About Michael S.
Michael S. Keating built a legal foundation over a decade ago but his path to the benchroom began earlier. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Marquette University in Milwaukee in 1997. Five years later he completed his Juris Doctor at DePaul College of Law in 2002. Those years shaped his approach to practice: methodical, practical and anchored in classroom rigor.
After law school he entered legal practice and gathered experience in private firm settings. By 2009 he was serving as an associate at Hurley, McKenna & Mertz, where he worked alongside colleagues on client matters and firm cases. That role offered routine courtroom exposure and the everyday demands of firm life. It also refined his habits as a lawyer — attention to detail, careful drafting and an ability to work under deadline.
Keating's career reflects steady professional development rather than rapid change. He spent time building case files, researching legal issues and participating in discovery and motion practice. Those responsibilities are the backbone of many litigation practices. Colleagues from that period recall a lawyer who accepted complex assignments and carried them through to resolution.
His education and early practice intersect in his work today. Keating maintains offices in Chicago’s Loop and in West Town. Those locations position him close to state courts, business clients and community organizations. He serves clients who need representation, counseling or standard legal services tied to matters arising in the city and surrounding suburbs.
Outside the office he stays connected to the legal community and to developments in Chicago law. He monitors case law and procedural changes that affect daily practice, and he applies those updates when advising clients. He has built a pragmatic approach to problem solving that emphasizes clear options and realistic timelines.
Colleagues describe his manner in meetings as straightforward. He tends to avoid legalese and opts for direct explanations. That style suits clients who want timely answers and practical next steps rather than prolonged academic discussion. Keating continues to base his practice in Chicago, maintaining the Loop and West Town offices where he handles client matters and provides ongoing legal services.
He currently practices from offices in Chicago’s Loop and West Town, focusing on client representation and legal matters arising in the Chicago area.
