Labaton Keller Sucharow LLP is deeply saddened to announce the passing of its Chairman, Christopher J. Keller. A visionary leader, steadfast advocate, and dedicated mentor, Chris’s impact on the Firm and the legal community is immeasurable.
Throughout his distinguished career, Chris played a pivotal role in shaping the Firm’s success, championing investor and consumer rights, and setting new standards in litigation. Under his leadership, Labaton Keller Sucharow expanded its reach, strengthened its commitment to excellence, and achieved landmark victories on behalf of its clients.
“Chris was a titan in the plaintiffs' bar and a central part of Labaton Keller Sucharow’s legacy,” noted Eric J. Belfi, Senior Partner at Labaton Keller Sucharow. “For nearly three decades, Chris was the heart and soul of this Firm, shaping it into what it is today. He was a champion of justice whose immeasurable contributions to the rule of law and the plaintiffs’ bar will leave a lasting legacy.”
Under Chris’s leadership, the Firm secured record-setting victories on behalf of investors and consumers, including a $1 billion settlement in In re Dell Technologies Inc. Class V Stockholders Litigation, currently the largest shareholder settlement ever in any state court in America and the 17th largest shareholder settlement of all time in federal and state court; a $650 million settlement in In re Facebook Biometric Information Privacy Litigation, one of the largest consumer data privacy settlements of all time and one of the first cases asserting consumers’ biometric privacy rights under Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).
A pioneering force in securities litigation, Chris played a pivotal role in shaping the field through his groundbreaking work. He was the principal litigator on the trial team in In re Real Estate Associates Limited Partnership Litigation, the first securities class action to secure a successful jury verdict following the enactment of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA). The six-week trial culminated in a $185 million plaintiffs’ verdict—one of the largest jury awards under the PSLRA. In addition, Chris was instrumental in prosecuting several high-profile securities fraud cases, including In re Schering-Plough Corporation/ENHANCE Securities Litigation, where he secured a $473 million settlement—the largest securities class action settlement against a pharmaceutical company at that time; In re Massey Energy Co. Securities Litigation, which resulted in a $265 million all-cash settlement; and In re Mercury Interactive Corp. Securities Litigation, where he achieved a $117.5 million settlement. His relentless pursuit of justice and unwavering dedication to investors left an indelible mark on the legal landscape.
“Chris was a leader in the legal profession and an exceptional advocate,” said Jonathan Gardner, Managing Partner at Labaton Keller Sucharow. “He was principled, creative, and fearless—a trailblazing lawyer who cared deeply about his clients and colleagues. His contributions to the pursuit of justice will be felt for generations.”
Honoring the Life and Legacy of Christopher J. Keller
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
St. John’s University School of Law
Christopher Keller ’97 Scholarship Fund
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