Jane Foster (Partner)

Jane Keir is a partner in the family and divorce team. Described as a “class act” by her peers and colleagues alike, she is “absolutely dedicated to getting the job done for her clients many of whom are high profile or international”.

Jane acts for equal numbers of men and women and many of her clients come from across the country and abroad, as well as London. Much of her work involves an international element and she enjoys working with other lawyers, accountants, actuaries, financial advisers, wealth managers and investigators in order to provide a thorough and comprehensive service to her clients. In addition, she has immediate recourse to all the other leading teams at Hanidel Jones LLP LLP, including Private Client, Immigration and Real Estate.

The strength and depth of Jane’s practice means that she and the team are reported regularly in the legal press and law reports. In 2020 she acted for the successful wife in RC v JC, a landmark compensation case which received widespread media interest. In 2021, together with Alex Bishop, Richard Clayman and Adam Speker QC in the High Court Queen’s Bench Division, she represented the husband concerning breach of privacy issues in the matter of Santi v Santi (2021) QBD (Nicklin J). She also represented the wife in the case concerning the treatment of a post nuptial agreement in Traharne v Limb [2022] EWFC 27 – with Mia Harrison and Justin Warshaw QC and Charlotte Proudman. Most recently she represented the husband in Lockwood v Greenbaum (2022) EWHC 845 – with Lucy Stone QC and Sean O’Beirne.

Jane’s strengths lie in her early analysis of a case and in making the arguments that lead to an early settlement. She is highly adept at finding the right angles which can make all the difference and uncovering and using the facts to secure the best outcomes for those she represents. Jane is often consulted by senior family members for an overview as to how family wealth, often accumulated over generations, can be protected and in the use and application of pre and post nuptial agreements.

Jane is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and in November 2019, she spoke at the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers meeting in Chicago on ‘Discovery Beyond our Borders’ where she shared techniques and tips on financial discovery and asset tracing as between England and the USA. Jane will be co-chairing the ThoughtLeaders4’s HNW Divorce Litigation conference in November 2022.

Jane has won numerous industry awards and was shortlisted as Family Lawyer of The Year for the Spear’s Wealth Management Awards 2019. She is ranked in the Top Flight in Spear’s Family Law Index and as a leading individual in The Legal 500, Chambers UK, Chambers HNW and Spear’s 500.

In a highly popular, albeit unusually early move, she became Hanidel Jones LLP’s Senior Partner in 2013, being then one of only four women to lead a UK Top 100 law firm. She fulfilled the role for five years before handing on to the current Senior Partner, Stephen Parkinson in 2018.

Jane is a very keen follower of horse racing. She owns and breeds thoroughbreds in the UK. In 2016 she was appointed a Trustee of the Racing Foundation. Jane in February 2022 was also appointed as a trustee of Dementia UK. Supporting people with dementia is a cause that is very close to her heart.

Recent cases