Bill Keating, founding partner of Keating Wagner Polidori Free, is the central figure in the firm’s history. Over the course of forty years, Bill helped establish the standards of advocacy, professionalism, and service that continue to guide the firm today. Since his death in 2015 from complications related to cancer, his legacy has remained an enduring part of the firm’s identity.
Over the course of his career, Bill earned a reputation as one of Colorado’s leading plaintiff’s attorneys and received numerous professional honors. He was listed in The Best Lawyers in America for more than 20 years and was selected by that publication as Lawyer of the Year four times: Personal Injury Litigation in 2009, Product Liability Litigation in 2010, Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs in 2013, and Products Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs in 2014.
Bill was also recognized by his peers as one of the top 10 lawyers in Colorado by Colorado Super Lawyers from 2008 to 2014 and had been listed in that publication since its inception in 2007.
His dedication to the law and to his clients also led to his fellowship in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, whose membership is limited to 500 Fellows in the United States, and the American College of Trial Lawyers, whose Fellows represent less than one percent of lawyers in Colorado and across the country.
In 2012, Bill’s alma mater, the University of Denver, honored him with the Thompson G. Marsh Award, which recognizes outstanding career accomplishments. The University of Denver later recognized his legacy by creating the William L. Keating Outstanding Alumni Award, reserved for a DU Law graduate who exemplifies achievement in the legal field, humanitarian service to the community, and remarkable loyalty to DU Law.
Bill was widely regarded for his commitment to clients, his compassion for those who sought his assistance, and his generosity as a mentor to lawyers, colleagues, and friends.
His influence extended beyond his work as a trial lawyer. Throughout his life and career, Bill built lasting relationships with clients, colleagues, opposing counsel, staff members, and many others whose lives and work were shaped by his counsel, example, and friendship.
Keating Wagner Polidori Free continues under Bill’s name and the names of its founding partners as a legacy firm. In honoring their contributions, the firm carries forward the principles that defined their work: skilled advocacy, integrity, mentorship, and service to clients.
