Global firm commemorates milestone year by giving back to communities and alma maters 

Washington, DC — Keller and Heckman LLP, an internationally renowned law firm with a broad practice in the areas of regulatory law, public policy, and litigation, celebrates its 60^th anniversary this year.  

To honor the 60^th anniversary, the firm is hosting a series of activities, initiatives, and events to commemorate its founders while highlighting its global presence, evolution over the last several decades, and vision toward the future. 

As part of this celebration a firmwide community engagement initiative titled “60 for the 60^th” was launched. The initiative provides sixty volunteer activities to promote team building and giving back through volunteering. “Our 60 for the 60^th is fulfilled by partners, scientists, administrative and support staff who are making a difference in their communities,” said Richard Mann, Chair of Keller and Heckman’s Management Committee. “It is great seeing people connecting with each other while making a positive impact in the world through volunteer activities at food banks, national and local parks, and non-profits,” he continued.

Additionally, to commemorate this milestone, Keller and Heckman will be making charitable contributions to Dayton University School of Law and Georgetown University Law School in honor of its founders, Joseph E. Keller and Jerome H. Heckman, respectively. 

Mr. Keller, a 1929 graduate of Dayton University School of Law, was a life-long benefactor to his alma mater. His contributions were memorialized for future generations by the construction of the Joseph E. Keller Hall, a primary building for the School of Law. Mr. Keller spent the majority of his legal career representing telecommunications clients and was instrumental in obtaining recognition for his clients in spectrum allocation proceedings before the Federal Communications Commission.

Mr. Heckman began his legal career as a telecommunications attorney and refocused his practice on the plastics industry when one of his telecommunications clients began molding plastics using radio frequency heating methods. Mr. Heckman served as general counsel to The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., now PLASTICS, representing the interests of the industry before Congressional committees, state governmental bodies, and administrative agencies.  

Mr. Heckman exponentially expanded the firm’s client base by developing the firm’s food and drug practice. Since then, the firm has grown organically to meet clients’ needs in dealing with other regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and their counterparts at the state level and in other countries. Likewise, the firm expanded its office locations to include Brussels, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Boulder. 

The year of anniversary celebrations will culminate with a gala event in December. During the celebration, founders and alumni will be honored for their contributions made to the firm, recognizing the dedication and commitment of the current partners, scientists, administrative and support staff, while showcasing exciting opportunities on the horizon. 

About Keller and Heckman LLP 

Established in 1962, the firm was founded by Joseph E. Keller and Jerome H. Heckman. From the beginning, its founders strived for excellence with the goal of finding creative business solutions to client challenges. To that end, the firm was one of the first to incorporate scientists into its legal practice, when in 1971, it brought on its first scientific staff member. Today, the firm has more than 80 attorneys and 20 scientists working across the globe, from offices in Washington DC, Brussels, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Boulder. Keller and Heckman represents international companies and trade associations servicing a range of industries, including food and food additives, plastics, pesticides, industrial and specialty chemicals, consumer products, drug and medical devices, transportation, technology, and telecommunications. Click here to learn more about the firm. 

Keller and Heckman’s Telecommunications practice continues to be the only law firm in the United States included in Broadband Communities Magazine’s esteemed 2022 Fiber-To-The-Home Top 100 list. 

“My colleagues and I at Keller and Heckman are dedicated to providing counsel to a wide variety of organizations that are providing fiber optic infrastructure and services in communities across America,” said Partner Jim Baller. “We are thrilled that Broadband Communities Magazine continues to recognize our achievements in this field by once again including our law practice in the Fiber-To-The-Home Top 100.” 

Every year, Broadband Communities Magazine celebrates organizations across multiple industries for their contributions toward building a fiber connected future, recognizing them in its highly respected Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) Top 100 list. “Fiber-to-the-Home” specifically focuses on the world of fiber optic communications infrastructure extending all the way to residential premises, often referred to as “future proof” because it is the most advanced and highest capacity vehicle for transmission of information. 

About Keller and Heckman

Celebrating 60 years of excellence, Keller and Heckman is an internationally renowned law firm with a broad practice in the areas of regulatory law, public policy, and litigation. From offices around the world, they represent global companies and trade associations servicing a range of industries, including food and food additives, plastics, pesticides, industrial and specialty chemicals, consumer products, drugs and medical devices, transportation, and telecommunications. Keller and Heckman is a pioneer in the use of interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving with an in-house scientific staff that works closely with the attorneys on matters of technical complexity.

Keller and Heckman LLP attorneys uphold their status in The Best Lawyers in America^®. Nine attorneys have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2023 edition, including one attorney who was also selected for the prestigious "Lawyer of the Year" award. 

Keller and Heckman congratulates the following attorneys for their inclusion in this edition and outstanding achievements in their respective practice areas:

Advertising Law

• Sheila A. Millar, Partner 

Cannabis Law

• Azim Chowdhury, Partner 
• Frederick A. Stearns, Partner

Employment Law – Management

• Manesh K. Rath, Partner

Litigation – Labor and Employment

• Manesh K. Rath, Partner

FDA Law

• David J. Ettinger, Partner
• Devon Wm. Hill, Partner
• George G. Misko, Partner
• Melvin S. Drozen, Senior Counsel

Lawyer of the Year

Congratulations to Partner Manesh Rath for receiving The Best Lawyers in America^® “Lawyer of the Year” award for his contributions to Employment Law – Management in Washington, DC. This award is presented to only one individual in each geographical region for their area of practice. It further establishes Manesh as a leader in employment law.

About Keller and Heckman

Celebrating 60 years of excellence, Keller and Heckman is an internationally renowned law firm with a broad practice in the areas of regulatory law, public policy, and litigation. From offices around the world, they represent global companies and trade associations servicing a range of industries, including food and food additives, plastics, pesticides, industrial and specialty chemicals, consumer products, drugs and medical devices, transportation, and telecommunications. Keller and Heckman is a pioneer in the use of interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving with an in-house scientific staff that works closely with the attorneys on matters of technical complexity.