Simon Keen

Simon joined Birketts in 2022 following 17.5 years at a leading International law firm.

He is a Partner in our Commercial Real Estate Team and jointly leads both the Cambridge Real Estate Team and also our Strategic Land Team.

With a core practice in both strategic land promotion and development and also in acting for landowners and occupiers managing their assets (in particular acting for tenants on their occupational requirements and development leasing), Simon deploys the wide range of commercial real estate expertise that he developed in the first half of his career for the full benefit of his clients. Secondments to the in-house legal teams of two major corporate occupiers helped him to develop a very clear understanding of what they require and why, and of how to guide occupiers through the process of leasing and then managing business space, which is invaluable to both his occupier and landowner clients. Working for many years for both occupiers and as a strategic land specialist has taught Simon to keep a tight focus on the commerciality of deals, and the points that matter.

Simon is therefore well-regarded for providing pragmatic, commercial advice. He also strives to build constructive working relationships with both clients and counterparties in order to ensure that the experience of each transaction is as smooth and good natured as it can be. As the chair of the committee that oversees and updates the Model Commercial Lease, he has excellent credibility and recognition by his peers, too, and is at the forefront of the industry when it comes to lease negotiations and market practice. Simon also acts for several public sector organisations and is a key Real Estate Partner in our Public Sector Team.

His most recent experience includes acting for landowners, promoters and developers on several major strategic land projects across England, including joint venture agreements, promotion and development agreements and structured sale/purchase agreements, while his landlord/tenant experience includes acting for both major institutional investors and blue chip corporate occupiers on retail, office and industrial/logistics properties, including the management of major shopping centres and pre-leasing offices, as well as disposals of surplus space (by way of assignment, subletting and surrender) and lease regears and renewals.

Experience & education

2024 Joint Head of Strategic Land, Birketts
2023 Joint Team Leader for Cambridge Real Estate Team, Birketts
2022 Joined Birketts as a Partner
2006-2022 Variously Associate, Senior Associate and Counsel, Lovells and then Hogan Lovells
2004 Trainee Solicitor, Lovells (qualified as a solicitor August 2006)
2003 Legal Practice Course, BPP Law School, London
2000-2003 Downing College, University of Cambridge (BA in Law, converted to MA in 2007)