William Lawrence "bill" Keating: Brilliant Trial Lawyer & Consummate Gentleman
| Publication year | 2023 |
| Citation | Vol. 52 No. 10 Pg. 54 |
| Pages | 54 |
Profiles in Success
Brilliant Trial Lawyer and Consummate Gentleman
BY CHRISTINA HABAS
Some trial lawyers are formidable opponents. Others are gentlemen. While there are many in our profession who believe a trial lawyer cannot be both, Bill Keating proved them all wrong.
Named as "Colorado's Best Trial Lawyer" by The Denver Post in his obituary,[1] Bill Keating had the skills, drive, and intellect to surpass all others. How he became such a legend is a story in itself.
The Very Early Years
Elementary school.
Bill was born in Chicago to James and Margaret Keating on November 22, 1944. He was their youngest son, coming after James and Tom. Bill's father was a Chicago firefighter and fire chief; his mother was an elementary school teacher.
Bill attended and played football with St. Patrick's High School, a Christian Brothers school that Bill credited with imbuing him with a lifelong commitment to education and social justice. The Brothers were instrumental in his admission to the University of Michigan, where he played as a guard on the 1964 Big Ten Championship and 1965 Rose Bowl Champion teams. During his senior year, Bill injured his knee, which kept him out of the full season and forced him to take the LSAT as he started thinking of life after football.
Shortly after graduating, Bill married Mary Katherine O'Brien, whom he'd known since the third grade. Bill was drafted in 1966 as a free agent by the Denver Broncos.
Fifth-grade football.
Neither Bill nor the Broncos stood out during his first season. However, he quickly gained a reputation as an entertainer. A press release to TV Guide mentions Bill's football talent, but also prophetically noted: "Gifted after dinner speaker."[2]
Bill's professional football career was short-lived—the Broncos traded him to the Miami Dolphins, where he was cut that same season. He tried again with the Oakland Raiders training camp, where his brother Tom excelled, but he was released without fanfare. The coaches told him that while he had a great career ahead, it would not be in football.
Bill had already decided to make Denver home, and he pivoted to law school. But the enrollment deadline for the 1968 academic year at the University of Denver had already passed. Not one to be easily stymied, Bill walked into the dean's office and made his case. Dean Robert Yegge bent the rules and admitted Bill, even finding some financial aid. Ultimately the University benefited from that decision, as Bill became a lifelong patron of the school.[3] He graduated with his law degree in 1971.
From Gridiron to Courtroom
Being a Denver Bronco certainly had its privileges. His history with the team got him his first job in law. Bill applied to clerk with Judge Robert McWilliams on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. With numerous resumes to choose from, Bill's stood out because McWilliams was a dedicated Broncos fan.[4] Bill ultimately impressed McWilliams with his legal intellect and work ethic, and they became lifelong friends.
After his clerkship ended, Bill met Bob Wagner, and the two founded what is now known as Keating Wagner Polidori Free. At the start, they took nearly all cases that came their way but eventually narrowed their focus to plaintiff's personal injury and workers" compensation.
In 1975, Bill and Mary welcomed their son Michael, who was a "one and only" until his sister, Katherine, or "Katie," was born in 1980. Although no longer a professional athlete, Bill kept up his conditioning his whole life, especially enjoying cycling. He traveled the countryside throughout Europe on cycling trips with many friends, with Mike joining him frequently. He also enjoyed the solitude and peace of a solo ride, which gave his "big brain" time to think and consider new and better ways to torture his adversaries.
A Brilliant Trial Lawyer
Before long, Bill earned a reputation among lawyers as one of the very best. He had many natural...
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