J. Clarke Keller

Clarke Keller's practice focuses on defending Kentucky-area emergency medical service providers, product liability litigation and transportation law, including aviation, motor carriers and railroads. He serves as chair of the Business Litigation Group in the firm's Lexington office. He helped a start-up commercial enterprise obtain an FAA exemption and Certificate of Authorization to operate an unmanned aerial system (UAS) or drone, for commercial purposes. Additionally, Mr. Keller also maintains a successful mediation practice, having effectively mediated hundreds of cases throughout his career.

Capabilities

Practice Areas

Airport Law Arbitration, Mediation & Alternative Dispute Resolution Aviation Business Litigation Environmental Litigation Insurance Coverage, Bad Faith & Regulatory Litigation Litigation & Appeals Pretrial Practice & eDiscovery Product Liability Litigation

Recent News, Articles & Speaking Engagements

Exploring the Alternatives: Courts and Clients Increasingly Look to Mediation and Arbitration in Resolving Disputes

by Susan Baniak, Business Lexington, March 21, 2019

UAS/Drones: FAA Oversight and Insurance Issues

Stites & Harbison Thirsty Thursday networking event, Louisville, KY, May 18, 2017

UAS/Drones and the FAA

15th Annual Kentucky Environmental Conference, Lexington, KY, March 28, 2017

The Drone Wars: Environmental Edition

with Jennifer J. Cave, The Goods, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers, November 2016

How to Prepare to Give Your Deposition

Kentucky Coalition of Nurse Practitioners/Nurse Midwives

Top 10 Ways to Sabotage a Mediation

Fayette County Bar Association, Women Lawyers Group

Recent Assignments

Was part of the Stites & Harbison trial team that obtained a favorable jury verdict for a major chemical corporation against multiple plaintiffs

Led team of attorneys defending a national workers' compensation carrier against allegations of claims mishandling in 21 states

Successfully defended the local airport board in litigation arising from a fatal aircraft accident

Obtained summary judgment on third-party complaint against client in helicopter accident litigation

Bar Admissions

Kentucky

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky

Firm Leadership

Office of General Counsel

Memberships

American Bar Association

Kentucky Bar Association

Fayette County Bar Association

Mediation Center of Kentucky, Certified Mediator

Association of Defense Trial Attorneys

Transportation Lawyers Association

Defense Research Institute

Community Involvement

Christ the King Cathedral Parish, Lector, member of St. Vincent de Paul Society

Notre Dame Club of Central Kentucky, member and past president

Education

J.D., with high distinction, 1984

University of Kentucky College of Law

Order of Coif
Kentucky Law Journal, Staff member

B.B.A., with honors, Finance, 1973

University of Notre Dame

Freshman Basketball Team
AFROTC Scholarship

More Than Stites & Harbison

Clarke was an officer and helicopter pilot in the U.S. Air Force from 1974-81 and served as a helicopter pilot in the Kentucky Army National Guard from 1983 to 1990. Mr. Keller recently completed eight years of service on the Board of Trustees for Lexington Catholic High School, two of those years as Chair, and is a member and lector of Christ the King Cathedral Parish. He's also a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and past president of the Notre Dame Club of Central Kentucky.

Accolades

Martindale-Hubbell^®AV-Preeminent^® Peer Review Rated

Best Lawyers in America^®, Commercial Litigation and Mediation (2007-22)

Kentucky Super Lawyers^®(2007-20, 2022)