Career biography

Keir Ashton is General Counsel at Varo Energy in Baar where he manages a team of 15 lawyers and 18 bio-compliance professionals. 

During a wide-ranging career, Keir has accrued deep multi-sectoral experience in media, technology, trading and industry. As an executive GC, Keir has built high-performing legal teams and transformed legal service delivery in multinational commercial organisations. 

Keir’s recent experience has included managing complex international disputes, supporting the delivery of transformational M&A transactions and putting the legal team at the heart of the sustainability journey. 

Between 2008 and 2022 Keir Ashton served as Chief Legal Officer EMEA and then Group General Counsel for Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) based in Geneva, Switzerland. In this role, Keir managed legal service delivery across LDC’s business activities throughout the World and was a member of the LDC Executive Group. 

Prior to joining LDC in 2008, Keir was Senior Counsel at Bloomberg LP in New York City and General Counsel at The Wireless Group in London. 

Keir was previously in private practice in London with Clifford Chance and Olswang. 

Keir is a dual U.K./French national and is admitted as a solicitor in both England and Wales and the Republic of Ireland.