Keith Fichtelman

Keith is a partner with the Ventura County based firm Nelson, Comis, Kettle & Kinney LLP.  Keith is a dual-qualified United States (California & New York) attorney and Solicitor of England and Wales.  

Keith’s practice focuses on civil litigation, including international arbitration and dispute resolution, and providing outside counsel services to a variety of clients.  

Keith has also successfully represented several refugees on a pro bono basis in seeking asylum before the U.S. Immigration Courts.  Keith also serves as a temporary judge for the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Keith’s litigation background has included representing a diverse group of clients in a wide spectrum of disputes including contract disputes, trade secrets, copyright and trademark, fraud, civil RICO, personal injury claims, trust and probate litigation, and financial services litigation.

Keith also regularly advises companies of various sizes as outside counsel on such issues as contract negotiations, employment law, anti-corruption laws, insurance issues, international law, and due diligence investigations.  Keith also advises craft breweries and wineries on issues relating to California and federal alcohol laws.

Keith has regularly represented and/or advised clients in disputes pending before various international arbitration forums, including the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA).

Keith lives in Camarillo with his wife and three children and is active in the local community.  Most recently, Keith has served on the board of directors of the local AYSO soccer region and regularly referees in the region.  Keith also serves as an alternate on the Pleasant Valley School District’s Measure C Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee.  Keith has also served as a coach of the UCLA Mock Trial Team, including during their 2004 and 2011 National Championship seasons, and helps judge college and high school mock trial competition in the area.

While in law school, Keith participated in a prestigious externship with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda based in Arusha, Tanzania.  The tribunal was tasked with the adjudication of war crimes charges against the alleged perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.

Keith also manages the general interest blog https://venturalaw.blog/ and the special interest blogs https://intlarbitration.com/ and https://wine-brew-law.com/.

Prior to joining Nelson Comis Kettle & Kinney LLP, Keith worked with two large international law firms based in Los Angeles.

• State of California
• State of New York
• England and Wales (Solicitor)
• United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• United States District Court for the
  • Central District of California
  • Eastern District of California
  • Southern District of California
  • Southern District of New York
  • Eastern District of New York