Jenna Keir-Kendrew Managing Associate
Dispute Resolution
Jenna Keir-Kendrew is a Managing Associate in the Dispute Resolution team at Swinburne Maddison. She obtained her LLB from Durham University and qualified as a solicitor in September 2018. Jenna joined Swinburne Maddison in August 2022 and was promoted to Associate Solicitor in May 2024 and Managing Associate in May 2025, in recognition of her expertise in contentious probate matters.
Jenna has extensive experience in handling complex disputes, with a particular focus on contested probate matters. She regularly advises clients on claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, will validity disputes, and the removal of personal representatives. She also acts on property and contractual disputes, bringing a strategic and pragmatic approach to resolving conflicts efficiently.
Jenna’s approach is client-focused, ensuring that each case is handled with trust, care, and agility. She is committed to understanding her clients’ objectives early on and tailoring her strategy to achieve the best possible outcomes. Her ability to assess both sides of an argument and provide reasoned, well-structured advice makes her an invaluable advisor in contentious legal matters.
- Contested Probate and Trusts
- TOLATA
- Contract Disputes
Jenna has acted in a variety of high-value and complex cases, including contested probate matters, contractual disputes, and claims involving property and inheritance rights.
Her day-to-day work involves advising clients, drafting legal documents, and representing clients in negotiations, mediations, and court proceedings. She is skilled in preparing witness statements, pleadings, and trial bundles, as well as drafting settlement agreements and instructions to counsel. Jenna also advocates at hearings and trials, ensuring her clients receive strong representation throughout their case.
Key career highlights include:
- Successfully defending a company in multi-track proceedings involving a claim for unpaid invoices, where settlement negotiations reduced the client’s liability from £400k to £45k, over 8 monthly instalments, and settlement of all potential claims.
- Acting for a defendant in a guarantor dispute over rent arrears, where the full claim of £26k was successfully defended in court.
- Representing defendants in an Inheritance Act claim, where the claim was ultimately discontinued due to procedural failures by the claimant, leading to a favourable cost recovery for Jenna’s clients.
Jenna is an active member of the firm’s CSR Committee and has played a key role in organising initiatives to support local causes. Most recently, Jenna coordinated a beach clean in partnership with the team at Clive Owen LLP for a volunteer day, demonstrating her commitment to environmental sustainability.
"Jenna Keir-Kendrew was also excellent in ensuring everything was where it needed to be and that we had the strongest case possible. They made me feel like we were working together to achieve a great outcome."
News & Insights
Insight
Government-Funded Occupational Health Training Offered to Small Businesses
Government-funded occupational health training is now being offered to small businesses in response to rising levels of long-term sickness among the UK workforce. Currently, 2.8 million people are signed off work due to long-term illness, one of the highest rates in the G7, and there are 800,000 more working-age adults out of work for health […]
Read moreInsight
Why written Contracts matter. Lessons from Harrison V Buchanan
A recent court case serves as a useful reminder that it always pays to have a formal written contract, rather than relying on what was agreed in verbal discussions or through exchanges of emails or other messages. The Case The case of Harrison (t/a Rayson Engineering) v Buchanan and another [2025] EWHC 3283 (IPEC) was […]
Read moreInsight
Changes to ID Verification with Companies House and Company Registers
From 18 November 2025, identity verification became a mandatory requirement for Directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs). These changes were introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) 2023, which is part of the UK Government’s wider strategy to combat economic crime and improve corporate accountability. What’s changed? Identity verification is now […]
Read more
Careers at Swinburne Maddison
Bright futures built together.
Ok, so you’ve come this far where could the next step take you?
We’re always on the lookout for great people to join our team but we also want to make sure we are the right fit for each other.
Here, your career is more than a job—it’s a journey. From day one, you’ll feel supported to grow, develop your skills, and thrive alongside a team that values collaboration and care. Whether you’re a legal eagle or a support extraordinaire, we focus on helping you succeed in an environment where you truly belong. Let’s achieve great things together.