JOHN W. KELLER, III, is Board Certified in Admiralty and Maritime Law (Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education), an Arbitrator (independent), and recognized in “The Best Lawyers in America” (1993-present), “Florida Super Lawyers” and the South Florida Legal Guide’s “Top Lawyers.”  He is admitted to practice before the Eleventh and Fifth Circuit Courts of Appeals and the United States District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida.  He is a member of The Florida Bar (currently serving as a member of the Admiralty Law Committee), The Maritime Law Association of the United States, the American Bar Association (currently serving on the Tort and Insurance Practices, Admiralty, Committee) and the Dade County Bar Association.

 

Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Keller returned to his home town, Miami, where he has been continuously engaged in the practice of law beginning as an associate and then as a partner at Smathers & Thompson.  He joined Fowler, White, Burnett, Hurley Banich and Strickroot in 1982 and worked there as a partner until 1992, when he co-founded the law firm of Keller & Houck, P.A.  Mr. Keller’s litigation practice encompasses a wide array of trials, appeals, arbitrations (both as arbitrator and as counsel.) 

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As to business ventures and transactional matters, Mr. Keller’s practice is devoted to advising individual and corporate clients, including a number of ship owners, yacht owners, charterers, dredge companies, shipyard and marina operators, financial institutions, concessionaires and cargo interests.

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EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science, with Honors, University of Florida, 1974

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Juris Doctor, Stetson University College of Law, 1977

 

PUBLICATIONS

• “Law Applicable to Marina Operators,” Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute, June, 1987

• “Marine Casualty Reporting & Investigation,” Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute Seminar, 1998

• “Marine Casualty Reporting & Investigation,” Volume 24, Number 1, Tulane Maritime Law Journal, 1999

• “Environmental Damage: Coverage & Exposure Above and Below the Water Line, The Wave of Change” - Marine Insurance Seminar, Fort Lauderdale Mariners’ Club, October 24, 2001

• “Mediating Maritime Claims,” The Florida Bar Admiralty Law Committee, Florida Bar Annual Meetings, January 2007

• "Florida National Marine Sanctuaries and Parks, Environments Apart," Lorman, January, 2008

• “Corporate Manslaughter and Personal Injury in the Maritime Context,” Panelist, The London Shipping Law Centre, March 12, 2008

 

AWARDS, HONORS & RECOGNITION

• The Best Lawyers in America: 1993 - present.

• AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell.  This rating is Martindale-Hubbell’s highest possible distinction reflecting judiciary and bar members’ peer review in both legal ability and ethical standards.

• Florida Super Lawyers: 2006 - present.

• Top Lawyer, South Florida Legal Guide