Michael J. Keane and his brother-in-law, Michael K. Reese, founded the law firm of Keane & Reese, P.A. in 1994, which later evolved into the present firm of Keane, Reese, Vesely & Gerdes, P.A.. Michael was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 27, 1953. He had a wide-ranging civil trial practice for over 30 years.
Mr. Keane also was an excellent appellate practitioner, having successfully argued cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the Florida Supreme Court, and all five District Courts of Appeal in Florida. He was also very proud that his first job after law school was working for the Honorable Ben F. Overton, Florida Supreme Court, as a judicial law clerk.
Mr. Keane also had a longstanding interest in legal education. He served as an adjunct professor at Stetson University College of Law and taught professional ethics, state constitutional law and alternate dispute resolution. He lectured at numerous continuing legal education seminars and was published on several topics.
Mr. Keane was well respected by his peers. He served on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners and was a member of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee. Mr. Keane also received the “Barney” award given annually by the Barney Masterson Inn of Court for the highest levels of professionalism, civility, ethics, and legal excellence. Mr. Keane was AV® rated by Martindale-HubbellSM. He was also honored in Best Lawyers in America, Florida Trend Magazine as “Legal Elite,” and named as a “Super Lawyer”.
When he was not lawyering, Mr. Keane’s passion was baseball, and, of course, his beloved Boston Red Sox. He was so thrilled to have seen his Red Sox win two World Series Championships. He also devoted countless hours coaching youth baseball and served for many years as a director for Northwest Youth Baseball.
Mr. Keane’s passion for life and the law is carried on in the spirit of Keane, Reese, Vesely & Gerdes, P.A.. We are so fortunate to have known and learned from Michael J. Keane, our mentor and friend.