David Keithly is a senior attorney in Theodora Oringher’s Costa Mesa office. He represents clients in high-stakes litigation in both state and federal courts, with a particular focus on complex disputes, trial advocacy, and strategic litigation defense.

David is an accomplished trial attorney and trusted advisor to individuals and corporations navigating sensitive and high-risk disputes. He guides clients through every phase of litigation—from pre-suit investigation to dispositive motion practice, settlement, and trial—with an emphasis on positioning, clarity, and control. David has successfully prepared and defended dozens of corporate representatives, executives, and persons most knowledgeable (PMKs) for high-stakes depositions and trial testimony, and he is frequently called upon to lead litigation in bet-the-business and reputationally sensitive matters.

David’s recent work includes:

• Representing multiple Fortune 500 companies in trial, deposition and dispositive motion proceedings.
• Securing favorable outcomes for corporate clients in multi-year wire fraud and unfair competition matters, including complete defense verdicts and recovery of attorneys’ fees following jury and bench trials.
• Serving as lead counsel in a personal defamation action, prevailing on a strategic anti-SLAPP motion and defeating the opposing party’s anti-SLAPP motion.
• Leading a litigation team in a multi-state judgment collection and receivership enforcement action involving complex jurisdictional and procedural challenges across federal and state courts in three states.
• Defending an education and health services provider in a trade secret and breach of fiduciary duty case. David has extensive experience litigating trade secret claims in both state and federal court.
• Successfully resolving a multi-million dollar business divorce arbitration involving multiple REIT partnerships.

David has represented clients across a wide range of industries, including automotive, manufacturing, real estate, banking, consulting, hospitality, healthcare, education, technology, and securities. He also has deep experience defending corporate clients in consumer litigation, including claims involving fraud, unfair competition, and violations of state and federal statutory schemes.

David began his career at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth and later practiced at Schilling Law Group PC before joining Mortenson Taggart Adams LLP, where he became a partner and managed a broad and active litigation practice.

Outside the office, David is an Eagle Scout, a fluent Portuguese speaker, and an AYSO soccer coach.