William H. Keller has been cited by name in four published judicial opinions as an expert witness on California legislative intent, a distinction that reflects a legal career extending beyond standard courtroom work into the architecture of California law itself. He founded the Legislative Intent Service, created Keller’s Illustrated Codes, and has served as an expert witness on California legislative intent in more than forty-five lawsuits over a career that began with bar admission in the early 1970s. His daughter Jennifer Keller Smith joined the firm in 2001 after a previous career as a television news producer and Columbia University-trained journalist, creating a father-daughter partnership that now carries more than seventy combined years of California legal experience.
Overview
Keller Law Firm was established in 1974 by William H. Keller, with its current father-daughter partnership taking shape in 2001 when Jennifer Keller Smith joined after earning her J.D. from McGeorge School of Law. The firm operates from two California locations: the primary office at 27240 Turnberry Lane, STE 200, Valencia, CA 91355 in the Santa Clarita Valley, and a second office at 1219 Morningside Dr. in Manhattan Beach.
The firm’s stated identity is built around family serving family. The tagline “Let our family help your family” captures the core positioning: a two-attorney firm where both attorneys are directly accessible, where clients work with the principals and not with staff intermediaries.
The combination of backgrounds within the firm is unusual. William Keller’s legal career spans U.S. Marine Corps service, a term as a Woodland City Councilman, deep immersion in California legislative history, and decades of estate and business law practice. Jennifer Keller Smith arrived at law from a communications career, having worked in television news production, sports production, and as a legislative and legal researcher in Sacramento before earning her law degree. That journalism and communications background shapes how the firm presents complex legal concepts to clients.
Practice Areas
Estate Planning is the core of the firm’s practice. This encompasses comprehensive estate plans including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. The firm’s approach covers both foundational planning and more complex arrangements for clients with business interests or multi-generational transfer goals.
Trusts and Trust Administration cover the establishment of trust structures and the administration of trusts after a grantor’s death, representing trustees through the administration process.
Probate covers the probate court process for estates that require it, representing executors and beneficiaries through administration.
Business Formation assists entrepreneurs in establishing partnerships, corporations, and LLCs. This includes the formational documents and structure needed to start a business correctly from a legal standpoint.
Business Succession Planning integrates the transition of business ownership with the owner’s estate plan, addressing the tax and transfer questions specific to closely held business owners.
Pre- and Post-Marital Agreements are prepared for clients seeking to define financial rights and obligations before or after marriage.
Civil Arbitration and Mediation is handled by William Keller, who serves as an arbitrator and mediator in civil disputes in addition to his transactional and expert witness work.
Expert Witness Services represent a specialized component of William Keller’s practice. He has served as an expert witness on California legislative intent in more than forty-five lawsuits. Four published judicial opinions cite him by name.
Attorney Profiles
William H. Keller is the Senior Partner and founder of the firm.
Education: B.A. with honors, UCLA, 1966; J.D., UC Davis, 1972.
Military service: U.S. Marine Corps Captain, 1966-1969.
Bar admissions: California Supreme Court; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California; U.S. Supreme Court. Member of the California State Bar Association Trust and Estates Section and the Los Angeles County Bar Association Trust and Estates Section.
Notable credentials: Founder of the Legislative Intent Service; creator of Keller’s Illustrated Codes; expert witness on California legislative intent in 45+ lawsuits; cited by name in four published judicial opinions; Founding Member of the California Archives Foundation and State Library Foundation; former Woodland City Councilman. More than fifty years of California legal experience.
Contact: [email protected].
Jennifer Keller Smith is a Partner.
Education: B.A. cum laude, University of Southern California; M.S. in Journalism, Columbia University; J.D., McGeorge School of Law.
Bar admission: California (admitted 2000).
Background prior to law: television news producer, sports production assistant, and legislative and legal researcher in Sacramento. She joined the Keller Law Firm in 2001 after her bar admission.
Contact: [email protected].
Location and Service Area
Primary office: 27240 Turnberry Lane, STE 200, Valencia, CA 91355. Phone: 661-201-4001.
Second office: 1219 Morningside Dr., Manhattan Beach, CA. Phone: 310-545-1897.
Website: https://www.kellerlawfirm.com/
The firm’s primary service area is the Santa Clarita Valley and surrounding communities. Video conference options are available, extending the firm’s reach throughout California. Clients who cannot travel to a physical office can meet by video.
Client Focus
The firm serves individuals and families seeking estate planning, business owners at the formation and succession stages, and parties to civil disputes seeking arbitration or mediation. The father-daughter structure means clients have access to two attorneys with different but complementary backgrounds.
Free initial consultations are offered. Clients can reach the firm by phone or directly contact either attorney by email.
Languages spoken beyond English are not publicly available.
Fee structures beyond the free initial consultation are not publicly specified.
FAQ
What makes the Keller Law Firm different from other estate planning firms in the Santa Clarita Valley?
The firm offers more than seventy combined years of California legal experience across two attorneys who are also family members. William Keller’s background includes founding the Legislative Intent Service, creating legal reference materials used across California, and serving as a named expert witness in published judicial opinions. Jennifer Keller Smith brings journalism and legislative research experience alongside her legal training.
Does William Keller serve as an expert witness?
Yes. He has served as an expert witness on California legislative intent in more than forty-five lawsuits and has been cited by name in four published judicial opinions.
Does the firm offer video consultations?
Yes. Video conference options are available for clients who cannot meet at the Valencia or Manhattan Beach offices. This extends service to clients throughout California.
Does the firm handle business formation in addition to estate planning?
Yes. Business formation services include establishing partnerships, corporations, and LLCs. The firm also handles business succession planning, which integrates the business transition with the owner’s estate plan.
Where are the firm’s offices located?
The firm maintains two California offices: 27240 Turnberry Lane, STE 200, Valencia, CA 91355 (phone: 661-201-4001) and 1219 Morningside Dr., Manhattan Beach, CA (phone: 310-545-1897).
Closing
Keller Law Firm’s fifty-year continuity in California legal practice, anchored by William Keller’s founding and extended by Jennifer Keller Smith’s arrival in 2001, reflects a practice built on deep California legal knowledge rather than high-volume transactional throughput. The firm’s unusual combination of legislative history expertise, estate planning practice, and journalism-trained communications capability gives it a specific character within the Santa Clarita Valley legal market.