The dedicated employment practice at DQ offers a multi-disciplinary approach, with strengths in both internal corporate governance and contentious matters. Department head Leanne McKeown is often instructed by major clients in finance and eGaming and advises on contractual obligations amid redundancies and employee exits, equality and employment tribunal claims, and acquisition due diligence. Mark Emery is particularly prominent in employment litigation, Joshua Quinn is an employment specialist who leads on compromise agreements, and Jessica McManus assists on internal disciplinary cases.
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Profile
Work Department
Dispute Resolution
Position
Director/Head of Dispute Resolution/Head of Employment.
Leanne specialises in commercial disputes, company, fiduciary obligations and employment related litigation. Leanne has significant experience advising in high value claims regarding allegations of fraudulent breaches of directors’ duties and complex e-disclosure process management. Injunctions and Norwich Pharmacal applications are a frequent feature of the multi-dimensional matters that Leanne handles.
Leanne has particular experience advising on all aspects of employment, equality and industrial relations law. Leanne advises clients in relation to workplace investigations, confidentiality, restrictive covenants, social media issues as well as related privacy issues.
She is expert in the employment law issues that arise from mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings and redundancy situations.
Leanne represents a number of island based Unions and recently advised a Teachers’ Union on matters concerning industrial action short of strike.
Leanne provides counsel on all matters arising out of the employer-employee relationship and represents employers in contentious employment law disputes before the Equality and Employment Tribunal and the Isle of Man High Court, including injunction proceedings.
mercial disputes. Specialist areas of practice include are areas of employment and equality law, data protection and civil and commercial litigation, to include freezing injunctions, Norwich Pharmacal applications, director/shareholder disputes and professional negligence claims.
Career
Leanne completed her professional qualifications at Queen’s University Belfast. She was admitted as solicitor in Northern Ireland in 2009. Leanne has practiced Manx law since 2011 and was called to the Manx Bar in 2013. Leanne has been a director of DQ Advocates since 2017.
Languages
English
Memberships
Leanne is a member of the Chamber of Commerce Employment and Skills Committee and the Employment Lawyers Association. Leanne is also a member of the Institute of Directors and holds an Institute of Directors Diploma in Company Direction. Leanne is also a qualified Data Protection Practitioner.
Education
Queens University Belfast, LLB (Hons)
University of Ulster, Advanced Diploma in Business Management, Business Administration, Management and Operations
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Leanne McKeown is a standout. I felt she worked with me to reach the best outcome rather than dictate to me what I should be doing. She brought her extensive technical expertise to the table to advise on points of law, which is exactly what I asked her to do. I was also pleased with her commercial awareness given that we were working on a matter for a not-for-profit organisation.'
- 'The DQ team is extremely knowledgeable and personable and its dedication to achieving the best outcomes for their clients is commendable. The team is always supportive and responsive.'