Paul Keenan
Year of Call: 2024
Paul graduated from the University of Glasgow with an Honours Degree in Law, graduating with Senior Honours in Jurisprudence and Medical Law. Thereafter, he continued to study at the University of Glasgow for a Masters Degree in Law which he was awarded with merit. He went on to graduate from the University of Dundee with the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice which was awarded with merit in advanced criminal/civil advocacy and personal injury.
In practice, Paul specialised in crime as a defence solicitor and he continues to do so at the Bar as Counsel. He was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors by Early Admission and, uniquely, he has been conducting Jury Trials concerned with serious crime since he was a Trainee Solicitor. During his time as a solicitor, Paul was responsible for solemn cases and he conducted every jury trial in which the firm was instructed.
He has conducted a significant volume of criminal trials and he is regularly instructed as defence counsel in High Court prosecutions in relation to allegations of murder, attempted murder, human trafficking, serious and organised crime, rape and other sexual offences including lewd and libidinous practices, firearms, robbery, mobbing and rioting, assaults to danger of life and proceeds of crime.
Areas of Practice
Appointments & Memberships
- Faculty of Advocates Criminal Bar Association
- The Royal Faculty of Procurators
Testimonials
Selected Cases
HMA v F.C. [2025] – Conducting 6-day trial on behalf of the accused in trial concerning allegations of historic child sexual abuse within a children’s unit alleged to have occurred between 1994 – 2003 involving four complainers. The jury returned verdicts of not guilty in respect of every charge the accused faced.
HMA v M.K. [2025] – Conducting 6-day trial on behalf of the accused who faced 8 charges alleging contraventions of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009. The case involved four complainers, including two children. After trial, not guilty verdicts were returned on all 8 charges and the accused was thereafter in a position to accept an appointment of public office.
HMA v J.F. [2025] – Conducting 7-day trial on behalf of professional footballer. The accused was acquitted by the jury of a charge of repeatedly compressing the complainer’s neck by strangulation to her danger of life over a 12-month libel. The jury also acquitted the accused of 16 sub-heads out of 22 which formed a section 1 DASA charge (including two further allegations of strangulation to the danger of the complainer’s life). The accused was not sentenced to a period of imprisonment as a consequence of the volume of serious allegations of which he was acquitted.
HMA v Jamie Stevenson and 6 others [2024] – Junior Defence Counsel for Jamie Stevenson in trial concerned with allegations of directing serious and organised crime from locations around the world, directing international £100m cocaine trafficking operation from Ecuador to the UK, involvement in serious and organised crime through multi-million-pound Etizolam production and a contravention of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 by concealment of over £1m in cash, amongst other things.
HMA v K.B. [2024] – Defence Counsel conducting trial on behalf of an Algerian accused in trial concerned with alleged penetrative and non-penetrative sexual assaults with intent to rape in which the accused was acquitted by the jury following a 5-day trial.
HMA v A.W. [2024] – Defence Counsel conducting trial on behalf of the accused in prosecution concerning allegations of repeated rape and indecent assault over 13-year libel.
HMA v K.H. [2024] – Defence Counsel conducting trial on behalf of an accused who was initially charged by police with attempted murder by using a motor vehicle as a weapon to assault the complainer to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and to the danger of his life. After the trial, which involved presenting a defence of necessity, the accused was convicted by the jury of contraventions of the Road Traffic Act 1988 only.
HMA v LM [2023] – Conducting 5-day jury trial on behalf of the accused involving an allegation of assault to severe injury, permanent impairment and to the danger of life in which the complainer suffered “near fatal” brain haemorrhaging. The accused was unanimously acquitted by the jury with a special defence of self-defence having been successfully presented.
HMA v Avril Jones and Edward Cairney [2019/2020] – Member of Avril Jones’ defence team in the infamous long-running murder trial which featured in the BBC Documentary “Murder Trial: The Disappearance of Margaret Fleming”. Also, member of Avril Jones’ legal team in the Proceeds of Crime case relating to the crown motion for confiscation of £182,000 linked to the murder of Margaret Fleming.