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Keith M. Ameele

Keith M. Ameele

Partner

350 South Grand Avenue
Suite 2200
Los Angeles, CA 90071
T 424.221.7476
keith.ameele@nelsonmullins.com
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Keith has more than two decades of litigation experience and focuses his practice on high-stakes products liability, complex mass torts, premises liability and commercial litigation. Keith serves primarily as national coordinating counsel and trial counsel for Fortune 500 companies, providing valuable guidance and representation in a wide variety of litigation matters in multiple jurisdictions. Leveraging...

Keith has more than two decades of litigation experience and focuses his practice on high-stakes products liability, complex mass torts, premises liability and commercial litigation. Keith serves primarily as national coordinating counsel and trial counsel for Fortune 500 companies, providing valuable guidance and representation in a wide variety of litigation matters in multiple jurisdictions. Leveraging his alternative dispute resolution and mediation experience, he collaborates with his clients to exhaust all reasonable alternatives before going to trial.

Keith M. Ameele

his alternative dispute resolution and mediation experience, he collaborates with his clients to exhaust all reasonable alternatives before going to trial.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Previous Professional Experience 

  • Managing partner, California office of national law firm (2023-2024)
  • Managing partner and Executive Committee member, California offices of a national law firm (2006-2023)

Representative Matters 

  • Real Estate Partnership Dispute: After being retained to represent a real estate development company in a breach of contract matter, obtained summary adjudication on a counter-claim for tortious interference resulting in the payment of substantial attorneys fees and costs to the client. The matter was subsequently dismissed by plaintiff just prior to trial.     
  • Cosmetic Talc Manufacturer Defense Verdict: Secured a defense verdict after a three-month trial in Los Angeles for a cosmetic talc manufacturer. The plaintiff alleged asbestos-contaminated talc caused her mesothelioma. The jury's decision absolving the talc manufacturer was upheld on appeal with costs awarded.
  • Commercial HVAC Sub-Contractor Defense Verdict: Achieved a defense verdict for a commercial HVAC sub-contractor. The plaintiff, citing career-ending injuries from a fall through improperly secured safety covers, obtained a verdict exclusively against a co-defendant, exonerating Keith's client. The appellate court upheld the judgment, including an approximately $300,000 fee awarded to Keith’s client.
  • Timber Company Defense Verdict/Non-Suit: Obtained a defense verdict/non-suit for a timber company facing toxic exposure allegations. The trial court ruled in favor of the timber company, upheld on appeal, with Keith’s client awarded expert fees and costs.
  • Trucking Liability Trial Victory: In a trucking liability bench trial in which plaintiff alleged life-altering injuries, the Court assigned 50% comparative fault to the plaintiff, resulting in a total award far less than plaintiff’s demand.

Speaking Engagements 

  • “Motions in Limine: Is There a Better Way?”, Harris Martin Asbestos Conference, Los Angeles, California
  • “Federal Court Dynamics,” DRI Asbestos Conference, San Francisco, California
  • “Verdict in Review,” DRI Asbestos Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Previous Professional Experience 

  • Managing partner, California office of national law firm (2023-2024)
  • Managing partner and Executive Committee member, California offices of a national law firm (2006-2023)

Representative Matters 

  • Real Estate Partnership Dispute: After being retained to represent a real estate development company in a breach of contract matter, obtained summary adjudication on a counter-claim for tortious interference resulting in the payment of substantial attorneys fees and costs to the client. The matter was subsequently dismissed by plaintiff just prior to trial.     
  • Cosmetic Talc Manufacturer Defense Verdict: Secured a defense verdict after a three-month trial in Los Angeles for a cosmetic talc manufacturer. The plaintiff alleged asbestos-contaminated talc caused her mesothelioma. The jury's decision absolving the talc manufacturer was upheld on appeal with costs awarded.
  • Commercial HVAC Sub-Contractor Defense Verdict: Achieved a defense verdict for a commercial HVAC sub-contractor. The plaintiff, citing career-ending injuries from a fall through improperly secured safety covers, obtained a verdict exclusively against a co-defendant, exonerating Keith's client. The appellate court upheld the judgment, including an approximately $300,000 fee awarded to Keith’s client.
  • Timber Company Defense Verdict/Non-Suit: Obtained a defense verdict/non-suit for a timber company facing toxic exposure allegations. The trial court ruled in favor of the timber company, upheld on appeal, with Keith’s client awarded expert fees and costs.
  • Trucking Liability Trial Victory: In a trucking liability bench trial in which plaintiff alleged life-altering injuries, the Court assigned 50% comparative fault to the plaintiff, resulting in a total award far less than plaintiff’s demand.

Speaking Engagements 

  • “Motions in Limine: Is There a Better Way?”, Harris Martin Asbestos Conference, Los Angeles, California
  • “Federal Court Dynamics,” DRI Asbestos Conference, San Francisco, California
  • “Verdict in Review,” DRI Asbestos Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada

Media

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Recognitions

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

Professional Activities

  • Defense Research Institute (2008-Present)
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association (2006-Present)
  • Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (2020-Present)

Keith has more than two decades of litigation experience and focuses his practice on high-stakes products liability, complex mass torts, premises liability and commercial litigation. Keith serves primarily as national coordinating counsel and trial counsel for Fortune 500 companies, providing valuable guidance and representation in a wide variety of litigation matters in multiple jurisdictions. Leveraging... his alternative dispute resolution and mediation experience, he collaborates with his clients to exhaust all reasonable alternatives before going to trial.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Previous Professional Experience 

  • Managing partner, California office of national law firm (2023-2024)
  • Managing partner and Executive Committee member, California offices of a national law firm (2006-2023)

Representative Matters 

  • Real Estate Partnership Dispute: After being retained to represent a real estate development company in a breach of contract matter, obtained summary adjudication on a counter-claim for tortious interference resulting in the payment of substantial attorneys fees and costs to the client. The matter was subsequently dismissed by plaintiff just prior to trial.     
  • Cosmetic Talc Manufacturer Defense Verdict: Secured a defense verdict after a three-month trial in Los Angeles for a cosmetic talc manufacturer. The plaintiff alleged asbestos-contaminated talc caused her mesothelioma. The jury's decision absolving the talc manufacturer was upheld on appeal with costs awarded.
  • Commercial HVAC Sub-Contractor Defense Verdict: Achieved a defense verdict for a commercial HVAC sub-contractor. The plaintiff, citing career-ending injuries from a fall through improperly secured safety covers, obtained a verdict exclusively against a co-defendant, exonerating Keith's client. The appellate court upheld the judgment, including an approximately $300,000 fee awarded to Keith’s client.
  • Timber Company Defense Verdict/Non-Suit: Obtained a defense verdict/non-suit for a timber company facing toxic exposure allegations. The trial court ruled in favor of the timber company, upheld on appeal, with Keith’s client awarded expert fees and costs.
  • Trucking Liability Trial Victory: In a trucking liability bench trial in which plaintiff alleged life-altering injuries, the Court assigned 50% comparative fault to the plaintiff, resulting in a total award far less than plaintiff’s demand.

Speaking Engagements 

  • “Motions in Limine: Is There a Better Way?”, Harris Martin Asbestos Conference, Los Angeles, California
  • “Federal Court Dynamics,” DRI Asbestos Conference, San Francisco, California
  • “Verdict in Review,” DRI Asbestos Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada

Education

  • Loyola Law School, JD (2002)
    • President, Public Interest Law Foundation 
  • University of California, Santa Barbara, BA, Political Science and History, with high honors (1999)
    • Golden Key National Honor Society

Admissions

  • California, 2002
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Practice Areas

Industries

News

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The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • Defense Research Institute (2008-Present)
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association (2006-Present)
  • Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (2020-Present)