Skip Keesal

Shareholder

Long Beach

(562)-436-2000

Samuel (“Skip”) A. Keesal, Jr., was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised on a ranch in Tucson, Arizona. Skip currently resides in Rolling Hills with his lovely wife, Beth. He served in the United States Army and attended the University of Arizona and California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Skip graduated from CSULB in 1962 with a B.S. degree in business. In 1965 he received an LL.B. from the University of Southern California (USC) Law School.

Skip founded the law firm of Keesal, Young & Logan in 1970 which now has offices in Long Beach, San Francisco, Seattle, Anchorage, and Hong Kong. The firm has developed expertise in many practice areas including civil litigation, class and mass actions, securities and banking, mortgage litigation, employment, energy, environmental, admiralty and maritime, bankruptcy, business litigation, products liability, real estate, toxic tort, professional malpractice defense, professional design & construction, all types of civil appeals, mortgage banking, real estate, corporate/transactional, compliance, operations and data control advisory, cybersecurity, healthcare, insurance, appellate work, and other commercial matters.

Skip has tried over 250 cases in seventeen different states, including approximately 75 jury trials. As a result of his trial practice, he has been named to the Best Lawyers in America© in Admiralty & Maritime Law, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law (Defense), Litigation – Banking & Finance, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Labor & Employment, Litigation – Securities, Medical Malpractice Law (Defense), Product Liability Litigation (Defense), and Professional Malpractice Law (Defense). Only 39 lawyers in the United States, and only 2 in California, were selected for this many specialty areas in 2011.

Skip was also named in Best Lawyers of America©, Lawyer of the Year, Admiralty & Maritime Law, Orange County (2012); Best Lawyers of America©, Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation – Defendant, Orange County (2014); Best Lawyers in America©, Admiralty & Maritime Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor & Employment, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Product Liability – Defendants, and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants (2019–2020); Best Lawyers of America©, Lawyer of the Year, Admiralty & Maritime Law, Los Angeles, California (2019).

Skip has also been named by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of “Los Angeles’ 25 Most Powerful Attorneys.” In 2002–2005, he was named one of the “Top 100 Lawyers in California” by the Daily Journal. In 2007–2011, he was named by the Long Beach Post as one of “The 10 Most Powerful People in Long Beach.” Also in 2004–2005, 2008–2015, he was named a “Top 100” “Southern California Super Lawyer” by Los Angeles Magazine. Since 2004, Skip has been named “Southern California Super Lawyer” by Los Angeles Magazine.

In 2010, Skip was included in “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” by Chambers USA and since 2011, has been named one of “500 Leading Lawyers in America” by Lawdragon. In 2017–2021, he was recognized by America’s Top 100 as a “High Stakes Litigators®.” In 2018–2021, Skip has been recognized by America’s Top 100 as a “Civil Defense Litigators®.” In 2019–2021, Skip has been recognized by America’s Top 100 “Bet-the-Company Litigators®.” In 2019–2021, Skip has been recognized by America’s Top 100 as a “Personal Injury Litigator.”

In addition, Skip received the Lifetime Achievement Award (Southern California) by America’s Top 100 Attorneys, has been a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL) since 1990, and the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) since 1993.

Skip and others in the firm have dedicated themselves to the local and national communities by supporting numerous charitable and civic projects and have served on numerous Boards of charitable organizations for many years and continue to do so with pride.

Legal Experience
Approximately 250 trials, arbitrations, and regulatory hearings in sixteen different states (including approximately 75 jury trials)

Skip Keesal information

LL.B., University of Southern California, Law School (1965)
B.S. (business), California State University, Long Beach (1962)

California (1966)
Colorado (1991)
Hawaii (1983)
United States District Courts for the Central, Northern, and Southern Districts of California
United States District Court of Arizona
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Supreme Court of California
Supreme Court of the United States

Reported Decisions:

Curtin Mar. Corp. v. Santa Catalina Island Co., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 220048 (C.D. Cal. June 23, 2017)
Curtin Mar. Corp. v. Santa Catalina Island Co., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 216957 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 17, 2017)
Judicial Council of California v. Jacobs Facilities, Inc., 239 Cal. App. 4th 882 (2015)
State Comp. Ins. Fund v. Drobot, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 186913 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 20, 2015)
Judicial Council of California v. Jacobs Facilities, 2014 Cal. Super. LEXIS 12229 (Feb. 26, 2014)
State Comp. Ins. Fund v. Drobot, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 195662 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 28, 2014)
Judicial Council of Cal. v. Jacobs Facilities, 2014 Cal. Super. LEXIS 12231 (Jan. 23, 2014)
Judicial Council of Cal. v. Jacobs Facilities, 2014 Cal. Super. LEXIS 12237 (Jan. 10, 2014)
State Comp. Ins. Fund v. Drobot, 2013 Cal. Super. LEXIS 198736 (Nov. 20, 2013)
Judicial Council of Cal. v. Jacobs Facilities, 2013 Cal. Super. LEXIS 12012 (Nov. 18, 2013)
Rikuo Kotsu Co., Ltd. v. Carlsmith Ball, LLP, 2013 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 6757 (Sept. 23, 2013)
Regal Stone, Ltd. v. Longs Drug Stores Cal., L.L.C., 881 F. Supp. 2d 1123 (N.D. Cal. 2012)
Regal Stone, Ltd. v. Longs Drug Stores Cal., L.L.C., 881 F. Supp. 2d 1123 (N.D. Cal. 2012)
Judicial Council of Cal. v. Jacobs Facilities, 2012 Cal. Super. LEXIS 13654 (Feb. 6, 2012)
Judicial Council of Cal. v. Jacobs Facilities, 2012 Cal. Super. LEXIS 1069 (Feb. 6, 2012)
Palmtree Acquisition Corp. v. Neely, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 105782 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 4, 2010)
Regal Stone Ltd. v. Cota, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92767 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 7, 2010)
Sathianathan v. Smith Barney, Inc., 362 F. App’x 853 (9th Cir. 2010)
Vivendi SA v. T-Mobile USA, Inc., 586 F.3d 689 (9th Cir. 2009)
Camorlinga v. Jacobs Field Servs. N. Am., Inc., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 139337 (C.D. Cal. 2009)
Coors Brewing Co. v. Jacobs Eng’g Group Inc., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 57053 (D. Colo. July 6, 2009)
Muller v. Fresno Community Hospital & Medical Center, 172 Cal. App. 4th 887 (2009)
Sathianathan v. Smith Barney, Inc., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20354 (N.D. Cal. 2009)
Camorlinga v. Jacobs Field Servs. N. Am., Inc., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 129356 (C.D. Cal. Sept. 30, 2008)
Deutz Corp. v. City Light & Power, Inc., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 110101 (N.D. Ga. July 2, 2008)
Vivendi S.A. v. T-Mobile USA, Inc., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 118529 (W.D. Wash. June 5, 2008)
Deutz Corp. v. City Light & Power, Inc., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 110202 (N.D. Ga. Mar. 21, 2008)
Sitrick v. Wachovia Sec. Fin. Network, Inc., 240 F. App’x 238 (9th Cir. 2007)
Sathianathan v. Smith Barney, Inc., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64880 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 23, 2007)
Sathianathan v. Smith Barney, Inc., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31225 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 24, 2007)
Deutz Corp. v. City Light & Power, Inc., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 102136 (N.D. Ga. Apr. 24, 2007)
Sathianathan v. Smith Barney, Inc., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 104739 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 21, 2007)
Deutz Corp. v. City Light & Power, Inc., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 100599 (N.D. Ga. Aug. 15, 2006)
Sathianathan v. Smith Barney, Inc., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9828 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 24, 2006)
Globalsantafe Drilling Co. v. Ins. Co. of Pa., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2174 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 3, 2006)
Sathianathan v. Smith Barney, Inc., 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 34409 (N.D. Cal. June 6, 2005)
Muller v. Daniel Freeman Hosps., Inc., 2005 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 1877 (Mar. 3, 2005)
Reeves v. Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc., 2003 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 10958 (Nov. 21, 2003)
Jordan v. Cal. Dmv, 2002 Cal. App. LEXIS 4523 (2002)
Jordan v. Department of Motor Vehicles, 100 Cal. App. 4th 431 (2002)
Torrance Mem. Med. Ctr. v. Toshiba America Med. Sys., 2002 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 2678 (Mar. 26, 2002)
CIBC Oppenheimer Corp. v. Friedman, 2002 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 3772 (Feb. 21, 2002)
Paul v. Friedman, 95 Cal. App. 4th 853 (2002)
GR Corp. v. Amway Corp., 28 F. App’x 709 (9th Cir. 2002)
Burns v. Prudential Secs., 145 Ohio App. 3d 424 (2001)
Cats v. Protection One, Inc., 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25726 (C.D. Cal. June 4, 2001)
Cats v. Protection One, Inc., 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25725 (C.D. Cal. June 4, 2001)
L.A. Times v. Alameda Corridor Transp. Auth., 88 Cal. App. 4th 1381 (2001)
Getty v. Harmon, 53 F. Supp. 2d 1053 (W.D. Wash. Mar. 31, 1999)
Getty v. Harmon, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23684 (W.D. Wash. Oct. 23, 1998)
City of Los Angeles v. Superior Court, 50 Cal. App. 4th 598 (1996)
Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. v. Olympic Container Corp., 1996 U.S. App. LEXIS 17098 (9th Cir. July 5, 1996)
Prudential Sec. v. Dalton, 929 F. Supp. 1411 (N.D. Okla. 1996)
Jepson, Inc. v. Makita USA, Inc., 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21622 (C.D. Cal. May 27, 1994)
Bernard v. Maersk Lines, 22 F.3d 903 (9th Cir. 1994)
Sehremelis v. Farmers & Merchants Bank, 6 Cal. App. 4th 767 (1992)
Zimmerman v. Drexel Burnham Lambert, 205 Cal. App. 3d 153 (1988)
Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co. v. PaineWebber Real Estate Secur., Inc., 690 F. Supp. 879 (N.D. Cal. May 9, 1988)
Marchese v. Shearson Hayden Stone, Inc., 644 F. Supp. 1381 (C.D. Cal. Sept. 11, 1986)
Dalla v. Atlas Maritime Co., 771 F.2d 1277 (9th Cir. 1985)
Geller v. Nasser, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18418 (C.D. Cal. June 27, 1985)
Shearson Loeb Rhoades, Inc. v. Quinard, 751 F.2d 1102 (9th Cir. 1985)
Arndt v. Prudential Bache Secur., Inc., 603 F. Supp. 674 (S.D. Cal. Nov. 27, 1984)
Valley Bank of Nevada v. Foster & Marshall, Inc., 585 F. Supp. 1351 (D. Utah May 24, 1984)
Carrott v. Shearson Hayden Stone, Inc., 724 F.2d 821 (9th Cir. 1984)
In re Capital Underwriters, Inc. Sec. Litigation, 519 F. Supp. 92 (N.D. Cal. May 5, 1981)
Dillingham Tug & Barge Corp. v. Collier Carbon & Chemical Corp., 548 F. Supp. 691 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 26, 1981)
Biby v. Kansas City Life Ins. Co., 629 F.2d 1289 (8th Cir. 1980)
Mendelsohn v. Capital Underwriters, Inc., 490 F. Supp. 1069 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 24, 1979)
St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Weiner, 606 F.2d 864 (9th Cir. 1979)
Fortner v. Hornblower, Weeks, Noyes & Trask, Inc., 1979 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13174 (D. Or. Apr. 9, 1979)
Meier v. Texas International Drilling Funds, Inc., 441 F. Supp. 1056 (N.D. Cal. May 2, 1977)
Maritime Overseas Corp. v. United States, 433 F. Supp. 419 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 24, 1977)
Clifton v. Ulis, 17 Cal. 3d 99 (1976)
Catania v. Halcyon S.S. Co., 44 Cal. App. 3d 348 (1975)
Warren v. Atchison, T. & S. F. Ry. Co., 19 Cal. App. 3d 24 (1971)
Ortega v. Compagnie Generale Transatlantique, 258 F. Supp. 430 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 14, 1966)

Jones v. Chappell: The California Death Penalty is Unconstitutional (Spring 2015), USF Law Review Vol. 49

The Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Los Angeles, California (2025)
The Best Lawyers in America®, Admiralty & Maritime Law, Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, Long Beach, California (2025)
Top 100 Lawyers Personal Injury (2024)
Top 100 Registry California Attorney of the Year (2024)
Who’s Who Publishing Group’s The Most Influential Leaders in North America (2024)
Who’s Who Publishing Group’s American Class Action Litigator of the Year (2024)
Top 100 Registry California Attorney of the Year (2024)
Who’s Who Publishing Group’s Influential Leaders (2023)
Top 100 Lawyers (2023-2024)
Top 100 Lawyers (2022) Lifetime Achievement (Maritime Law; Business Law)
National Association of Distinguished Counsel – Nation’s Top One Percent (2022)
America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators (2022)
“10 Best Personal Injury Attorneys”, American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys (2022)
Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America Award (2011–2021)
Top 100 Registry American Mass Action Legal Eagle (2021)
Roundtable Magazine, California Attorney of the Year (2020)
“10 Best Personal Injury Attorneys”, American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys (2021)
“Top 10 Attorney”, Attorney and Practice Magazine (2021)
AV® peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell
America’s Top 100 Bet-the-Company Litigators (2019–Present)
America’s Top 100 (Personal Injury Litigator) (2019–2023)
America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigator of the Year (2017- Present)
America’s Top 100 (Civil Defense Litigator) (2018–Present)
Top 100 Registry Class Action Attorney of the Year (2020)
Top 100 Registry Professional of the Year (2019)
Top 100 Registry Lifetime Achievement in Law (2019)
Top 100 Registry Top 100 Lawyers’ 2019 Attorney of the Year
Top 100 Lawyers Mass Tort Law (2021)
California Attorney of the Year (2021)
California Commercial Litigation Legal Legend (2021)
Lawdragon Hall of Fame (2021)
Chambers USA Guide – “America’s Leading Lawyers for Transportation & Shipping/Maritime & Litigation” (2020–2021)
Recognized on Super Lawyers Top List for 10 years or more (2020)
Roundtable Magazine, Attorney of the Year (2020)
Roundtable Magazine, Mass Tort/Class Action Attorney of the Year (2020)
Selected to Southern California Best Lawyers in America© List (Maritime, Commercial Litigation, Employment, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions, Medical Malpractice Law, Product Liability Litigation, and Professional Malpractice Law) (2020)
The Best Lawyers in America®, Admiralty & Maritime Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor & Employment, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Product Liability – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants (2019–2021)
The Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Admiralty & Maritime Law, Los Angeles, California (2019)
The Best Lawyers in America®, Admiralty & Maritime Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor & Employment, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Banking & Finance, Litigation – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Product Liability – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants (1993–2018)
Roundtable Magazine, America’s Top Attorney, Mass Tort/Class Actions (2019)
The Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation – Defendant, Orange County (2014)
The Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Admiralty & Maritime Law, Orange County (2012)
The Best Lawyers in America®, Admiralty & Maritime Law, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law (Defense), Litigation – Banking & Finance, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Labor & Employment, Litigation – Securities, Medical Malpractice Law (Defense), Product Liability Litigation (Defense), and Professional Malpractice Law (Defense). Only 39 lawyers in the United States, and only 2 in California, were selected for this many specialty areas in 2011.
Chambers USA Guide – “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” (2010, 2012, 2013, 2019–2020)
Southern California “Super Lawyer” (Thomson Reuters) (2004-2023) (a designation limited to 5% of attorneys in a geographic region)
Los Angeles Business Journal – Los Angeles’ 25 Most Powerful Attorneys (2002) (only year published)

Committee Participation:

Member, Century Club of Long Beach (2012)
Save our Middle School Sports Committee (2012)
49er Foundation and 49er Foundation Finance Committee (2011–2016)
Maritime Law Association – Non-Lawyer Committee (2010–Present)
Member of the CSULB Foundation Board of Directors (2010–Present)
Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Investment Compliance (2005)
Maritime Law Association – Marine Torts & Casualties Committee (1998–2005)
Board of Governors, Long Beach Bar Association (1996)
Vice Chairman Securities and Exchange Committee ABA (1985–1994)
Former Chairman of a California State Bar Disciplinary Committee

Community and Charity Participation:

Board of Directors, California State University, Long Beach (2020)
Board Member, Mayor’s Fund for Education (2016–Present)
Member, Advisory Committee, Long Beach Ronald McDonald House (2014–Present)
Honorary Board of Directors of The Guidance Center (2013–Present)
Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Board of Trustees (1998–2013), Chairman of the Pacific Region (1999–2001), Lifetime Trustee (2013–Present)
Long Beach Police Foundation (2011–Present)
Los Angeles Coalition for the Economy & Jobs in Los Angeles (2010–Present)
Southern California 50 Leadership Council, Rand Institute for Civil Justice (2010)
Board of Directors, Children’s Health Fund, New York (2006–2020), Member of Advisory Board (1991–2006), Development Committee (2009–Present)
Board of Directors, Museum of Latin American Art (2003–2004)
Board of Trustees, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center (1997–1999)
Fund Raising Chairman, Performing Arts Center, California State University, Long Beach (1992–1995)
Fund Raising Chairman, Long Beach Legal Aid Foundation (1991–1992/1992–1993 – co-chair)
Board of Directors, Greater Long Beach YMCA (1991–1999)
Board of Governors, California State University, Long Beach (1990–2020)
Board of Directors, Boy Scouts Council Long Beach (1990–2000)
Honorary Board of Governors of Leadership Long Beach
Clinton Global Initiative
Clinton Foundation Ambassadors
Clinton Foundation

Keys to the City of Long Beach (2024) awarded to Skip and Beth
Cottonwood Award for Leadership, Rancho Los Alamitos (2024) awarded to Skip and KYL
100 Black Men of Long Beach, Inc., 1st Annual Community Leader Award (2023)
Long Beach Branch NAACP, Fathers and Men of the Year Honoree (2020)
Long Beach Branch NAACP, 2019 Torch Leadership Award (2019) awarded to Skip and KYL
Corporate Humanitarian Award, NAACP, Long Beach Branch (2007) awarded to Skip and KYL
America’s Top 100 Attorneys, Lifetime Achievement Award (Southern California)
Luminary Award (2019), Long Beach Symphony Association
Southern California Chapter of Autism Speaks, “Advocate Award” (2017)
Honoree, Long Beach Ronald McDonald House for philanthropic contributions to community (2014)
Honoree, Mentoring A Touch From Above (2012)
John Dixon Award, Century Club of Long Beach (2012)
Champions of Justice Award, Civil Justice Program, Loyola Law School Los Angeles (2010)
Businessman of the Year for California, American Solutions (2010)
John C. Wallace Dream Maker Award, Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach (2009)
Mayor Beverly O’Neill Legacy in Leadership Award, Leadership Long Beach (2009)
Entrepreneur of the Year Award for California, American Business Defense and Advisory Council (2009)
Founders Award, Children’s Health Fund (2009)
Lifetime Achievement Award, St. Mary’s Medical Center (2008) awarded to Skip and KYL
Crystal Arts Humanitarian Award, International City Theatre (2007)
Good Scout of the Year Award, Boys Scouts of America Long Beach Area Council (2007) awarded to Skip and KYL
Corporate Citizen Award, Long Beach Chamber of Commerce (2007) awarded to Skip and KYL
Community Partnership Award, CAMEO (2006)
President’s Award, Boys and Girls Club of America (2004)
Humanitarian Award, Camp Fire USA (2004)
Nuestra Imagen Humanitarian Award, Long Beach Community Hispanic Association (2004)
Community Achievement Award, Women’s Council (2003)
Building Bridges Award, National Conference for Community & Justice (2003)
National Silver Medallion, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (2002)
Excellence in Leadership Award, Leadership Long Beach (2002)
Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Long Beach Chamber of Commerce (2001)
Lawyer of the Year Award, Long Beach Bar Association (2000)
Humanitarian Award, National Conference for Community & Justice Long Beach (2000)
Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award, Long Beach Area Boy Scouts (1998)
The Family Service Family Life Award (1997)
The National Conference for Community and Justice Greater Long Beach Region Humanitarian Award (1997)
The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center 1994 Spectrum Award for Leadership (1994)
Outstanding Achievement Award for Betterment of Profession, Who’s Who Worldwide (1992)
Tiffany Big Apple Award, Children’s Health Fund (1992)
Distinguished Alumnus Award, Business School, California State University, Long Beach (1991)
Outstanding Law Associate, University of Southern California Law School (1965)

American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Advocate (1993–Present)
International Academy of Trial Lawyers (1990–Present), Board of Directors (1993–1996), and IATL Foundation Board of Directors (1993–2007); California State Co-Chair IATL – Secretary/Treasurer (1996/1997)
Advisory Board, The American Democracy Month Council (2018–Present)
Litigation Counsel of America Senior Fellow (2017)
Litigation Counsel of America Fellow (2014–2016)

Skip Keesal articles