Keating Muething & Klekamp
Encyclopedia
Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL is a law firm
based in Cincinnati, Ohio
. It works in corporate law
and specializes in commercial finance
, bankruptcy
, real estate law, and labor law. As of around 2007, it has some 110 attorneys, about 400 employees in total, and an estimated $34 million in annual billings. Unusually for a firm of its size, it has only one office, in Cincinnati.
It was founded as Keating, Muething & Keating in 1954 by brothers Charles Keating, Jr. and William J. Keating
and John L. Muething, a friend of Charles Keating's from the University of Cincinnati College of Law
.
Beginning in the late 1950s, the firm's virtually sole client became Carl Lindner, Jr.
and his American Financial Corporation.
William Keating left the firm in 1959, when he was elected Municipal Court Judge. Donald P. Klekamp joined the firm to replace him, and some years later he made partner and the firm's name was changed to Keating Muething & Klekamp.
Charles Keating left the firm in 1972 and joined American Financial Corporation. As head of American Continental Corporation
, he subsequently became a major figure in the Savings and Loan scandal of the 1980s, was at the center of the Keating Five
political scandal, and was convicted of federal and state charges and served several years in prison.
Keating Muething & Klekamp subsequently branched out its business, and its client list has included Cintas Corporation, Fifth Third Bank
, and McDonald's Corporation.
The firm has historically had strong connections to the U.S. Republican Party
. Founding partner William Keating would go on to become a Republican U.S. House of Representatives member from Ohio's 1st congressional district
in the early 1970s as well as publisher of The Cincinnati Enquirer
. He subsequently returned to being a partner in the firm.
Trey Grayson
, the Republican Secretary of State of Kentucky
, has worked for the firm in estate planning and corporate law. Pat DeWine
, a Republican county-level officeholder and former congressional candidate, is an associate with the firm. His father, former Ohio Republican U.S. Senator Mike DeWine
, joined the firm in 2007, working as corporate investigations group co-chair. Members of Keating Muething & Klekamp, as well as their family members, contributed over $50,000 to John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign
.
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
based in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. It works in corporate law
Corporate law
Corporate law is the study of how shareholders, directors, employees, creditors, and other stakeholders such as consumers, the community and the environment interact with one another. Corporate law is a part of a broader companies law...
and specializes in commercial finance
Commercial finance
In the United States, commercial finance is the function of offering loans to businesses. Commercial financing is generally offered by a bank or other lender...
, bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
, real estate law, and labor law. As of around 2007, it has some 110 attorneys, about 400 employees in total, and an estimated $34 million in annual billings. Unusually for a firm of its size, it has only one office, in Cincinnati.
It was founded as Keating, Muething & Keating in 1954 by brothers Charles Keating, Jr. and William J. Keating
William J. Keating
William John Keating is a former American politician of the Republican party.Keating served in the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1974 representing Ohio's 1st congressional district. He was the brother of financier Charles H Keating Jr. and later was Chairman CEO & Publisher...
and John L. Muething, a friend of Charles Keating's from the University of Cincinnati College of Law
University of Cincinnati College of Law
The University of Cincinnati College of Law is the fourth oldest continually running law school in the United States and a founding member of the Association of American Law Schools. It was started in 1833 as the Cincinnati Law School...
.
Beginning in the late 1950s, the firm's virtually sole client became Carl Lindner, Jr.
Carl Lindner, Jr.
Carl Henry Lindner, Jr. was a Cincinnati businessman and one of the world's richest people. According to the 2006 issue of Forbes Magazine's 400 list, Lindner was ranked 133 and was worth an estimated $2.3 billion...
and his American Financial Corporation.
William Keating left the firm in 1959, when he was elected Municipal Court Judge. Donald P. Klekamp joined the firm to replace him, and some years later he made partner and the firm's name was changed to Keating Muething & Klekamp.
Charles Keating left the firm in 1972 and joined American Financial Corporation. As head of American Continental Corporation
American Continental Corporation
American Continental Corporation was a Phoenix, Arizona-based real estate company of the 1970s and 1980s.It was created in 1978 as a spin-off of American Financial Group, meant to do residential home construction...
, he subsequently became a major figure in the Savings and Loan scandal of the 1980s, was at the center of the Keating Five
Keating Five
The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The five senators – Alan Cranston , Dennis DeConcini, John Glenn , John McCain , and Donald W. Riegle,...
political scandal, and was convicted of federal and state charges and served several years in prison.
Keating Muething & Klekamp subsequently branched out its business, and its client list has included Cintas Corporation, Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bank is a U.S. regional banking corporation, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio and is the principal subsidiary of holding company Fifth Third Bancorp ....
, and McDonald's Corporation.
The firm has historically had strong connections to the U.S. Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. Founding partner William Keating would go on to become a Republican U.S. House of Representatives member from Ohio's 1st congressional district
Ohio's 1st congressional district
Ohio's 1st congressional district is currently represented by Republican Steve Chabot. This district includes parts of Cincinnati, and borders both Kentucky and Indiana.-Cities:Cincinnati Cheviot Deer Park Forest Park Harrison Mount Healthy...
in the early 1970s as well as publisher of The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Cincinnati Enquirer, a daily morning newspaper, is the highest-circulation print publication in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The Cincinnati Enquirer, a daily morning newspaper, is the highest-circulation print publication in Greater Cincinnati (Ohio) and Northern Kentucky. The...
. He subsequently returned to being a partner in the firm.
Trey Grayson
Trey Grayson
Charles Merwin "Trey" Grayson III is the director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School, a former Secretary of State of Kentucky and a candidate in the 2010 GOP primary to replace Jim Bunning, losing to Rand Paul.-Early years and career:A product of the Kenton County public school...
, the Republican Secretary of State of Kentucky
Secretary of State (U.S. state government)
Secretary of State is an official in the state governments of 47 of the 50 states of the United States, as well as Puerto Rico and other U.S. possessions. In Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, this official is called the Secretary of the Commonwealth...
, has worked for the firm in estate planning and corporate law. Pat DeWine
Pat DeWine
Richard Patrick "Pat" DeWine is an American lawyer and politician from Ohio. He is the son of former U.S Senator Mike DeWine and like his father is a Republican....
, a Republican county-level officeholder and former congressional candidate, is an associate with the firm. His father, former Ohio Republican U.S. Senator Mike DeWine
Mike DeWine
Richard Michael "Mike" DeWine is the Attorney General for the state of Ohio. He has held numerous offices on the state and federal level, including Ohio State Senator, four terms as a U.S. Congressman, Ohio Lt. Governor, and was a two-term U.S. Senator, serving from 1995 to 2007.- Biography :Born...
, joined the firm in 2007, working as corporate investigations group co-chair. Members of Keating Muething & Klekamp, as well as their family members, contributed over $50,000 to John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign
John McCain presidential campaign, 2008
John McCain, the senior United States Senator from Arizona, launched his second candidacy for the presidency of the United States in an unsuccessful bid to win the 2008 presidential election. His candidacy, in the works for a number of years, was informally announced on February 28, 2007 during a...
.