Labaton Keller Sucharow mourns the passing of our Chairman and friend, Christopher J. Keller.  Chris was a titan in the plaintiffs’ bar and a central part of Labaton Keller Sucharow’s story.

“We are deeply saddened by Chris’s passing and extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Anike, and sons, Max, Braden, and Cole, and cherished members of our Firm family.”  Eric J. Belfi, Senior Partner at Labaton Keller Sucharow, said: “For nearly three decades, Chris was the heart and soul of this Firm, shaping it into what it is today.  He was more than an exceptional lawyer, mentor, and friend—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, the largest shareholder settlement in any state court in the U.S. and the 17th largest shareholder settlement in federal and state court history.  He also led the Firm in achieving a $650 million settlement in In re Facebook Biometric Information Privacy Litigation, one of the largest consumer data privacy settlements and a landmark case under Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).

As a pioneering force in securities litigation, Chris was the principal litigator on the trial team in In re Real Estate Associates Limited Partnership Litigation, the first securities class action tried to a successful jury verdict after the enactment of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA).  The six-week jury trial resulted in a $185 million plaintiffs’ verdict—one of the largest jury verdicts under the PSLRA.  

“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.”

In January 2024, the Firm made the strategic decision to add Chris to the Firm’s name, recognizing his stellar career as a renowned litigator and his strategic contributions to the Firm.  Chris was appointed as the Firm’s Chairman in 2019.  In his role as Chairman, Chris was responsible for establishing and executing upon the Firm’s strategic priorities, including advancing business initiatives and promoting a culture of performance, collaboration, and collegiality.  Commitment to these priorities has helped the Firm deepen its practice area expertise, extend its worldwide reach, and earn industry recognition for workplace culture.

About Christopher J. Keller

Christopher J. Keller served as Chairman of Labaton Keller Sucharow LLP and as Head of the Firm’s Executive Committee.  He focused on complex securities litigation and worked with institutional investor clients, including some of the world's largest public and private pension funds with tens of billions of dollars under management.

Chris’s prominence in the plaintiffs’ bar earned him numerous accolades.  Chambers & Partners USA recognized him as a “Noted Practitioner,” while The Legal 500 recommended him for his excellence in securities litigation.  He has also been honored by Lawdragon as a “Legend,” an “Elite Lawyer in the Legal Profession,” and one of the top “Global Plaintiff Lawyers.”

A frequent commentator on legal issues, Chris was featured in The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Law360, and The National Law Journal, among others.  Educating institutional investors was a significant element of his advocacy for shareholder rights, and he was regularly called upon to present on developing legal trends and emerging case theories at annual meetings and seminars for institutional investors.

A trailblazer in securities litigation, Chris played a pivotal role in shaping the field through his groundbreaking work.  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.

In response to the evolving needs of the Firm’s clients, Chris established the Firm’s in-house Case Evaluation Group in 2003, which is dedicated to the identification, investigation, and development of potential actions to recover losses resulting from violations of federal securities laws and vindicate shareholder rights.  For more than 20 years, Chris led this skilled team of attorneys, in-house investigators, financial analysts, and forensic accountants evaluating clients’ financial losses and vetting potential legal claims, resulting in the Firm’s appointment as lead or co-lead counsel in more than 280 federal securities class actions and more than $27 billion recovered for investors.

In 2019, Chris launched the Firm’s groundbreaking Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice, transforming consumer protection by providing individual clients with top-tier plaintiff representation.  Under his leadership, the Practice leveraged digital communications and a technology-driven approach to mass claims, securing more than $200 million in recoveries for nearly 1.5 million clients.

Honoring the Life and Legacy of Christopher J. Keller

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
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St. John’s University School of Law
Christopher Keller ’97 Scholarship Fund

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