Michael B. Keating
Michael Keating is Chairman of the firm’s Litigation Department and has been the firm’s leading trial lawyer for over thirty years. Michael has been consistently listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, and Massachusetts SuperLawyers and was recognized by The National Law Journal, all reflecting his reputation as one of the leading trial attorneys in Massachusetts. Mr. Keating practices extensively in both the federal and state courts. He has represented major corporate clients in matters as diverse as alleged marketing fraud, toxic torts, trademark and trade secret litigation, and a private RICO action. He also has substantial experience in the commercial arbitration and mediation of disputes both as counsel and as an arbitrator/mediator.
Michael is an Instructor of Civil Trial Practice at Northeastern Law School and serves as Chairman of the Massachusetts Court Management Advisory Board by appointment of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, to advise the Supreme Judicial Court and the trial courts on court administration.
Bars and Court Admissions
- Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Military Appeals
Representative Experience
The following is a brief summary of Michael's experience and accomplishments:
- Represented W.R. Grace & Company in a six-month trial of a toxic tort groundwater case brought by residents of the City of Woburn
- Persuaded, on behalf of several life insurers, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to invalidate the Insurance Commissioner’s regulations on gender-based premiums
- Appointed on two occasions by the Supreme Judicial Court as Special Counsel to the Commission on Judicial Conduct and represented the Commission in disciplinary proceedings through presentation to the Supreme Judicial Court
- Represents a mutual insurer in the defense of four national class actions alleging life insurance marketing fraud
- Represents the former President of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company in overturning his discharge for cause
- Represented Federal Express in trademark litigation and The San Francisco Chronicle in a private RICO action
professional / civic involvement
- Chair of The Board of Directors, The Boston Foundation
- Chair, Court Management Advisory Board, appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court to advise on all matters of court administration
- Law clerk to Associate Justice Francis J. Quirico of the Massachusetts Superior Court and to Judge W. Arthur Garrity, Jr. of the United States District Court for Massachusetts
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, Committee on the Teaching of Trial and Appellate Advocacy, Former Chairman
- U.S. District Court’s Panel of Criminal Defense Counsel, Member
- Boston Bar Association, President, 2001 - 2002
- Williams College, Trustee, 1996 - present
- Brooks School, Trustee Emeritus
- Foley Hoag Foundation, Trustee
- The Boston Foundation, Trustee
- The Boston Children’s Museum, Trustee
- Crime and Justice Foundation, Past President
- Massachusetts Council on Crime and Corrections, Past President
- Administration of Justice Section, Boston Bar Association, Co-Chair, 1997
- Task Force on Sentencing Policy, Boston Bar Association, Chairperson, 1991
- Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, Trustee
- Lieutenant (Judge Advocate General's Corps) U.S. Naval Reserve (ret.)
publications
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"The Impact of Changes in Superior Court Practice on Attorney Training," MASSACHUSETTS LAW REVIEW, Volume 92, No. 3 (December 2009)
- Michael B. Keating with Katherine J. Fick, chapter on Civility, BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL LITIGATION IN FEDERAL COURTS (2005)