Keola Robert Whittaker is an experienced commercial litigator. Keola has successfully litigated disputes arising out of commercial agreements for financial service and other Fortune 500 companies in state and federal courts.
Keola regularly monitors developments in Delaware corporate law and corporate governance issues and has published several articles on shareholder lawsuits relating to corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Keola is a member of the firm’s Food and Beverage Industry Team and represents food and beverage companies in a wide range of disputes and transactions. He has successfully defended a snack food company in trademark litigation against one of Mexico’s largest corporations.
He also represented an international seed company in antitrust and intellectual property litigation against its main competitor. Most recently, Keola counseled a food startup company dealing with its first food recall.
Keola has also represented a number of clients in appellate matters. He has litigated cases in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Fifth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits, as well as the California Courts of Appeal.
Before joining McGuireWoods LLP, Keola practiced law at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in New York. During the 2008 financial crisis, Keola defended a number of large companies in regulatory matters and litigation relating to corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Keola is an active participant in community affairs and pro bono activities, and has volunteered for The Trevor Project, Equality California, Lambda Legal, Immigration Equality, and currently serves on the board of OutRight Action International.
Keola was recently awarded with the Business Law Fellowship by the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section and serves on the Section’s Business and Corporate Litigation Committee.
EXPERIENCE :
- Represented a private equity firm in a trial in the Delaware Court of Chancery relating to a failed corporate merger.
- Successfully defended a snack food company in a trademark and trade dress dispute with its largest competitor.
- Provided pre-litigation advice to a large entertainment studio in several trademark and copyright matters.
- Defended several large financial institutions in federal securities lawsuits and government investigations relating to the financial crisis of 2008.
- Represented an internet media company in a fraud and breach of contract action relating to the sale of one of its subsidiary companies.
Education :
- University of Pennsylvania Law School, JD, cum laude, 2007
- Reed College, MA, Liberal Studies, 2004
- Whitman College, BA, Political Philosophy, 2001
Admissions :
- California
- New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Affiliations :
- Business Law Fellow, American Bar Association Business Law Section, 2015-2017
- Board Member, OutRight Action International
- Member, National Hispanic Bar Association
- Member, National LGBT Bar Association
Cost
Rate : $$$