Keely E. Duke

Attorney & Founding Member

Keely Duke is one of Idaho’s premier trial attorneys. Over her 25 years of practice this October, she has dedicated her trial career to handling complex business litigation, catastrophic loss cases, employment defense, product liability and medical device defense, and defending medical, legal, E&O, D&O, construction, and trucking litigation. She also represents insurers as coverage and monitoring counsel on large loss claims. Keely has tried over 20 week-long to multi-week trials to successful verdicts throughout Idaho and in federal court. She is also a skilled appellate attorney, handling numerous appeals before the Idaho Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Keely has been “AV Preeminent” peer-review rated by Martindale-Hubbell since 2008, has been recognized for years in Best Lawyers in America (including multiple Lawyer of the Year awards), and has received numerous other recognitions and awards for her accomplishments. A long-time client lauded Keely for her “sheer hard work, great organization, diligence and determination to fight tooth and nail for her clients” in Chambers U.S.A. America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

Keely has handled numerous appeals before the Idaho Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She has also served as an arbitrator in a wrongful death case.

Keely holds an “AV” rating with Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected as Lawyer of the Year – Medical Malpractice (Boise) by Best Lawyers in America a number of time. She is also included in Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and is praised in that publication for her “sheer hard work, great organization, diligence and determination to fight tooth and nail for her clients.”

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHPS/ACTIVITIES
• Idaho Judicial Council (2023 – present)
• USLAW Executive Committee (2023 to present)
• USLAW Board of Directors (2021-present)
• President Federal Bar Association – Idaho Chapter (2011-2015)
• President Federal Defender Services of Idaho (2018)
• President Idaho Association of Defense Counsel (2017)
• President – Health Section – Idaho State Bar (2021)
• Federal Defender Services of Idaho Board of Directors (2008 to 2019)
• Federal Bar Association Board of Directors – Idaho Chapter (2009 to 2015)
• Idaho Association of Defense Counsel Board of Directors (2011 to 2017)
• Idaho Supreme Court Civil Rules Advisory Committee (2009 to present)
• Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
• The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
• Litigation Counsel of America (LCA)
• Member, Trial Law Institute
• Member, Diversity Law Institute
• Instructor at Federal Court Trial Skills program (2009, 2011, 2015, 2023)
• Instructor at University of Idaho School of Law’s Trial Advocacy Program (2010, 2012, 2014)
• Adjunct Professor at Boise State University in Business Law (2001 to 2004)

AWARDS
• Leader in Law by the Idaho Business Review (2023)
• Woman of the Year Honoree Idaho Business Review (2013)
• Idaho State Bar Pro Bono Award (2011)
• Women’s & Children’s Alliance Tribute to Women in Industry Honoree (2008)
• The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation – Health Law, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants (2009 to present)
• The Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year Boise – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants (2015, 2019,2023)
• The Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year Boise – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2017, 2020)
• Super Lawyers 10 Years (2012 – 2022)
• Top 100 Attorneys in the Mountain States by Super Lawyers (2014 – present)
• Top 50 Women Attorneys in the Mountain States by Super Lawyers (2014-Present)
• AV rated in Martindale-Hubbell since 2008 judicial and attorney editions
• Chambers USA – Leading lawyer in commercial litigation (2009 to present)
• Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
• Mountain States Super Lawyers “Rising Star” (2008 to present)
• Benchmark Litigation Labor & Employment Star (2020; 3rd Edition)
CIVIC ACTIVITIES
• President of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho (2004 to 2012)
• Board of Directors for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho (2004 to 2012)
• Board of Directors, Boys and Girls Club of Idaho (2019 to present)

PUBLICATIONS
• Christian Slater Makes Everything More Interesting: Cyberhackers in the Age of Telehealth, The Advocate, March 2020
• 50-State Survey on Legal Malpractice (Idaho), American Bar Association (2009 to present)
• Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Limitations on a Health Care Provider’s Right to Indemnification When it is Targeted Under the False Claims Act as a Result of the Fraudulent Activities of a Third Party with Which it Contracts or Associates, The Federal Lawyer, February 2009
• FMLA Changes Now In Effect, Idaho Employment Law Letter, February 2009

EDUCATION
• Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon, J.D.
• Carroll College in Helena, Montana, (Business Administration and Political Science)

COURT AND BAR ADMISSIONS
• All Idaho courts, Federal and State
• All Oregon courts, Federal and State
• S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Idaho State Bar Association (1999 – present)

MISCELLANEOUS
• In her spare time, Keely enjoys spending time with her wife, Sarah, hiking, travelling, golfing, and cheering on the Boise State Broncos and Green Bay Packers football teams. She has three College Sophomores and a Senior in high school – Go Tigers! Go Bears! Go Bearcats! Go Bison!