Keith Kapp represents businesses, ranging from multi-national to private or family-owned enterprises, in connection with their commercial litigation and regulatory needs. He advises clients on the laws of contract, shareholder rights, antitrust, franchise relations, warranty, consumer protection, unfair trade practices and various regulatory statutes. As a member of the Commercial Arbitration Panel of the American Arbitration Association, Keith also provides arbitration services. He is a former vice chairman of the firm's board of directors.
He is a contributing author to Williams Mullen’s Alcoholic Beverage Law blog.
Keith Kapp represents businesses, ranging from multi-national to private or family-owned enterprises, in connection with their commercial litigation and regulatory needs. He advises clients on the laws of contract, shareholder rights, antitrust, franchise relations, warranty, consumer protection, unfair trade practices and various regulatory statutes. As a member of the Commercial Arbitration Panel of the American Arbitration Association, Keith also provides arbitration services. He is a former vice chairman of the firm's board of directors.
Keith has an extensive appellate practice arising in part from his service as a law clerk to Chief Judge Earl Vaughn of the North Carolina Court of Appeals and Justice J. Frank Huskins of the North Carolina Supreme Court. He has substantial experience in alcoholic beverage distribution and regulation, franchisee-franchisor relationships and businesses regulated by the North Carolina Utilities Commission, such as electric wholesale generators, co-generation operations and water companies.
Keith served as president of the North Carolina State Bar for the 2012-2013 term. He previously served as Wake County judicial district councilor from 2000 to 2009 and as chairman of the North Carolina State Bar Ethics Committee from 2006 to 2008. Keith is a member of the Antitrust and Administrative Law sections of the North Carolina Bar Association and currently serves on the Professionalism Committee. He is a member of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys and the Antitrust and Forum on Franchising sections of the American Bar Association. He is also a member and past president of the Wake County Bar Association. In addition, he is past president of the Raleigh Executives Club and Raleigh Little Theatre. Keith is a trustee of the Moravian Ministries Foundation and co-chaired the First Night Raleigh 2000 celebration.
Keith has been recognized as a leading litigation attorney by Chambers USA (2017-present), and he is listed in The Best Lawyers in America© (2003-present). He is also listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers (2006-present), and he has been named to their Top 100 North Carolina Super Lawyers List eight times, most recently in 2023. Keith has been included as part of Business North Carolina's "Legal Elite" (2015-present), and he was named to their "Legal Elite Hall of Fame" for Business Law in 2019.
He was named the Best Lawyers® Raleigh "Lawyer of the Year" for Bet-the-Company Litigation in 2017 and the "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation-Antitrust in 2019. In addition, he has been a "Litigation Star" in North Carolina by Benchmark Litigation each year since 2010. In 2012, Keith was named to "Leaders in the Law" by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly. Martindale-Hubbell has rated him an AV attorney, its highest rating available.
Keith earned an A.B. degree, with honors, from the University of North Carolina and a J.D. degree, also with honors, from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He graduated as a Morehead Scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
- Represented vitamin manufacturer in state antitrust and civil action defense of one of several alleged price fixings. Participated in settlement of class action.
- Defended insurance company in class action alleging excessive reserves. The case was dismissed based on filed rate doctrine.
- Represented an insurance company in an unfair trade practice claim alleging conspiracy to establish excessive rates. Claim dismissed based on filed rate doctrine, first modern application of the doctrine in North Carolina.
- Represented a pesticide manufacturer in a case for declaratory judgment and false advertising claims under the Lanham Act arising from the Defendant's advertising that mischaracterized the qualities and effectiveness of our client's product formulation for termite control systems. The case settled under confidential terms.
- Defended pest control company against claims by property owner of breach of contract and negligence
- Defended pest control company against claims of breach of contract, negligence, gross negligence, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and fraud. Plaintiff sought compensatory, treble and punitive damages.
- Williams Mullen defended the U.S. subsidiary of a European maker of computerized furniture-making equipment sued for alleged violations of the Lanham Act, libel and other claims. Case resolved and later appealed to Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Defended university against FERPA claim brought by the parent of a student arising from the student's performance at the university.
-
01.16.2024
15 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2024 North Carolina Super Lawyers List
-
01.02.2024
14 Williams Mullen Attorneys Honored by Business North Carolina's 2024 “Legal Elite”
-
08.17.2023
131 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®
-
06.02.2023
44 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 14 Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA 2023
-
01.18.2023
15 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Camden and Kapp Named to Top List
-
01.05.2023
11 Williams Mullen Attorneys Honored by Business North Carolina's 2023 'Legal Elite'
-
10.07.2022
Williams Mullen’s Litigation Practice Named in Benchmark Litigation 2023
-
08.18.2022
123 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
-
07.08.2022
Modernization of N.C. Alcohol Laws During 2022 Legislative Short Session
-
06.02.2022
39 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 14 Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA 2022
-
01.18.2022
16 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2022 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Camden, Johnson, Kapp and Scott Named to Top List
-
01.03.2022
14 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Business North Carolina’s 2022 ‘Legal Elite’
-
10.05.2021
Williams Mullen’s Litigation Practice Named in Benchmark Litigation 2022
-
08.23.2021
124 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
-
08.12.2021
Proposed North Carolina Common Area Entertainment Permit Rules
-
05.26.2021
40 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 12 Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA 2021
-
01.14.2021
17 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2021 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Camden, Kapp, Scott and Johnson Named to Top Lists
-
01.05.2021
16 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Business North Carolina’s 2021 ‘Legal Elite’
-
10.13.2020
Williams Mullen’s Litigation and Labor, Employment & Immigration Practices Named in Benchmark Litigation 2021; 15 Attorneys Recognized
-
09.25.2020
Proposed North Carolina “Come to Rest” Rules
-
08.20.2020
116 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©; Most Total Lawyers in Virginia
-
04.28.2020
29 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 11 Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA 2020
-
01.22.2020
10 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2020 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Camden, Kapp and Scott Named to Top Lists
-
09.30.2019
Williams Mullen’s Litigation and Labor, Employment & Immigration Practices Named in Benchmark Litigation 2020; 14 Attorneys Recognized
-
08.15.2019
119 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
-
08.07.2019
North Carolina Distillery and ABC Modernization Bill Signed into Law
-
04.29.2019
4 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2018 North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society
-
04.25.2019
30 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 12 Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA 2019
-
04.15.2019
25 Proposed Changes to N.C. ABC Laws Brewing in 2019
-
02.05.2019
11 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2019 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Keith Kapp and Elizabeth Scott Named to Top Lists
-
01.02.2019
Keith Kapp Profiled in Business North Carolina's 2019 Legal Elite Issue
-
01.02.2019
13 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Business North Carolina’s 2019 ‘Legal Elite’; Keith Kapp and Elizabeth Scott Inducted Into Hall of Fame
-
12.03.2018
Williams Mullen’s Litigation and Labor, Employment and Immigration Practices Named in Benchmark Litigation 2019; 11 Attorneys Recognized
-
08.15.2018
110 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in Latest Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
-
08.14.2018
14 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named ‘Lawyers of the Year’ by The Best Lawyers in America©
-
05.03.2018
29 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 12 Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA 2018 Guide
-
01.25.2018
9 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers for 2018; 3 Included in Rising Stars List
-
01.05.2018
Carolina Journal Quotes Recent ABC Law Blog Post On Tax Changes in Article on North Carolina Craft Alcohol Producers
-
01.03.2018
11 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Business North Carolina’s 2018 ‘Legal Elite’
-
12.28.2017
New Tax Bill Includes Significant Changes to Federal Alcohol Excise Taxes
-
10.04.2017
Williams Mullen’s Litigation Practice Recognized in 2018 Edition of Benchmark Litigation
-
08.14.2017
114 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2018
-
06.12.2017
Keith Kapp Receives John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award from the North Carolina State Bar
-
05.26.2017
32 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 12 Practice Areas Recognized by Chambers USA for 2017
-
02.01.2017
10 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to the 2017 North Carolina Super Lawyers List
-
10.19.2016
Williams Mullen’s Litigation Practice Honored in 2017 Edition of Benchmark Litigation
-
08.15.2016
100 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2017 Best Lawyers in America
-
08.15.2016
Nine Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2017 ‘Lawyers of the Year’ by Best Lawyers®
-
01.11.2016
Seven Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2016 North Carolina ‘Legal Elite’
-
10.19.2015
Williams Mullen’s Litigation Practice Honored by Benchmark Litigation
-
08.17.2015
106 Williams Mullen Attorneys named 2016 Best Lawyers in America
-
06.25.2015
NC ABC Law Changes, How Will This Impact Your Business?
-
01.21.2015
Williams Mullen North Carolina Attorneys Named 2015 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
-
01.12.2015
Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2015 North Carolina “Legal Elite”
-
10.24.2014
Benchmark Litigation Names Williams Mullen a ‘Recommended’ Firm in North Carolina for 2015
-
10.06.2014
City of Raleigh’s Lunch with a Lawyer Program honors M. Keith Kapp
-
09.25.2014
North Carolina ABC Legislative Wrap-Up 2014
-
01.31.2014
Williams Mullen North Carolina Attorneys Named 2014 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
-
11.20.2013
Benchmark Litigation Names Williams Mullen a ‘Recommended’ Firm in North Carolina
-
08.16.2013
100 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2014 Best Lawyers in America
-
06.18.2013
Growler Sales Now Permitted in North Carolina
-
05.17.2013
Proposed Legislation to Expand Growler Sales in North Carolina