Mr. Keller is a Partner in the firm’s Litigation Department and has been practicing law since 2006. He has experience with virtually all facets of real estate-related litigation, including first chair trial experience and successful resolution of high-value settlements for a long list of sophisticated clients. Mr. Keller also represents creditors in bankruptcy cases nationwide and has gained recognition as an expert on landlord-tenant issues under the United States Bankruptcy Code. He is a leader in the San Francisco legal community, having served as President of multiple professional organizations, chaired a statewide conference of bankruptcy professionals, and counselled lawyers’ groups and businesses about litigation and bankruptcy issues all over California.
One of Mr. Keller’s greatest strengths is a broad base of experience in real estate matters. He has defended housing and hotel projects against challenges under the California Environmental Quality Act; represented Fortune 500 companies in eminent domain proceedings; prosecuted commercial landlord-tenant and loan default cases; and resolved disputes involving takings claims, boundary issues, HOA governance documents, easements, mechanic’s liens, and water rights. His litigation experience also informs his approach to other matters such as representation of developers seeking entitlements, buyers and lenders conducting due diligence, and property owners impacted by development on neighboring parcels. In all these settings Mr. Keller applies a practical approach that starts with a strong appreciation for his clients’ priorities and an understanding of his role as both advocate and advisor.
Mr. Keller has also built a nationwide practice representing landlords and other creditors in bankruptcy proceedings from San Diego to Connecticut. Mr. Keller’s experience includes large, complex cases such as Sanchez Energy, in which Mr. Keller represented the owner of the debtor’s corporate headquarters; Sears, in which he represented three landlords holding nine separate properties; and WeWork, in which he represented multiple landlords and resolved a contentious dispute regarding failure to pay administrative rent. Mr. Keller has also served as court-approved attorney for receivers, referees, and bankruptcy trustees, helping them analyze claims, resolve disputes, and win authorization to sell distressed assets.
Mr. Keller has a long track record of involvement in the legal community. He is the President of the Bay Area Bankruptcy Forum for 2024-25 and has served as the Chair of the San Francisco Bar Association’s Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Section; the President of the California Receivers Forum’s Bay Area Chapter; and Co-Chair of the California Bankruptcy Forum’s 2022 Conference. He has been named a Super Lawyer for Northern California by Super Lawyers magazine for every year from 2021 through 2024, and was named as a Rising Star for every year from 2013 through 2020.
Mr. Keller speaks fluent German and has done pro bono work representing Holocaust survivors applying for benefits with the German government, as well as fundraising work for the Bay Area Urban Debate League and the Friends of Cal Debate.
Co-Presenter, “Commercial Real Estate Issues,” California Bankruptcy Forum Conference, Santa Barbara, California, May 2024
Co-Presenter, “Step Into Il-Liquid – Types of Receiverships,” California Receivers Forum Loyola Symposium, January 2024
Co-Presenter, “Bankruptcy Issue Spotting in the Age of COVID-19,” San Francisco Bar Association, August 2020
Co-Presenter, “Beyond Assumption and Rejection: Advanced Issues in Landlord-Tenant Bankruptcies,” Bay Area Bankruptcy Forum, June 2020
Moderator, “The Ethics of the Exploding Case,” Bay Area Bankruptcy Forum, February 2020
Co-Producer, “California Bankruptcy Forum Judges’ Roundtable”; CBF Annual Conference, May 2018
Co-Presenter, “How To Deal With The Debtor From Hell”; San Francisco Bar Association, May 2016
Moderator, “2016 Receivership Forecast”; California Receivers Forum Bay Area & Sacramento Chapters, January 2016
Moderator, “Bankruptcy Court Authority After Wellness International”; San Francisco Bar Association, September 2015
Moderator, “Economic Forecast 2015: Outlooks & Indicators”; California Receivers Forum Bay Area & Sacramento Chapters, April 2015
Moderator, “The Current State of the Receiver Market and Predictions by the Experts”; California Receivers Forum Los Angeles Chapter, July 2014
Moderator, “Bankruptcy Crimes”; San Francisco Bar Association, June 2013
Conference Co-Chair, 2022, and Education Co-Chair, 2020-2021, California Bankruptcy Forum Conference
President, Bay Area Bankruptcy Forum, 2024-25, and Board Member 2018-present
Chair, San Francisco Bar Association Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Section, 2017
President, California Receivers Forum Bay Area Chapter, 2015 and 2016.
Board Member, Friends of Cal Debate.