Senior Member

J. Clarke Keller

Clarke Keller's practice focuses on defending Kentucky-area emergency medical service providers, product liability litigation and transportation law, including aviation, motor carriers and railroads. He serves as chair of the Business Litigation Group in the firm's Lexington office. He helped a start-up commercial enterprise obtain an FAA exemption and Certificate of Authorization to operate an unmanned aerial system (UAS) or drone, for commercial purposes. Additionally, Mr. Keller also maintains a successful mediation practice, having effectively mediated hundreds of cases throughout his career.

Recent News, Articles & Speaking Engagements

UAS/Drones: FAA Oversight and Insurance Issues

Stites & Harbison Thirsty Thursday networking event, Louisville, KY, May 18, 2017

UAS/Drones and the FAA

15th Annual Kentucky Environmental Conference, Lexington, KY, March 28, 2017

The Drone Wars: Environmental Edition

How to Prepare to Give Your Deposition

Kentucky Coalition of Nurse Practitioners/Nurse Midwives

Top 10 Ways to Sabotage a Mediation

Fayette County Bar Association, Women Lawyers Group
Recent Assignments
Bar Admissions
Kentucky
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
Firm Leadership

Office of General Counsel

Memberships
American Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association
Fayette County Bar Association
Mediation Center of Kentucky, Certified Mediator
Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
Transportation Lawyers Association
Defense Research Institute
Community Involvement

Christ the King Cathedral Parish, Lector, member of St. Vincent de Paul Society

Notre Dame Club of Central Kentucky, member and past president

Education
More Than Stites & Harbison

Clarke was an officer and helicopter pilot in the U.S. Air Force from 1974-81 and served as a helicopter pilot in the Kentucky Army National Guard from 1983 to 1990. Mr. Keller recently completed eight years of service on the Board of Trustees for Lexington Catholic High School, two of those years as Chair, and is a member and lector of Christ the King Cathedral Parish. He's also a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and past president of the Notre Dame Club of Central Kentucky.

Accolades

Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated

Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation and Mediation (2007-25)

Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2007-20, 2022)

MH AV 2024 300
Keller C Best Lawyers 2025
Kellercsuperlaw
See more related to J. Clarke Keller
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2025 Best Lawyers® Publications

Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 97 of its lawyers are included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence according to the publication. Additionally, 12 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 30 attorneys are recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 16, 2024
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2024 Best Lawyers® Publications

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 101 of its lawyers are included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 24, 2023
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers® Publications

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 98 of its lawyers are included in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Additionally, 11 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 19 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 18, 2022
Press Releases

Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 37 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2022

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2022 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 37 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 29 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and eight attorneys to the Rising Stars list.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC January 11, 2022
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2022 Best Lawyers® Publications

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 93 lawyers are included in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Additionally, 11 attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 14 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC September 01, 2021
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2021 Best Lawyers® Publications

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 82 lawyers are included in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 20, 2020
Press Releases

Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 45 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2020

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2020 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 42 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 32 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 13 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC December 12, 2019
Press Releases

Best Lawyers in America Honors 75 Stites & Harbison attorneys for 2020

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Best Lawyers in America© 2020 has recognized 75 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as selected by their peers in 49 areas of practice. Forty-three of those attorneys selected have been honored for 10 consecutive years or more.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 22, 2019