an Inquest Wedlake Bell LLP recently acted for the successful Applicant in the case of Cherfan v HM’s Senior Coroner for West London [2024] EWHC 361. This case serves as a reminder that adopting a neutral

    More about Cherfan v Hm’s Senior Coroner For West London [2024] EWHC 3261

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