Biography
Keith’s litigation experience extends beyond the courtroom. He has litigated matters before N.C. Office of Administrative Hearings, in arbitration, and before local government boards and councils in quasi-judicial proceedings. He heads litigation teams at the firm on several complex cases. Keith also advises business clients, utilizing the expertise of his construction, corporate, tax, and estates law partners as needed.
Keith represents developers and local governments regarding the redevelopment of contaminated property. He has guided clients through the various state programs to address contaminated property, including the brownfields and dry-cleaning solvent programs. He has developed unique expertise regarding stormwater regulation. He has also litigated various environmental disputes, including multi-party Superfund litigation. In 2019, he was named Legal Elite Environmental Attorney of the Year by N.C. Business Magazine. Keith is active in the movement to reform how coastal fisheries resources are managed in North Carolina.
Keith and his wife, Shelly, have two grown children and two energetic Labrador retrievers. Keith is a golfer, fisherman, cyclist, and yoga enthusiast who inherited his mother’s love for cooking.
Areas of Focus
+Environmental
- Buying and selling contaminated property
- Brownfields and redevelopment projects
- Stormwater impacts
- Superfund and other litigation over responsibility for release of hazardous substances
- Solid waste management
- Natural resources and public trust law
+Government
- Stormwater enforcement
- Code enforcement
- Drafting Ordinances
- Project permitting and other entitlements
+Litigation
- Natural resource and environmental
- Contract and other commercial disputes
- Contested case petitions and declaratory matters under NC Administrative Procedures Act
- Arbitrations
- Municipal code enforcement
Credentials
+Education
University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1989
University of North Carolina, B.A., 1985
+Notable Accomplishments
Recognized as a Leading Attorney by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (Environmental Law), 2013-2023
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 Lawyer of the Year for Litigation-Environmental; (Environmental Law), 2008 – 2017, 2021, 2023-2025; and (Litigation – Environmental), 2013-2017, 2021-2025; (Commercial Litigation) 2024-2025; (Land Use and Zoning Law) 2025
Recognized as Best Lawyers’ 2015 Raleigh Litigation – Environmental Lawyer of the Year
Recognized in Business North Carolina Magazine’s “Legal Elite” (Environmental), 2003, 2007 – 2009, 2011-2015, and 2018; Hall of Fame 2022
Ranked among Super Lawyers magazine’s North Carolina Top 100 North Carolina “Super Lawyers” in 2012; ranked among “Super Lawyers” in Business Litigation, 2006 – 2009, Environmental, 2009 -2015, and 2018
+Professional & Community Activities
North Carolina Association of Municipal Attorneys, Member
Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, Member
Coastal Conservation Association of NC, Life Member
Raleigh Country Club, Member
Indigo Hot Yoga, Member
Easy Riders, MS Bike Team, Member
