Keelys Solicitors LLP
Overview
Keelys Solicitors LLP is a partner-led regional law firm headquartered in Lichfield, Staffordshire, with a long-established presence in the Midlands. The firm advises both businesses and individuals across a wide range of practices — notably employment, real estate, commercial contracts, dispute resolution, corporate and private client work — and regularly works alongside city firms on complex or high-value matters. Keelys emphasises pragmatic, relationship-driven advice, a strong local client base with national reach, and a distinctive capability in debt recovery and enforcement through a partner who is an authorised High Court Enforcement Officer.
- Headquarters: Lichfield, 28 Dam Street
- Offices: 1
Values & Culture
Practice Areas
- Corporate & M&A
- Commercial Contracts
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Employment
- Real Estate
- Private Client & Wealth
- Charities & Not-for-Profit
- Intellectual Property
- Construction & Engineering
- Insolvency & Restructuring
- Regulatory & Compliance
Geographic Focus: Strong Midlands / Lichfield base with a regional client focus; acts for local, regional and national clients and handles matters across England and Wales. The firm works with city firms on complex, high-value transactions and undertakes cross-border liaison in litigation and commercial matters (examples of liaison with Poland, Romania and Turkey).
Training Contract
Programmes & Schemes
A two-day unpaid work experience placement where candidates (A-Level Year 12 and above) shadow solicitors across various departments. Placements give direct exposure to live files and allow applicants to observe solicitors in real client work and multiple practice areas.
- Duration: 2 days
- Salary: Unpaid
Notable Matters
Acted for a claimant in a dispute over equitable shareholdings between family members which culminated in a four-day Chancery Division trial in Birmingham (reported as Butt v Butt & Ors [2024] EWHC 3222 (Ch)). The matter proceeded to the High Court and was a significant commercial litigation instruction for the firm.
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Represented executors in multi-claim litigation involving an estate valued at upwards of £8 million, including 1975 Act claims, conflicting beneficiary claims and issues over company shareholdings and tax: the matter settled after litigation. Demonstrates the firm's capability in high-value contentious trusts and probate.
Private Client & Wealth
Obtained judgment approaching six figures against an airline and successfully used enforcement procedures to prevent an aircraft from taking off, ultimately impounding the aircraft under High Court enforcement until payment was made. Illustrates the firm’s combined solicitor/HCEO enforcement capability.
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Achieved a substantial settlement for an individual in a claim against a Premier League football club (highlighted in the employment team’s experience), demonstrating capability on high-profile employment disputes and negotiated exits.
Employment
Advised on large scale collective redundancy consultations and reorganisation exercises for corporate clients and major employers, including cross-site and multinational redundancy programmes.
Employment
What Keelys Solicitors LLP Looks For
Key Competencies
- Commercial awareness
- Client focus and strong communication skills
- Pragmatism and problem-solving
- Teamwork and reliability
- Attention to detail
- Interest in regional practice and local client service
Evidence Signals
- Relevant work experience or shadowing placements (the 2-day work experience is targeted at A-Level students)
- Practical commercial or property experience
- Evidence of client-facing roles or responsibilities
- Proven commitment to working in the Midlands/regional practice
- Involvement in community or charity activities
Benefits & Wellbeing
- Partner-led exposure and hands-on work with experienced partners
- Opportunities to work across a broad range of departments (real estate, employment, litigation, corporate, private client)
- Charity and social activities (staff cycling fundraiser, staff running club)
- Access to in-house seminars and training (employment law training and updates)
- Local-office culture with community involvement
Wellbeing
Firm runs internal social and charity activities; promotes approachable partner contact and community engagement.
Awards & Recognition
- Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2025 — Liam Owen ranked
- Positive editorial comments/quotes in directory listings (Legal 500 commentary cited on website for Liam Owen)
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Innovation
Quick Application Angles
- Emphasise your interest in regional, partner-led practice and local client relationships — reference Keelys’ long-standing Lichfield presence and its focus on pragmatic, communicative advice.
- If applying to litigation or debt recovery, highlight any enforcement, judgment recovery or contested probate experience or interest — the firm has high‑value contested trusts/probate experience and an authorised High Court Enforcement Officer on the partner team.
- For employment roles, reference commercial HR/line-manager advisory experience or familiarity with employment law change (the firm runs Employer Support Scheme and training for clients and has a large employment team).
- Mention cross-border litigation or languages if relevant — the firm handles cross-border liaison (examples with Poland, Romania and Turkey) and that practical experience will be valuable.
- If applying for early experience, secure a place on the 2-day work experience and reference what you observed in your application (which solicitors you shadowed and the tasks you saw).
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