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THE PROBLEM SOLVER

Attorney Patrick William O’Keefe Curriculum Vitae

Patrick William O'Keefe Curriculum Vitae

Attorney Patrick O'Keefe

CURRICULUM VITAE

Patrick William O’Keefe
Board Certified Criminal Trial Attorney
www.okeefelaw.net


O’Keefe Law, PLLC
3893 Okemos Rd, Suite B1 Okemos, MI 48864
Work: 517-273-0426
Cell:   517-449-4319
Fax: 517-253-0121
patrick@okeefelaw.net

LICENSING AND BOARD CERTIFICATION

National Board of Trial Advocacy, board-certified criminal trial attorney (May 2014 – Present)

Attained Board Certification as a criminal trial advocate. One of only three board-certified criminal defense attorneys specializing in the State of Michigan.

WWW.NBTALAWYERS.ORG

Licensed to practice law in Michigan since October 2003

EDUCATION

Michigan State University College of Law Logo

Michigan State University College of Law, Juris Doctor — May 2003

Central Michigan University Logo

Central Michigan University – transferred to Notre Dame in 1995.

Member of Varsity Baseball Team and conference champion, 1995.

University of Notre Dame Logo

University of Notre Dame, Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies – May 1997

Member of Varsity Baseball Team – Outfielder and two-time conference champion and NCAA tournament participant.

Grand Ledge High School Logo
Grand Ledge High School, diploma – June 1993 Varsity Baseball Captain, 1st Team All-State, 3rd Team All-American, State Finals Runner-Up, helped team to a 41-3 record.

WORK EXPERIENCE

O’KEEFE LAW, PLLC (August 2013 – Present)

WWW.OKEEFELAW.NET

I have been the sole, managing member of this professional company specializing in criminal defense. I work almost exclusively in this area. Personal relationships with law enforcement and judges are critical in this business. When I reach out to a member of law enforcement—state or federal—they know me to be insightful, prepared, effective, persuasive, and professional.

My strong background in law enforcement gives me an edge over other defense attorneys because of my inside knowledge and solid relationships with law enforcement officers and prosecutors all over the state. After all, I was one of them at one time. The law enforcement officers always enjoyed working with me due to my unparalleled work ethic and willingness to go to trial.

I have successfully tried hundreds of cases, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, from DUIs to homicide. I have counseled police officers on officer-involved shootings and represented them in criminal and civil matters. I have traveled all over the state representing clients charged and accused of felonies and misdemeanors.

There is no substitute for experience. I have learned by doing—by trying hundreds of cases over my many years of practicing law, and I learn something new every time. I am always learning, looking for new and better ways to advocate for my clients.

Additionally, I have extensive federal experience, having appeared on criminal and civil cases many times before the western district of Michigan.

I frequently engage in extensive pre-charge negotiation on behalf of my clients and many times have persuaded state and federal prosecutors to forego issuing criminal charges on many occasions through rigorous independent investigation and thorough research.


INGHAM COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE (August 2007 – August 2013)

As an assistant prosecuting attorney, I was responsible for handling a full criminal circuit court docket consisting of capital and low severity felonies arising out of the greater Lansing, MI area. I would estimate I tried approximately 75-100 jury trials in this span. I was also assigned to help law enforcement draft search warrants and respond to defense motions to suppress evidence collected by law enforcement officers. I met with law enforcement officers on an almost-daily basis and formed strong relationships with them which last to this day. They know they can trust me to do the right thing and enjoy working with me on cases. They also know I will keep our communications in strict confidence.


KENT COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE (August 2003 – August 2007)

As an assistant prosecuting attorney, I was responsible for handling a full criminal docket consisting of felonies and misdemeanors arising out of the greater Grand Rapids, MI area. I would estimate I tried approximately 50-75 jury trials in this span. I was also assigned to help law enforcement draft search warrants from time to time, as well as respond to motions to suppress evidence collected by law enforcement officers. I met with law enforcement officers on an almost-daily basis and formed strong relationships with them which last to this day.


MICHIGAN GAMING CONTROL BOARD (December 1999 – August 2003)

While attending law school in the evenings, I worked full time for the State of Michigan’s Gaming Control Board, which is responsible or licensing and regulating Michigan’s three private Detroit Casinos. Based in Lansing, I served as a departmental technician in the Records Management Division, where I organized and filed thousands of license applications over nearly four years. I also assisted in constructing shelving for the storage of thousands of documents in our Detroit office. I worked closely with our investigators to ensure that they could examine files quickly and efficiently in order to make recommendations to the Board on whether or not licensure should be granted to the applicant.  I also acted as a Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) coordinator who was responsible for locating documents and making a team decision—in consultation with the Department Supervisor—as to whether the material would be released to the public.


MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL (May 1997 – December 1999)

I served as personal assistant to Attorney General Frank J. Kelley, who at that time was the chief law enforcement officer of the State of Michigan. I gained valuable insight and experience in this capacity. My responsibilities were transportation, errands, organization, and field services with constituents. I met many influential people during my tenure there. I formed strong relationships with members of law enforcement while assisting Assistant Attorneys General, Michigan State Police troopers, and investigators within our department. Since that time, I have spent nearly half of my life in public service.

BAR ADMISSIONS

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE IN THE FEDERAL (WESTERN AND EASTERN) DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN, 6TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, STATE BAR OF MICHIGAN, INGHAM COUNTY, EATON COUNTY, AND CLINTON COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATIONS.

MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION COUNSEL ON INCOMPETENCY TO STAND TRIAL


PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

NATIONAL BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCACY, MAY 2014 – PRESENT
WWW.NBTALAWYERS.ORG

SUPERLAWYERS
WWW.SUPERLAWYERS.COM

CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS OF MICHIGAN (CDAM)
https://cdam.wildapricot.org

NATIONAL COLLEGE OF DUI DEFENSE (NCDD)
www.ncdd.com

PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS

NATIONAL BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCACY ANNUAL CONFERENCE, NOVEMBER 2018

FORENSIC INTERVIEW PROTOCOL, PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN, ROCHESTER, MI – AUGUST 2011

BASIC TRAINING, PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN, NOVEMBER 2003


AWARDS AND COMMENDATIONS

MICHIGAN STATE POLICE SPECIAL COMMENDATION, FIRST DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS, AUGUST 2013

10 YEAR SERVICE AWARD, PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN, 2013

HUMANITARIAN AWARD, INGHAM COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL, 2008

5 YEAR SERVICE AWARD, PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN, 2008


PUBLICATIONS

INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION, CONTRIBUTOR ON MODEL CRIMINAL JURY INSTRUCTIONS, 2014 – PRESENT https://www.icle.org/modules/About/bio.aspx?&Pnumber=P59324

WHY THE LEGAL PROFESSION NEEDS TO RESTORE CIVILITY IN SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES, INGHAM COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION “BRIEFS”, MARCH 2019


RECENT VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS

People v. Wiles, 1 count of civil infraction causing death – REDUCED TO LESSER OFFENSE OF RECKLESS DRIVING, NO JAIL (CLIENT WAS POLICE OFFICER WHO KILLED SOMEONE IN THE LINE OF DUTY) (December 2019)

People v. Walters, 2 counts of criminal sexual conduct – NOT GUILTY ON BOTH CHARGES (JURY DELIBERATIONS LASTED 7 MINUTES) (October 2019)

People v. Kihn, 5 counts of criminal sexual conduct/child under 13, facing minimum 25 years to max life in prison – NOT GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES (January 2018)

People v. Brand, 3 counts of criminal sexual conduct – NOT GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES (December 2017)

People v. Adams, 1 count of assault with a dangerous weapon – NOT GUILTY (September 2014)

REFERENCES

Michael Manley, attorney
Manley & Manley, P.C.
503 S. Saginaw, Suite 1434
Flint, MI 48502
810-238-0500

D/Lt. Thomas DeClercq (Ret. Michigan State Police trooper)
3651 Duxbury Ln
Lansing, MI 48906
517-719-9230

Trooper Nathan Johnson
Michigan State Police Trooper’s Association (MSPTA)
1715 Abbey Rd, Suite B
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 604-0123

Shane Hilyard, attorney The Gallagher Law Firm 6025 N. Hagadorn Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823-2211 (517) 853-1506
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Suite 110
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