Keating L. Simons III, is managing partner at Simons & Dean, Attorneys at Law, where he practices in Charleston and throughout eastern South Carolina in the areas of business law and litigation, including business planning, business entity formation and corporate governance, and resolving partnerships disputes, insurance matters, and general commercial litigation.
Mr. Simons attended law school at the University of South Carolina in Columbia before returning home to Charleston to practice law in 1979. Prior to founding Simons & Dean, Mr. Simons spent many years representing corporate clients such as utilities, railroads, automobile and other product manufacturers, insurance and construction companies. He has extensive experience in successfully litigating significant civil cases, including representing one of the Big Three automakers nationally in defending thousands of cases involving allegedly defective transmissions in the 1980's. He has tried numerous large cases to verdict, involving claimed product defects, construction defects, trademark infringement, securities violations, FELA claims, insurance coverage, eminent domain, and deed covenants and restrictions, among others.
Mr. Simons has also successfully represented home owners in lawsuits against construction companies, pest control companies, home owners associations, and governmental agencies, among others, and has successfully defended and prosecuted numerous breach of contract cases in a wide variety of business contexts. Mr. Simons' extensive appellate experience includes arguing numerous cases before the South Carolina Supreme Court, the South Carolina Court of Appeals, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. In 1991 he briefed and argued an important states rights constitutional case in the United States Supreme Court.
In addition to trying cases, Mr. Simons frequently uses his extensive litigation experience to assist businesses and individuals in negotiating and structuring contracts and business arrangements in ways to avoid litigation risks. His practice includes advising insurance companies concerning their coverage and defense obligations in complex litigation matters, as well as assisting businesses and individuals in dealing with consequences of the financial downturn, including defending foreclosure and guaranty cases brought by banks.
A native of Charleston, Mr. Simons maintains an avid commitment to the advancement of the law and the legal profession and the improvement of his community. He has lectured and given seminars to lawyers and others concerning legal ethics, construction claims and insurance coverage, limited liability company litigation, and liability risk management for businesses, among other topics. In addition, Mr. Simons has served as legal counsel, board member, and officer for a variety of non-profit and charitable organizations.
Education:
J.D., University of South Carolina (1979)
A.B., University of Virginia (1976)
Admissions:
U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
Professional Associations/Memberships:
Charleston County Bar Association
South Carolina Bar Association
