Keefe A. Brooks

Areas of Practice

  • Business and Commercial Litigation
  • Mediation
  • Arbitration

Awards

  • “Top 10 Michigan Lawyer,” Michigan Super Lawyers
  • Top ranked Michigan lawyer, Michigan Super Lawyers
  • “Detroit Area Ethics and Professional Responsibility Lawyer of the Year,”  Best Lawyers in America
  • Best Lawyers in America-listed “Bet the Company Litigation”, “Commercial Litigation” and “Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law”
  • “Leading Lawyer for Business Litigation,” Chambers USA

Keefe Brooks has spent over 40 years as a trial attorney, concentrating his practice in business and commercial litigation and professional responsibility matters. A Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, his diverse experience includes: commercial contract matters, director and officer liability, business tort litigation, insurance coverage disputes, professional liability matters, and financial institution matters. He also serves as an expert witness, mediator and arbitrator in his fields of expertise. In 2011 through 2022, he was selected by his peers in Michigan Super Lawyers as one of the top 10 attorneys in Michigan (#1 ranked lawyer in 2015, 2016 and 2017), and was featured on the cover of Michigan Super Lawyers in 2012.  Mr. Brooks also accepted an appointment as a part-time faculty member at the University of Michigan School of Law.

Mr. Brooks has tried several high-stakes, high-profile cases in state and federal courts.  Some highlights of his practice include:

Trial and Arbitration Results

  • Received jury verdict of $5.3M for our client in a misappropriation of trade secrets case
  • Successfully defended hospital system in $280M six-week jury trial case
  • Successfully defended software development firm in $14M jury trial case
  • Successfully defended health care insurer in $25M seven-week jury trial case
  • Successfully tried a breach of contract claim against an international shipper, obtaining judgment in excess of $4M
  • Obtained largest judgment in State of Michigan in 2013 for client vs. insurer ($9.3M)
  • Recovered multi-million dollar settlement for vendor against national retailer
  • Successfully defended multiple law firms in legal malpractice cases
  • Represented several insured parties in coverage cases against their insurers, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in recoveries
  • Successfully defended class action against local law school in four-week bench trial
  • Mediated over 400 business disputes
Mr. Brooks is admitted to practice in all Michigan Courts, the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, the Northern District of Illinois, the Northern District of Ohio, the Northern District of Mississippi, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Prior to Mr. Brooks becoming a founding member of Brooks Wilkins Sharkey & Turco, he was a shareholder at Butzel Long in Detroit where he served five two-year terms on the Board of Directors and three two-year terms on the Executive/Compensation Committee.

Education, Professional Associations and Awards

  • The University of Michigan School of Law (J.D. magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 1980)
  • The University of Michigan (B.A. with high distinction, 1977)
  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • “Top 10 Michigan Lawyer,” Michigan Super Lawyers, 2011 to 2022
  • Top ranked Michigan lawyer, Michigan Super Lawyers, 2015, 2016 and 2017
  • President, Oakland County Bar Association, 2020-2021
  • Oakland County Bar Association – Distinguished Service Award, 2018
  • Named “Detroit Area Ethics and Professional Responsibility Lawyer of the Year,”  Best Lawyers in America
  • Best Lawyers in America – “Bet the Company Litigation”, “Commercial Litigation” and “Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law”
  • “Leading Lawyer for Business Litigation” – Chambers USA
  • Elected Member, Oakland County Bar Association Board of Directors, 2011 to 2021
  • Co-chair of 2013 Oakland County Circuit Court Bench/Bar Conference
  • Master of the Bench, Oakland County Bar Association Inns of Court Program, 2007 to present
  • Diversity Champion Honor Roll, Birmingham/Bloomfield Race and Ethnic Diversity Task Force
  • Member, State Bar of Michigan
  • Former Chair, State Bar Committee on Professional and Judicial Ethics
  • Hearing Officer for Attorney Discipline Board, 1998 to 2019
  • Fellow, Michigan State Bar Foundation
  • Life Fellow, Oakland County Bar Foundation
  • Member, Association of Defense Trial Counsel
  • Member, Federal Bar Association
Specialists in High-Stakes Litigation, Bankruptcy and Supply Chain Counseling.
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