Alexander Ruck Keene

Recommendations

Alex has been recommended for Administrative and Public Law in Chambers & Partners since 2009, as well as being recommended in the Legal 500. He has been recommended as "Band 1" practitioner in Chambers & Partners category of Court of Protection since the category was introduced in 2011.

Quotes

“Solicitors describe working with him as ‘a real privilege,’ citing his ’ability to deal with the more technically tricky cases,’ and the strong relationships he is able to nurture with vulnerable clients.” Chambers & Partners 2013 (Administrative and Public Law)
He is “always able to provide proper advice and gives you reassurance.” Chambers & Partners 2013 (Court of Protection)
“[t]he set produces a newsletter [co-edited by Alex] which is a must-read for peers and solicitors alike and is viewed as being ‘of great service to the profession;”“[t]he newsletter chambers publishes about Court of is now ‘a bible for solicitors working in this area.’ Chambers & Partners 2013
"He 'really punches above his weight, taking on substantial cases and winning them….’” Chambers & Partners 2012 (Administrative and Public Law)
According to those who instruct him, he offers 'brilliant advocacy' and 'excellent' written submissions. Observers admire his 'clarity, focus and concision,' while opponents find him 'a tremendously pleasant opponent.' Chambers & Partners 2012 (Court of Protection)
"... is a 'leading light' in mental capacity work" Legal 500 2011
"a balanced, calm and effective advocate... 'he has the Mental Capacity Act and Human Rights Act off pat,' say instructing solicitors." Chambers & Partners 2011
"Clients admire his 'fluent advocacy and determined approach'" Chambers & Partners 2010
"very quick and tenacious in pursuing his cases" Chambers & Partners 2009
".. his willingness to take on matters at very short notice and his ease in presenting to a court mark him out as much as his attention to detail and ability to identify the issues in a case" Chambers & Partners 2009

Appointments

The Attorney-General's B Panel: 2012
The Attorney-General's Freedom of Information Panel 2009
Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies for academic year 2013-4
Equality Human Rights Commission’s Panel of Counsel

Significant Cases

LM (A Child), Re, [2013] EWHC 646 (Fam) (27 March 2013)
A PCT v LDV, CC and B Healthcare Group , 2013 [2013] EWHC 272 (Fam)
Mutua & Ors v Foreign and Commonwealth Office , [2012] EWHC 2678 (QB)
Munjaz v United Kingdom (Application No. 2913/06; ECtHR, 17 July 2012)
HSE Ireland v SF, [2012] EWHC 1640 (Fam)
Re M, 2011, [2011] EWHC 3590 (COP) [2012] COPLR 430
Birkett v The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), 21 December 2011, [2011] EWCA Civ 1606 [2012] 2 CMLR 5
Sessay v (1) South London & Maudsley NHS (2) Met Police) [2011] EWHC 2617 (QB) [2012] 2 WLR 1071
TTM (by his litigation friend TM) v LB Hackney & Ors , 1 February 2011, [2011] EWCA Civ 4 [2011] 3 All ER 529
Information Commissioner v Home Office, [2011] UKUT 17 (AAC)
W Primary Care Trust v (1) TB (An adult by her litigation friend the Official Solicitor) (2) V (3) S Metropolitan Borough Council (4) C & W Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (5) W Metropolitan Borough Council , 17 July 2009, [2010] 1 WLR 2662
R (on the application of DB) v Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, 4 December 2008, [2008] EWCA Civ 1354; [2009] 2 All ER 792
Clive Roberts v Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (QBD), 1 August 2008, [2008] EWHC 1934 (QB)
R (Burke) v General Medical Council & others (CA), [2005] EWCA Civ 1003, [2005] 2 WLR 1132

Publications

Court of Protection Law Reports (co-editor), Jordans, ongoing
Mental Capacity Act Law and Practice, 2nd Edition, Jordans 2012
Court of Protection Practice (annual), Jordans, ongoing
Annotations in Current Law Statutes including most recently Coroners & Justice Act 2009 and Health & Social Care Act 2008
Assessment of Mental Capacity, A Practical Guide for Doctors and Lawyers, 3rd edition BMA & Law Society December 2009
The Law of Human Rights, 2nd Edition, Oxford University 26 March 2009
Shackleton on the Law and Practice of Meetings - 10th and 11th Edition (Sweet & Maxwell)
Local Government Contracts and Procurement (Contributor) Tottel May 2007

Articles

Advance decisions: getting it right?
Inherent Jurisdiction Note
Tying ourselves into (Gordian) knots?
"At what price liberty? The Supreme Court decision in Lumba and compensation for false imprisonment" Public Law October 2012 (with Catherine Dobson)
"Update upon the Court of Protection" Legal Action, March and November 2011
At the Margins of the Mental Capacity Act, Elder Law Journal, Issue 4, 2011
Re MN [2010] EWHC 1962 (Fam)
An International Can of Worms: Schedule 3 to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (2011) 1 Elder Law Journal 77
Court of Protection Newsletters
The Coroners and Justice Act 2009
Best interests proceedings (April 2010)
The legal and ethical implications of rationing critical care services during a pandemic flu outbreak (August 2009)

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