Dermot Keating KC

In March 2024, Dermot was appointed King’s Counsel. He was only one of three appointees whose field of practice included both criminal and civil law. This award of excellence reflects his expertise and experience in the following practice areas: Public Inquiries and Inquests, Criminal law including financial crime and regulatory/professional disciplinary proceedings.

Dermot has over 25 years experience in courts and tribunals. He is ranked as a leading barrister by the major legal directories in two practice areas: Financial Crime and Public Inquiries & Inquests.

He has extensive experience of working on and leading in the most complex and challenging cases in a number of spheres including criminal law and public inquiries. He is able to master the detail and maintain a strategic and tactical approach: “Dermot is able to digest huge volumes of material in a short amount of time and he is alwayson top of the detail.” (Chambers UK 2025, Inquests and Public Inquiries)“. “Dermot is always meticulous in his preparation. He is a careful and considered advocate" (Legal 500 2025, Inquests & Inquiries).

As an advocate he has appeared in a number of high profile cases with extensive media coverage including live streamed hearings in the Covid-19 Public Inquiry and the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry. The Directories remark on how “Dermot is a measured, calm and persuasive advocate” (Chambers UK 2024 Inquests and Public Inquiries). “Well prepared, organised and structured, Dermot has a very good ability to know how a case is likely to pan out.” (Chambers UK 2025, Financial Crime)

Dermot is renowned for his client care and working positively within a multidisciplinary team. He has extensive experience in advising and representing Company Directors, accountants, doctors, nurses and other professionals. He provides strategic direction and is renowned for his tactical approach in hearings. The Directories note that he “Gives you a road map in terms of where he wants to go, works extremely well with clients and is very, very good in court when dealing with judges and the prosecution.”- (Chambers UK 2020 Financial Crime). ‘Dermot is a great tactician and has a very nice manner with witnesses who he charms into agreeing with his points. His clients clearly trust his judgement.’ (Legal 500 Fraud: Crime 2024). “He is calm, focused and makes clients feel at ease. He works hard to secure the best result for clients and has an excellent presence when in court”. - (Legal 500, Fraud: Crime 2021)

Comfortable before a jury, judge or panel, Dermot adapts to his audience, and has the benefit of the perspective of sitting as a Recorder, DDJ, Tribunal Judge, and fitness to practise panel chair. The directories states: "He knows his audience and is very fluent. He is bright, clever and a pleasure to deal with”. "Dermot is utterly charming. He is really well received with a very approachable style of advocacy." (Chambers UK 2024 Financial Crime)

Dermot is passionate about the profession and is actively involved in supporting and training those within the profession. He is a pupil supervisor, member of the chambers EDI committee and an Inner Temple advocacy and ethics trainer. He is also part of the Inner Temple mentorship and scholarship panels.

Appointments

• King's Counsel (March 2024).
• Recorder, South Eastern Circuit (2022-present) and authorised to deal with Serious Sexual Offences.
• Deputy District Judge (Magistrates' Courts) (2022-present)
• Senior Chair of The Health Service Products (Pricing, Cost Control and Information) Appeals Tribunal (2020). Dermot was appointed by the Judicial Appointments Commission to work with the Department of Health and Social Care to set up this new tribunal.
• First Tier Tribunal Judge (Social Entitlement Chamber) (2013-present)
• Former Chair of the Fitness to Practice Panel, Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2013-2021)
• Legal Advisor, General Pharmaceutical Council (GPHC) (2018-present)

Associated Work

• Vulnerable Witness Advocacy trainer -part of the original cohort of trainers, who trained future trainers for this profession wide cascade of training.
• Inner Temple advocacy and ethics trainer who trains external pupils and junior practitioners.
• Inner Temple Mentor scheme.
• Regularly lectures externally and internally on areas relating to disclosure, fraud and sentencing.
• Pupil Supervisor and former head of Chambers pupillage committee.

Professional Memberships

• Inner Temple.
• Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL)
• Member of the Criminal Bar Association and former secretary and committee member.
• Member of the South Eastern Circuit and former committee member.

Education

• LLB (Hons) Brunel University

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