Christopher J. Keller, Acclaimed Litigator and Visionary Leader, Dies at 54

Christopher Keller, a respected leader in securities litigation and the driving force at Labaton Keller Sucharow, passed away this month at age 54 after a battle with cancer. Keller served as Chairman of the firm from 2019 until his death and was a long-time member of the executive committee. Known for his sharp strategic mind and deep commitment to justice, Keller played a central role in shaping the firm’s identity and success over more than two decades.

He made his mark early, helping lead the firm’s push into complex financial litigation. During the 2008 financial crisis, Keller was among the first to take on banks over residential mortgage-backed securities, and earlier, he championed cases addressing the backdating of stock options – a key moment in the firm’s expansion into corporate misconduct litigation.

Smart, decisive, and unafraid to challenge convention, Keller earned deep respect within the legal community for his foresight and principled leadership.

“He had a spectacular ability to see trends coming,” said Eric Belfi, a partner at the firm and long-time friend of Keller. “He would see case ideas and practice areas, and he had a very good vision as far as where the market was going.”

Keller played a pivotal role in some of the most significant cases in the firm’s history, including a $650M settlement in the biometric privacy case against Facebook, a $1B recovery for shareholders in Dell Technologies, and a landmark $185M jury verdict under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act – the first of its kind.

One of Keller’s more innovative contributions to the firm was his work developing an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practice, at a time when much of the plaintiffs’ bar was skeptical. As companies increasingly relied on arbitration clauses to block class actions, Keller saw a path forward. By organizing large numbers of individual claims, he helped restore access to justice in cases where collective legal action had been suppressed.

“Chris had the vision of really flipping the leverage on these companies,” said Jonathan Gardner, Managing Partner at Labaton. “He was always trying to help the little guy. That was at the core of who he was.”

Still, ADR was just one part of a broader legacy. Keller wasn’t simply a strategist – he was a builder. He had a rare combination of legal insight, political acumen and people skills, which enabled him to bring bold ideas to life and inspire others to follow them.

“He knew how to find people that would help build practice areas,” Gardner says, “and then he empowered them.”

Belfi, who leads the firm’s Client Development Group, recalled their close collaboration on both case selection and firm strategy. Their professional relationship, which began over lunch at the now-closed Burger Heaven in Midtown, evolved into a deep and lasting friendship.

“He was a natural-born leader,” said Belfi. “He was strategic but also dynamic, willing to go against trends. His view was, ‘You don't keep doing the same thing. You test what you're doing to make sure it’s the best possible way to proceed.’”

Keller’s legacy at Labaton extends well beyond any one case or practice area. He built relationships, mentored younger attorneys, and helped define the firm’s values.

Christopher Keller is survived by his wife, Anike, and his three sons, Max, Braden and Cole.