Ian is a Private Property solicitor with 30 years’ experience handling prime and super-prime London residential property transactions. He has advised some of the world’s most powerful people investing in the London prime residential property sector on buying, selling and developing in London. Most of Ian’s clients are international, and have included foreign royal families, country leaders, and the owners of successful businesses.
As well as advising high-net-worth individuals, Ian advises major property companies. He has also assisted international banks with property finance deals.
Ian is dual-qualified in England and Wales and in the British Virgin Islands. He often advises banks, companies and law firms on the ability of BVI companies to enter into property and other transactions.
I have worked closely with Ian Cooke on countless high-value Real Estate transactions in Prime and Super-Prime Central London since 1994. Ian has the technical skills, personality and ability to charm his client, and the other side, whilst delivering the most efficient, commercially beneficial and highly professional legal services to secure the best outcome for those he represents. I recommend him without hesitation or reservation to anyone needing world-class legal representation in their high-value London property deals.
Archie Riby-Williams
Chairman and CEO, Portman HeritageI have worked with Ian for the last four years and I cannot recommend him highly enough. Ian is an excellent lawyer with standout levels of integrity and professionalism. His advice, client care and attention to detail is nothing short of exceptional.
Chris Jones
Managing Director, Warnerheath Limited
Expertise
- Prime and super-prime residential London property transactions
- Prime London residential property development
- Property finance
- Transactions involving BVI companies
Experience
- Acted in the purchase of London’s most expensive apartment for an international buyer for a total “spend” including fit-out of in excess of £180m.
- Advised a Middle Eastern family on the acquisition and refurbishment of a Prime London residential house worth in excess of £50m.
- Advised British Land plc on its sales of Clarges, Mayfair – one of Mayfair’s most exclusive and high-value residential development projects in recent years.
- With his team, advised on London residential property deals worth in excess of £2 billion per annum in each year between 2012 and 2019.
- Handled the sale for a developer client of an apartment worth £62m.
- Advised a Gulf-based buyer on the acquisition of an apartment for over £30m in Grosvenor Square.
- Along with a colleague, travelled to Hong Kong and Singapore to advise and place into contract over 200 apartment buyers at the Battersea Power Station redevelopment project.
- Assisted an international businessman on the acquisition of three adjoining buildings near Buckingham Palace, which buildings he will develop into prime residential apartments, some for use by his family and some for sale.
- Advised a number of international families acquiring apartments and townhouses at Chelsea Barracks.
- Advised multiple buyers of luxury apartments at the Southbank Development, by the London Eye with views over the river to Whitehall and Parliament, developed by Qatari Diar and The Canary Wharf Group.
- Represented a Middle Eastern Government and King on a wide range of complex London property matters.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised in the Hall of Fame by The Legal 500 2024 for Residential Property
“Ian Cooke is in a class of his own.” The Legal 500 2024
“Ian Cooke is quite simply an exceptional lawyer who really cares about delivering excellent advice and service to all his clients. His service and advice is nothing short of outstanding and highly professional.” The Legal 500 2024
Recognised in Chambers High Net Worth 2018-2023 for Real Estate: High Value Residential
“Ian is an exceptionally experienced property lawyer possessing the critical legal skill set required by UK and international clients at the very top end of the London real estate industry.” Chambers High Net Worth 2023
“Ian is one of the most professional lawyers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. He is completely calm and unflappable under pressure and always delivers the results.” Chambers High Net Worth 2023
Recognised in Spear’s 500 2023 as a Top Flight Property Lawyer
Recognised by The Legal 500 2023 as a Leading Individual for Residential Property
“I work very closely with Ian Cooke who quite simply operates on another level. His property law knowledge and advice is excellent- and his client care, respect and availability is nothing short of outstanding. In my 25 years of business I haven’t experienced advice and service like it. Furthermore, he is lovely to work with and his results speak for themselves.” The Legal 500 2023
“Ian Cooke has been exceptional in delivering a first class service in advising us on the legal front. His market knowledge and intel is truly impressive, as he seems to have his finger on the pulse of what is happening real time in the market place. He is exceptionally pro-active, where he will foresee a potential issue, and provide a solution even before it has been raised.” The Legal 500 2023
Recognised in Spear’s 500 2022 as a Top Flight Property Lawyer
Recognised in the Hall of Fame by The Legal 500 2022 for Residential Property
“As a firm, we only recommend an Ian Cooke and Sakhjit Randhawa to our overseas clients as we know they”ll do an incredible job and trust them wholeheartedly not to disappoint.” The Legal 500 2022
“Ian Cooke has been brilliant on multiple occasions helping to keep ours sales on track whilst continuously working in the clients best interests. Ian is very knowledgeable about the property market, he knows residential law inside out and has great communication skills regardless of who he is dealing with.” The Legal 500 2022
“Sakhjit has been instrumental to the success of our transactions and is pleasure to deal with. On many occasions, Sakhjit and Ian have worked over the weekends and late into the evening to ensure a transaction takes place on time.” The Legal 500 2022
Recognised in The Spear’s 2021 Property Advisers Index as a Top Flight Lawyer
Recognised in Spear’s 500 2021 as a Top Flight Property Lawyer
Recognised as a Leading Individual by the Legal 500 2021 in Residential Property
“Ian Cooke and Sakhjit Randhawa are highly experienced, high-value property lawyers working absolutely at the top of the market and the top of their game. They are effective “deal-doers” who find solutions for clients and who offer world class legal advice – delivered commercially. They are pro-active, responsive, bright and switched-on.” The Legal 500 2021
“Ian Cooke and Sakhjit Randhawa are two highly skilled senior law firm partners at the pinnacle of their professional careers. They have recently established their legal offices in the heart of SW1 and are able to offer their clients very smart and confidential private offices within which to hold private meetings and to discuss clients’ business objectives and to work to secure the best interests of their clients at all times.” The Legal 500 2021
“Ian Cooke and Sakhjit Randhawa are simply the very best in this industry within the central London property market. The ultra-high end of the residential property market is the sector within which they both operate at their optimum and where they really have no rivals, in my humble opinion. They have acutely bright legal minds, they are able to cut to the point swiftly and as a result, they are best able to deliver deals for clients quickly but safely in a way that other lawyers might struggle to match.” The Legal 500 2021
Recognised by Spear’s Magazine as a Top Six Property Lawyer
Included in The Spear’s 500 in 2019 and in the previous five years as “Eminence Grise” in the field of High Value Residential Property
“Ian is an impressive and outstanding operator who consistently delivers high-quality work and service levels.” Chambers HNW 2022
“He is a delight to deal with, an exceptionally good lawyer if you get him on the other side. You’re going to get well-set-out documents and he is a formidable negotiator” Chambers HNW 2022
“The finest property expert in London. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the market in the UK, and is quick with his work.” Chambers HNW 2022
“By far the best property lawyer I have had the pleasure to work with.” Chambers HNW 2021
“He is a real master class in the high-end residential market in Central London adapting to the particularities of client and properties.” Chambers HNW 2021
“Ian is very knowledgeable about the property market, he knows residential law inside out and has great communication skills regardless of who he is dealing with.” Chambers HNW 2021
“Ian is very approachable, friendly and a committed professional. His client care and advice is nothing short of outstanding, and he is so incredibly thoughtful. His commitment to a deal is phenomenal and his speed of response is very good.” Chambers HNW 2020
“Ian is exceptional at complex and bespoke transactions, with a particular strength at being able to defuse potentially volatile situations.” Chambers HNW 2020
“Best in class. He’s extremely capable and has a very personal touch. He is incredibly professional and reliable.” Chambers HNW 2019
“He is without hesitation or deviation, the very best lawyer I have ever worked with. He possesses an extensive and very impressive knowledge of his field of expertise.” Chambers HNW 2019
Leading Lawyer in The Legal 500 in 2019 and 2020
Profiled in The Spear’s March/April 2019 magazine as a Top 6 Lawyer in the UK for high-value residential property deals
Career
Ian qualified as a solicitor in 1993. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2019, he worked at the following firms:
- Charles Russell Speechlys
- Norton Rose Fulbright