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Attorneys

Keith O'Connell

Keith O’Connell Shareholder

San Antonio
  • t: 210-824-0009
  • KeithOConnell@MehaffyWeber.com
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Keith B. O’Connell is a shareholder in the San Antonio office of MehaffyWeber. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, he has nearly 40 years of experience litigating in the areas of product liability, professional liability, wrongful death and personal injury, Title IX and higher education law, labor and employment, business disputes and construction defects. His experience includes representing clients across the state of Texas in civil litigation in both state and federal courts.

Mr. O’Connell attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated with a degree in English before attending St. Mary’s University School of Law. During his time in law school, he served as the Senior Associate Editor for the St. Mary’s Law Journal from 1980 to 1981. His publication Products Liability: Manufacturer’s Liability for Products Not Unreasonably Dangerous When Originally Marketed, A Commentary on Bell Helicopter v. Bradshaw, appeared in the St. Mary’s L. J. 494 (1980). He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation – Labor and Employment and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants since 2021 and the Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters List every year since 2012.

Practice Areas

Labor and Employment Personal Injury Defense Products Liability Defense
EDUCATION
  • St. Mary’s University School of Law, J.D.
    • Senior Associate Editor of the St. Mary’s Law Journal, member of Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity
  • University of Notre Dame, B.A. in English, Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • State of Texas, 1981
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Texas Association of Defense Counsel (1982-Present)
    • President (2010-2011)
    • Board of Directors (1998-2012)
  • American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
  • Texas Bar Foundation
    • Sustaining Life Fellow
    • Nominating Co-Chair (2013-2014)
  • State Bar of Texas (1981-Present)
    • Pattern Jury Charge IV Committee (1995-2000)
  • Texas Supreme Court
    • Task Force to Expand Legal Services Delivery (2009-2011)
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
  • San Antonio Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
  • Defense Research Institute
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Federal Bar Association
  • The Fellows of the American Bar Association
  • Defense Counsel of San Antonio
    • Past Director
  • Best Lawyers®
    • Recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2021 – 2024)
    • Recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Litigation – Labor and Employment (2022-2024)
    • Recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2024)
  • Super Lawyers
    • Selected to Texas Super Lawyers list by Thomson Reuters (2012 – 2023)
  • AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Defense Research Institute
    • The Fred H. Sievert Outstanding Defense Bar Leader Award (2011)
    • Exceptional Performance Citation (2010-2011)
  • “In Harm’s Way: Gidget Goes to the Legislature,” Texas Association of Defense Council, 2019 Summer Meeting, Maui, Hawaii, July 16-20, 2019
  • “What’s New with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2015
  • “Panel – Recruiting and Retaining Clients: Rebooting Your Legal Self,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2015
  • “Expedited Trials,” State Bar of Texas, Advanced Civil Trial Law Course, 2014
  • “Luncheon Panel – Energy Law in Texas: Oil, Gas and the Litigation Climate,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting, 2014
  • “Expedited Trials,” State Bar of Texas, Advanced Civil Trial Law Course, 2014
  • “Civil Justice Reform, the Pursuit of Virtue and The Tale of the Monkey’s Paw,” Arkansas Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting, 2014
  • “Expedited Trials,” State Bar of Texas, Advanced Civil Trial Law Course, 2014
  • “Legislative Update – Defense and Plaintiff,” State Bar of Texas Soaking Up Some CLE: A South Texas Litigation Seminar, 2014
  • “A Close Look at Expedited Jury Trials Under the New Rules – A Panel Discussion,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2014
  • “Expedited Trial,” State Bar of Texas, Prosecuting or Defending a Trucking or Auto Accident Case, San Antonio, 2013
  •  “Civil Justice Reform – Impact on the Legal Profession,” San Antonio Bar Association, 2013
  •  “Wild Horses: When Legislation and the Courts Go Horribly Wrong,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel In Conjunction with the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Summer Meeting, 2013
  •  “Dealing with the Practical Implications of the New Rules for Expedited Actions: A Perspective From Both Sides of the Bar, and the Bench,” Litigation Section of the San Antonio Bar Association, 2013
  •  “Expedited Jury Trials and Early Motions to Dismiss: What This Means For A Trial Practice,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel Spring Meeting, 2013
  • “New Supreme Court Rules On Early Motions to Dismiss and Expedited Jury Trials and Legislative Update,” Austin Bar Association Bench Bar 2013 Conference, 2013
  • “The New Rules on Expedited Jury Trial Procedure and Early Motions to Dismiss,” Collin County Bar Association, 2013
  • “The New Rules on Expedited Jury Trial Procedure and Early Motions to Dismiss,” Dallas Bar Association, 2013
  • “The New Rules on Expedited Jury Trial Procedure and Early Motions to Dismiss,” San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association, 2013
  • “Legislative Hot Buttons: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2012
  • “Legislative Update 2012 – 82nd Regular & Special Session,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Personal Injury Course, 2012
  •  “There Were Other Bills Besides HB 274: A Recap,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2011
  • “The 82nd Legislature: Understanding the Legislative Process and the Impact of the Session On Your Practice,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2011
  • “The Plaintiff: The Forgotten Witness,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Personal Injury Course, 2011
  • “Legislative Update: Litigation,” State Bar of Texas CLE Webcast and Phone Seminar, 2011.
  • “The 82nd Legislature: Understanding the Legislative Process and the Impact of the Session On Your Practice,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2011
  • “The 82nd Legislature: Understanding the Legislative Process and the Impact of the Session On Your Practice,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2011
  • “The 82nd Legislature: The Road Goes on Forever and The Party Never Ends / I Wish Hard Livin’ Did Not Come So Easy to Me,” San Antonio Bar Association, and Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2011
  • “The 82nd Legislature: Understanding the Legislative Process and the Impact of the Session On Your Practice,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2011
  • “The 82nd Legislature, Legislative Update and HB 2031, HB 274, HB 2661 and HB 1427,” Texas Association Defense Counsel, 2011
  • “The 82nd Legislature: Budget, Redistricting and Proposed Reform to the Civil Justice System,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2011
  • “The 82nd Legislature: Budget, Redistricting and Proposed Reform to the Civil Justice System,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2011
  • “The 82nd Legislature: Budget, Redistricting and Proposed Reform to the Civil Justice System,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2010
  • “Ethical Duties of Insurance Defense Counsel – Panel Discussion,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2007
  • “Fraud, Conspiracy, Breach of Fiduciary Duty and Plaintiff’s Conduct as a Defense to Intentional Torts: Issue Submission Under Pattern Jury Charge Volume IV,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 1999
  • “Fraud, Conspiracy, Breach of Fiduciary Duty and Plaintiff’s Conduct as a Defense to Intentional Torts: Issue Submission Under Pattern Jury Charge Volume IV,” 2nd Annual Bench Bar Conference, 1999
  • “Fraud, Conspiracy and Pattern Jury Charge Volume IV,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel Fall Meeting, 1996
  • Practice Skills Course, State Bar of Texas, 1986
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