Alderman Vincent Keaveny CBE
Alderman for the City of London Ward of Farringdon Within
Welcome
It has been an honour and a privilege to have held the office of Alderman for the Ward of Farringdon Within since October 2013 and in 2018/19 to have had the opportunity to serve as Sheriff of the City of London.
I have worked in the Ward for many years and spent my year as Sheriff living in the centre of the Ward at the Old Bailey. I have got to know many of the residents and businesses of the Ward well, working with you to resolve the concerns that you bring to me and your other Ward members. I am passionate about this great City in which we live and work. But there is still so much more we can do to improve the quality of life for City residents and workers alike.
I know how to get things done - whether it is on planning or licensing issues or dealing with the challenges of rough sleeping on the streets of the City, I am committed to making a difference: to making this a better City for all.
Thank you
Alderman Vincent Keaveny CBE
About Vincent
Vincent Keaveny is a partner at international law firm, DLA Piper LLP, at their offices in the Ward of Farringdon Within. Until May 2019 he served as International Co-Chair of the Financial Services Sector at the firm. He advises banks and companies throughout the UK and Europe on banking, finance and capital markets matters. He is a highly rated practitioner in his practice area by the leading legal directories. Vincent served on the Committee of the City of London Law Society from 2006 to 2013 and was President of the Society in 2014/15.
Vincent is passionate about the City, its history and traditions, its success as the World's leading international financial and professional services centre and its future as the World's centre for financial innovation and new technologies. Vincent has been fortunate to benefit from the opportunities provided by the City to talented individuals irrespective of background or nationality. He believes that the City will thrive when those opportunities continue to be provided whatever the political or economic environment.
Vincent was born and raised in Ireland. He has degrees from University College Dublin (BCL) and Trinity College, Dublin (MLitt). Vincent was recognised as UCD’s Law Alumnus of the Year in 2018. He was admitted as a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales in 1992 and has spent his practising career in the City of London.
Vincent's interests include music and theatre. He chairs the board of trustees of the contemporary music ensemble, Exaudi, and is a director of the theatre company, Actors Touring Company. He is also a trustee of the Sir John Soane's Museum, where he chairs the Museum's Audit and Risk Committee.
Vincent is married to Amanda, an intensive care/cardiothoracic nurse. Amanda is currently taking an extended sabbatical from nursing having spent over 10 years as a Senior Sister in the Cardiac Care/High Dependency Unit at London Bridge Hospital. She works two/three days per week for the charity Glass Door in the kitchen of the shelter for the homeless at the Chelsea Methodist Church. Amanda is a Liveryman of the Fletchers' Company and a member of the Guild of Nurses.
Vincent in the City
Vincent was elected as Alderman for the Ward of Farringdon Within in 2013. He is currently a member of the City of London Corporation's Freedom Applications Committee and the recently established Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub-Committee. He has also served on the Corporation's Finance Committee, Planning & Transportation Committee and City Bridge Trust Committee.
Vincent is as a Governor of the City of London School and is Chairman of the Samuel Wilson's Loan Trust. He is a member of the Court of The Honourable The Irish Society, the 400 year old charity that links the City and Northern Ireland.
Vincent was Master (2014/15) of the City of London Solicitors’ Company and is a member of the Court of the Woolmen’s Company. He is a Liveryman of the Distillers', Spectacle Makers', Stationers', Framework Knitters' and Upholders' Companies. Vincent is the Senior Patron of the Farringdon Ward Club and a member of the City Livery Club and City Pickwick Club.
Vincent leads the Ward team in Farringdon Within, working for the residents, businesses and other organisations based in the Ward, including the Ward's nine Livery Companies: the Apothecaries, the Butchers, the Cutlers, the Farmers, the Fletchers, the Founders, the Information Technologists, the Spectacle Makers and the Stationers. Particular areas of focus for Vincent as an elected Ward member include planning and development, rough sleeping, pedestrian and road safety, air quality and the City's cultural offering.
Vincent as Sheriff
Vincent served as one of the two Sheriffs of the City of London in 2018/19, alongside his fellow Sheriff Liz Green. He stepped down on 27 September 2019. Throughout the year Vincent and his wife Amanda (and their labrador, India) lived in the Old Bailey, at the heart of the Ward of Farringdon Within.
The central role of the Sheriffs is to support the Lord Mayor. Alongside this, the Sheriffs contribute to the implementation of the Corporation’s Corporate Plan. The third area of Shrieval activity is the promotion of the Rule of Law and, in particular, the support of HM Judges at the Central Criminal Court. This strand of activity runs through the Sheriffs' year as a constant and visible feature. It is embedded in many of the events hosted by the Sheriffs that take place in the Old Bailey during the year.
In a very busy year, Vincent attended, hosted and spoke at business, livery and charity related events every day.
A few of the many highlights of the year included:
• hosting the dinner preceding the UK-Ireland Financial Services Dialogue
• opening Invest Northern Ireland’s new City office
• giving the opening address at the Invest in Jordan conference in Guildhall
• hosting an awards reception for the Magistrates Association at which Lloyds TSB was recognised as ‘employer of the year'
• hosting the final of the inter-schools Sheriffs' Challenge debating competition in Court No. 1 at the Old Bailey
• hosting Leadership Through Sport and Business's mock trial competition in the Old Bailey
• visiting Feltham YOI and HMP Little Hey
• organising the Sheriffs' Ball in Guildhall to raise funds for The Lord Mayor's Appeal
• the Sheriffs’ Horse Ride around the City of London when Vincent and Liz along with members of the HAC's Light
Cavalry and the City of London Mounted Police toured 15 Livery Halls on horseback, with 30 volunteer walkers, raising funds for the Old Bailey's in-house charity, the Sheriffs' & Recorder's Fund
India was a key focus of Vincent's year as Sheriff. He attended and spoke as the City representative at several India-related business events and joined the Lord Mayor on his visit to India in September 2019.
Vincent also travelled to Manchester and Sheffield with the Lord Mayor in July 2019, supporting the Corporation’s Regional Strategy.
