Richard Keen
Encyclopedia
Richard Sanderson Keen QC
(b.29 March 1954) is a Scottish lawyer and Dean of the Faculty of Advocates
.
and Dollar Academy
, both prestigious independent schools
, and studied at the School of Law
of the University of Edinburgh
, where he was a Beckman scholar. He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates
in 1980 and was appointed a QC in 1993.
. He specialises in commercial law, property law and administrative law.
Known as the rottweiler, Keen is the Scottish QC most other advocates least like facing in court. Defending Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, one of the two accused Libyans, at the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial
he deployed his legal arguments meticulously. In cross-examination, he spoke towards the Judges rather than the witnesses. Acerbically, Keen asked the prosecution "star" witness, Abdul Majid Giaka
, if he had ever heard of a fictional character named "Mitty, first name Walter". When another witness, Edwin Bollier
, told a fantastic tale about a mystery man ordering him to take a letter to the American embassy in Austria
, Keen asked him if, as he walked the streets of Vienna
, he had heard the sound of the zither
playing the Harry Lime theme music.
Fhimah was acquitted whilst his co-defendant Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, who was represented by William Taylor QC
, was convicted of the Lockerbie bombing.
, Bruntsfield Links
Golfing Society, and the Golf House, Elie
. He is one of the highest earners in Scotland, and lives at one of the most prestigious addresses in Edinburgh
, Ann Street, has a small castle in Fife
and is passionate about fast cars.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(b.29 March 1954) is a Scottish lawyer and Dean of the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
.
Early life
Keen was educated at The King's School, RochesterThe King's School, Rochester
The King's School, Rochester is an independent school in Rochester, Kent. It is a cathedral school, and being part of the foundation of Rochester Cathedral, the Dean of Rochester Cathedral serves as the chair of the school's governing body...
and Dollar Academy
Dollar Academy
Dollar Academy was founded in 1818, which makes it the oldest co-educational day and boarding school in the world. The open campus occupies a site in the centre of the thriving town of Dollar in Central Scotland, less than 40 minutes drive from the two main Scottish cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh...
, both prestigious independent schools
Independent school (UK)
An independent school is a school that is not financed through the taxation system by local or national government and is instead funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and so is not subject to the conditions imposed by...
, and studied at the School of Law
University of Edinburgh School of Law
The University of Edinburgh School of Law, founded in 1707, is a school within the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, dedicated to research and teaching in law. Known today as Edinburgh Law School, it is located in the historic Old College, the original site of the University...
of the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, where he was a Beckman scholar. He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
in 1980 and was appointed a QC in 1993.
Legal experience
Keen served as standing junior counsel in Scotland to the Department of Trade and Industry from 1986–93, and is chairman of the appeals committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of ScotlandInstitute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland is the Scottish professional body of Chartered Accountants . It is a regulator, educator and influencer.ICAS act as a thought leader and voice of the professional business community...
. He specialises in commercial law, property law and administrative law.
Known as the rottweiler, Keen is the Scottish QC most other advocates least like facing in court. Defending Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, one of the two accused Libyans, at the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial
Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial
The Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial began on 3 May 2000, 11 years, 4 months and 13 days after the destruction of Pan Am Flight 103 on 21 December 1988...
he deployed his legal arguments meticulously. In cross-examination, he spoke towards the Judges rather than the witnesses. Acerbically, Keen asked the prosecution "star" witness, Abdul Majid Giaka
Abdul Majid Giaka
Abdul Majid Giaka is an alleged double agent who defected from Jamahiriya el-Mukhabarat and became a CIA asset in August 1988....
, if he had ever heard of a fictional character named "Mitty, first name Walter". When another witness, Edwin Bollier
Edwin Bollier
Edwin Bollier and his partner, Erwin Meister, founded Mebo Telecommunications AG in Zürich, Switzerland in 1969.-Radio Nordsee International:...
, told a fantastic tale about a mystery man ordering him to take a letter to the American embassy in Austria
Embassy of the United States in Vienna
The United States Embassy in Vienna is the main United States diplomatic mission to Austria. The embassy building is located at Boltzmanngasse 16, Alsergrund, Vienna....
, Keen asked him if, as he walked the streets of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, he had heard the sound of the zither
Zither
The zither is a musical string instrument, most commonly found in Slovenia, Austria, Hungary citera, northwestern Croatia, the southern regions of Germany, alpine Europe and East Asian cultures, including China...
playing the Harry Lime theme music.
Fhimah was acquitted whilst his co-defendant Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, who was represented by William Taylor QC
William Taylor QC
William Taylor, QC has been a Scottish advocate since 1971 and a QC since 1986. Mr Taylor has also been a barrister in England and Wales since 1990 and a QC there since 1998...
, was convicted of the Lockerbie bombing.
Personal life
Keen married Jane Anderson in 1978, with whom he has a son and a daughter. His interests include golf, skiing, shooting and opera, and he is a member of the New ClubNew Club
The New Club, established in 1787, is a private club in the New Town area of Edinburgh, Scotland.The Club originally met in Bayle's Tavern in Shakespeare Square at the east end of Princes Street. It then acquired its own premises in St Andrew's Square before moving to its present site at 86 Princes...
, Bruntsfield Links
Bruntsfield Links
Bruntsfield Links is of park in Bruntsfield, Edinburgh, immediately to the south-west of The Meadows, which it adjoins.Unlike The Meadows, which is a former loch, Bruntsfield Links was always dry...
Golfing Society, and the Golf House, Elie
Elie and Earlsferry
Elie and Earlsferry is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland, situated within the East Neuk beside Chapel Ness on the north coast of the Firth of Forth, eight miles east of Leven...
. He is one of the highest earners in Scotland, and lives at one of the most prestigious addresses in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Ann Street, has a small castle in Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
and is passionate about fast cars.