Richard Keen

Richard Keen QC is a Scottish lawyer. Mr Keen graduated LLB (Hons) from 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 is Dean of the Faculty of Advocates [ [http://www.journalonline.co.uk/news/1004768.aspx Keen is new Dean : News : The Journal of the Law Society of Scotland ] ] .

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 in Scotland. He specialises in commercial law, property law and administrative law.

Claim to fame

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 Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, who was represented by William Taylor QC, was convicted of the Lockerbie bombing.

Trappings of wealth

Richard Keen is one of the highest earners in Scotland. He lives at the most prestigious address in Edinburgh (Ann Street), has a small castle in Fife and is passionate about fast cars.

References

* [http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1007&id=1032382003 Scotland's 100 Top Earners]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/world/723699.stm Lockerbie trial biographies]
* [http://www.advocates.org.uk/stables/advocates/00000249.html Faculty of Advocates' profile]