JD Keister

Raleigh, NC


JD Keister

Raleigh, NC


JD Keister has practiced civil and complex litigation at MGC for over two decades. He routinely engages in the representation of parties in construction, professional liability, bad faith, real estate litigation, catastrophic loss, commercial litigation and first party defense for insurance carriers. JD's expansive construction practice includes the representation of contractors, subcontractors, designers, developers and their insurance companies. His professional liability experience includes the regular representation of architects and engineers, attorneys, real estate brokers and agents, insurance brokers and matters that stem from director and officer liability.

JD serves as MGC’s firm-wide Practice Area Leader for Litigation, guiding our talented group of lawyers and legal professionals as they strive to serve our client community through diverse practice areas. He is also known in the insurance industry for his involvement with different litigation management professional associations, including the CLM. JD currently serves as a Dean to CLM’s School of Litigation Management and a Chancellor and Instructor at CLM’s Litigation Management Institute (LMI). He serves as a Chair for the Litigation Management Symposium. JD is a former member of the DRI Insurance Roundtable Steering Committee and has held multiple positions with the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, currently serving as Executive Vice President. He has served on a number of industry panels and internal carrier roundtables, assisting in the design and implementation of systems and processes. JD is a regular presenter to national organizations on topics impacting the industry, litigation management and metrics. In 2023, he was named the CLM Professional of the Year Award winner as Outside Counsel. JD was also named to the Business Defense Power List in 2023 by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly.

JD is married with three children and spends his time traveling with his family, acting as a part-time taxi for his three kids and their activities, cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes and playing below average golf when time allows.

Practice Areas


Adulterated Food

Alcohol Liability

Bad Faith

Commercial & Business Litigation

Construction Litigation

Director & Officer Liability/Fiduciary

Government/Municipal Liability

Litigation

Nursing Home Liability

Premises Liability

Products Liability

Management & Professional Liability

Slander & Defamation

Motor Vehicle Litigation

Trucking & Transportation

Insurance Coverage

Curriculum Vitae


Education (2)
  • Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law (JD)
  • Bowling Green State University (BA)
Professional Memberships (7)
  • North Carolina Bar Association (Former CLE Chair for Construction Section)
  • Mecklenburg County Bar Association
  • Wake County Bar Association
  • North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (Executive Vice President; Board of Directors; Chair, CLE Committee; Former Chair, Construction Law Section)
  • Defense Research Institute (Steering Committee of Insurance Roundtable)
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (President, Eastern North Carolina Chapter; Dean of School of Litigation Management)
  • Professional Liability Underwriting Society
Bar Admissions (3)
  • North Carolina (2002)
  • US District Court, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina
  • US Court of Appeals 4th Circuit