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Professional portrait of Keith E. Richardson

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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Overview</h2>

Keith is a trusted legal counsel to faith-based organizations nationwide and a principled advocate for his business clients’ most demanding disputes. Large churches, religious leaders, state and national denominations, and philanthropic ministries turn to Keith for sound counsel and representation. Business leaders and shareholders seek Keith’s guidance and tenacious advocacy when internal and external disputes arise. They value his prompt and informed counsel.

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<p class="wp-block-contentpilot-introduction">Keith is a trusted legal counsel to faith-based organizations nationwide and a principled advocate for his business clients’ most demanding disputes. Large churches, religious leaders, state and national denominations, and philanthropic ministries turn to Keith for sound counsel and representation. Business leaders and shareholders seek Keith’s guidance and tenacious advocacy when internal and external disputes arise. They value his prompt and informed counsel.</p>

Keith is a problem solver. Having represented numerous clients intertwined in significant turmoil, with their organization’s survival often contingent on the outcome, Keith has the foresight and experience to effectively guide his clients to a successful outcome. Keith garners a deep understanding of his clients’ innerworkings and objectives to guide and advocate for his clients in and out of the courtroom.

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<p>Keith is a problem solver. Having represented numerous clients intertwined in significant turmoil, with their organization’s survival often contingent on the outcome, Keith has the foresight and experience to effectively guide his clients to a successful outcome. Keith garners a deep understanding of his clients’ innerworkings and objectives to guide and advocate for his clients in and out of the courtroom.</p>

<strong>Keith’s business litigation practice focuses on representing businesses and shareholders in a host of complex disputes, including:</strong>

<p><strong>Keith’s business litigation practice focuses on representing businesses and shareholders in a host of complex disputes, including:</strong></p>

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<li>Financial fraud and mismanagement</li>

Shareholder disputes for closely-held and larger organizations

<li>Shareholder disputes for closely-held and larger organizations</li>

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<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Breach of contract/lease</li><li>Financial fraud and mismanagement</li><li>Corporate acquisition disputes</li><li>Shareholder disputes for closely-held and larger organizations</li><li>Internal investigations</li><li>Construction disputes</li><li>Real property disputes</li><li>Non-competition disputes</li></ul>

<strong>As outside counsel to numerous religious organizations, Keith’s faith-based legal practice spans the spectrum, including:</strong>

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In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind, there lived not long since one of those gentlemen that keep a lance in the lance-rack, an old buckler, a lean hack, and a greyhound for coursing.

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<p><strong>As outside counsel to numerous religious organizations, Keith’s faith-based legal practice spans the spectrum, including:</strong></p>

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<li>Litigation involving defamation, abuse, internal member conflict, and breach of contract</li>



<li>Reporting and responding to allegations of abuse</li>



<li>Internal investigations involving leader/staff wrongdoing</li>



<li>Church Mergers &amp; Acquisitions</li>



<li>Restructuring Bylaws &amp; Constitution</li>



<li>General corporate counsel</li>
</ul>


Litigation involving defamation, abuse, internal member conflict, and breach of contract

<li>Litigation involving defamation, abuse, internal member conflict, and breach of contract</li>

Reporting and responding to allegations of abuse

<li>Reporting and responding to allegations of abuse</li>

Internal investigations involving leader/staff wrongdoing

<li>Internal investigations involving leader/staff wrongdoing</li>

<li>Church Mergers &amp; Acquisitions</li>

<li>Restructuring Bylaws &amp; Constitution</li>

<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Litigation involving defamation, abuse, internal member conflict, and breach of contract</li><li>Reporting and responding to allegations of abuse</li><li>Internal investigations involving leader/staff wrongdoing</li><li>Church Mergers &amp; Acquisitions</li><li>Restructuring Bylaws &amp; Constitution</li><li>General corporate counsel</li></ul>

During law school, Keith served as the Chairman of his school’s nationally ranked Moot Court Board, externed for the Honorable Wallace Dixon (M.D.N.C.), and clerked for the Honorable Walter Kelley, Federal District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia.

<p>During law school, Keith served as the Chairman of his school’s nationally ranked Moot Court Board, externed for the Honorable Wallace Dixon (M.D.N.C.), and clerked for the Honorable Walter Kelley, Federal District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia.</p>

Although based in the firm’s growing Raleigh office, Keith frequently travels throughout the country for client needs and speaking engagements.

<p>Although based in the firm’s growing Raleigh office, Keith frequently travels throughout the country for client needs and speaking engagements.</p>

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<section class="wp-block-contentpilot-expand-more"><div class="wp-block-contentpilot-expand-more__excerpt is-visible" data-selector="expand-more"><p></p></div><div class="wp-block-contentpilot-expand-more__full-content" data-selector="expand-more"><p><strong>As outside counsel to numerous religious organizations, Keith’s faith-based legal practice spans the spectrum, including:</strong></p><ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Litigation involving defamation, abuse, internal member conflict, and breach of contract</li><li>Reporting and responding to allegations of abuse</li><li>Internal investigations involving leader/staff wrongdoing</li><li>Church Mergers &amp; Acquisitions</li><li>Restructuring Bylaws &amp; Constitution</li><li>General corporate counsel</li></ul><p>During law school, Keith served as the Chairman of his school’s nationally ranked Moot Court Board, externed for the Honorable Wallace Dixon (M.D.N.C.), and clerked for the Honorable Walter Kelley, Federal District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia.</p><p>Although based in the firm’s growing Raleigh office, Keith frequently travels throughout the country for client needs and speaking engagements.</p></div><button class="wp-block-contentpilot-expand-more__more-button is-visible" data-selector="expand-more">more</button><button class="wp-block-contentpilot-expand-more__less-button" data-selector="expand-more">less</button></section>

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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Experience</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Solutions in action</h3>


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Raleigh

Changing the Name of Your Church or Faith-Based Organization

Appellate court reversal – 501(c)(3) status is not “federal financial assistance” for purposes of Title IX.  Significant development for religious private schools. 

Keith E. Richardson

Overview

Experience

Solutions in action

Credentials

Engagement

Insights

IRS Position in Johnson Amendment Case Leaves More Questions Than Answers

Caring well for “hoary heads” on your church staff – Medicare supplemental plan considerations for religious organizations

Michael Best Announces Election of Five to Equity Partnership

Overview

Experience

Solutions in action

Credentials

Practices

Industries

Education

Admissions

Engagement

Professional

Community

Insights

IRS Position in Johnson Amendment Case Leaves More Questions Than Answers

Caring well for “hoary heads” on your church staff – Medicare supplemental plan considerations for religious organizations

Michael Best Announces Election of Five to Equity Partnership

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