Practice Areas: Business Litigation, Consumer and Business Lending Litigation, Employment, Insurance, Securities

Position: Member.  Born Chicago, Illinois, July 31, 1939; admitted to bar, 1966, California; 1982, Hawaii; 1991, Colorado; 1973, United States Supreme Court.  Education: University of Arizona; California State University, Long Beach (B.S., 1962); University of Southern California (LL.B., 1965).  Outstanding Law Associate.  Listed in: Best Lawyers of America, Civil Litigation, all six editions and Maritime Law Association, International Academy of Trial Lawyers (Member, Board of Directors, 1994-Present, Secretary/Treasurer IATL Foundation 2005-).  American Board of Trial Advocates (Advocate); Outstanding Alumnus of Business School at California State University, Long Beach, 1991.  Co-Author: "Shipowners' Liability for Longshoremen Personal Injuries: The Supreme Court Blocks The 'Importation' of Unseaworthiness," 7 U.S.F., Mar. L.J. 67, 1994; "Employment Disputes," in Securities Arbitration 1992, Vol. 2 (PLI Corporate Law and Practice Course Handbook, Series No. 781, 1992).  Member: Los Angeles County and American (Member, Committee on Commodities Regulation, 1980-1981; Vice Chairman, Securities, Commodities and Exchange Subcommittee of the Administrative Law Section, 1985-1988) Bar Associations; State Bar of California (Member, 1968-1973 and Chairman, 1969-1973, Disciplinary Committee); Maritime Law Association of the United States (Member, Committee on Personnel, 1983-Present ).  (Also at San Francisco, office).

E-mail: skip.keesal@kyl.com

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CURRICULUM VITAE OF
SAMUEL A. KEESAL, JR.
Educational Background:
California State University, Long Beach
B.S. degree in business (1962)
University of Southern California, Law School
LL.B. degree (1965)

Professional Experience:
* Lillick, McHose and Charles, Los Angeles (1966-1969)
* Pollack, Palmer and Metzler (1969-1970)
* Keesal, Young & Logan (Founding Partner) (1970-Present)

Bar Admissions:
California, Colorado and Hawaii

Community and Charity Participation:
Board of Trustees, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center (1997-1999)
Honorary Board Member, Greater Long Beach Foundation (2005-)
Board of Governors, California State University, Long Beach (1990-Present)
Fund Raising Chairman, Performing Arts Center, California State University, Long Beach (1992-1995)
Member of Advisory Board, Children's Health Fund, New York (1990-Present)
Board of Directors, Greater Long Beach YMCA (1991-1999)
Board of Directors, Boy Scouts Council Long Beach (1990-2000)
Fund Raising Chairman, Long Beach Legal Aid Foundation (1991-92/1992-93 - co-chair)
Member of Police Advisory Board, Long Beach (1990-1991)

Professional Recognition:
Best Lawyers in America (Civil Litigation and Maritime Law)
International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Board of Directors, IATL Foundation Board of Directors and California State Co-Chair -- Secretary/Treasurer (2005)
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Advocate
Who's Who in Practicing Attorneys
Who's Who in Los Angeles Attorneys
Who's Who in Orange County Attorneys
Who's Who in U.S. Executives
Los Angeles Daily Journal, Top 100 Lawyers in California
Los Angeles Daily Journal, L.A.'s Most Powerful Attorneys (2002)
Los Angeles Magazine - Southern California Super Lawyers "Top 100" 2004 and 2005


Awards:
Outstanding Law Associate, University of Southern California Law School
Distinguished Alumnus Award, Business School, California State University, Long Beach
Tiffany Big Apple Award, Children's Health Fund (1992)
Outstanding Achievement Award for Betterment of Profession, Who's Who Worldwide
The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center 1994 Spectrum Award for Leadership
The Family Service Family Life Award (1997)
Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award, Long Beach Area Boy Scouts (1998)

Committee Participation:
Vice Chairman Securities and Exchange Committee ABA (1985-94)
Former Chairman, California State Bar Disciplinary Committee
Personnel Committee, Maritime Law Association, Marine Torts & Casualties Committee (1989-2005)
Board of Governors, Long Beach Bar Association (1996)

Legal Experience:
Approximately 250 trials, arbitrations and regulatory hearings, including approximately 75 jury trials which were tried in sixteen different states.


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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 has three adult children - Carolyn, Katherine and Steven.  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.  Admitted to the bar, he worked for the law firm of Lillick, McHose and Charles for four years, and for Pollack, Palmer & Metzler for one year.

After five years of practice with two firms primarily handling trial work, Skip founded the law firm of Keesal, Young & Logan in 1970.  The firm, which has grown to 65 attorneys with offices in Long Beach, San Francisco, Seattle, Anchorage and Hong Kong, has developed expertise in many specialties of civil litigation including securities, admiralty and maritime, bankruptcy, business litigation, products liability, real estate, toxic tort, professional malpractice defense, labor and employment, and all types of civil appeals.  The firm's corporate/transactional group has developed significant practices in mortgage banking, real estate, corporate and other commercial matters.

Skip is extremely active in the firm's trial practice.  He has tried over 250 cases in sixteen different states, including approximately 75 jury trials.  He is admitted to the Bars of California, Hawaii, and Colorado.  As a result of his trial practice, he has been named to the "Best Lawyers in America," both in civil litigation and maritime law.  Skip, in 1990, was selected as one of 500 lawyers in the world to join the prestigious International Academy of Trial Lawyers, where he sits on the Board of Directors of the Academy and the Academy's Foundation.  Among other distinctions, Skip is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has been named to "Who's Who in Attorneys," "Who's Who in U.S. Executives" and "Who's Who in Los Angeles Lawyers."  CSULB named Skip "The Distinguished Alumnus" of the Business School in 1991.

Skip has dedicated himself and his firm to the local community by supporting numerous charitable and civic projects.  Skip serves on the Board of Directors for the Long Beach Area Council of Boy Scouts of America and the YMCA of Greater Long Beach.  Skip has recently joined the Board of Trustees at Long Beach Memorial Hospital.  Skip, a strong supporter of education, is a founding member of the Board of Governors at CSULB and supports many programs sponsored by the local schools.  In 1997 Keesal, Young & Logan was named as the "Outstanding Corporation" on National Philanthropy Day in Los Angeles.  Skip is on the Advisory Board of the Children's Health Fund which awarded Skip the "Big Apple Award" for his outstanding contributions to children's health care.  Skip is also an avid supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach and formerly served as the chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for the Southwest Region. He has been given the National Conference for Community and Justice Humanitarian Award and has been named "Distinguished Citizen of the Year" by the Family Service of Long Beach.  Skip also received the "Excellence in Leadership Award" by Leadership Long Beach.  In 2002 Skip received the "Achievement Award" from Stand For Children of Long Beach for his commitment to ensuring that all children grow up healthy, educated and safe.  He also received the Corporate Award from the Steel Magnolias of Stramski Children's Development Center for his commitment to the community.  In December 2002, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America awarded him the National Silver Medallion for outstanding and extraordinary service to youth through the Boys & Girls Club Movement.  In May 2003, the National Conference for Community and Justice awarded Skip with the "Building Bridges Award" for his commitment and dedication to bridging the understanding of humankind, and to furthering peace, harmony and tolerance in the community.  In June that same year, he was honored by the Women's Council with the "Community Achievement Award" for exemplary commitment and service to the community.  In September 2004, Skip received the "Humanitarian Award" from Centro C.H.A. Inc., Long Beach Community Hispanic Association for his commitment to empowering youth and families through support of higher education.  That same month he was honored by Camp Fire USA with the "Humanitarian Award."  In October 2004, the Boys & Girls Club of America selected him to receive the "President's Award" for his extraordinary leadership and dedication to improving the lives of children everywhere.

In addition to skiing, Skip Keesal still participates in an occasional roping competition at local rodeos, a pastime he has enjoyed since childhood.


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