Jennifer L. Keel

Jennifer is admitted to practice in Maryland, Minnesota (inactive), the District of Columbia, California (inactive), Colorado, and handles catastrophic injury cases across the country. Her practice focuses on complex medical malpractice cases involving birth trauma, kernicterus, cerebral palsy, brain and spinal cord injuries, and many other medical and surgical errors that have resulted in catastrophic injuries and/or death.

Jennifer is one of the industry’s thought leaders on electronic medical records evidence and audit trail use in medical negligence litigation, and teaches lawyers across the country how to obtain and make use of this important evidence. She also consults for lawyers and law firms on an hourly basis to assist with these issues in their cases.

Jennifer has a unique and varied medical background not typical of medical negligence lawyers. In addition to her undergraduate education in biology and biochemistry, she also completed the rigorous didactic and clinical education program for New York State’s highest level of prehospital care providers, and became a paramedic in 1995. She worked as a full-time paramedic for six years in the city of Rochester, New York, during which time she treated thousands of patients in need of emergent medical and surgical intervention in the prehospital setting. Jennifer also spent two years as a Tissue Procurement Specialist and Procurement Team Leader for the Rochester Eye and Human Parts Bank, where she performed sterile, surgical tissue procurement procedures on tissue donors to recover transplantable joints and tissues for recipients across the country.

While completing her undergraduate education, Jennifer worked in the operating room as an anesthesia technician and scrub-assist technician, in a secured skilled nursing facility attending to Alzheimer’s patients, and gained experience in various areas of veterinary medicine and surgery—each of which contributes to her understanding of broad medical and physiological concepts. Jennifer’s background and specialized medical training and experience makes her uniquely well-suited to medical negligence litigation, which is the primary focus in her practice. Jennifer’s cumulative experiences in patient care provide a distinct advantage to her clients: her broad base of knowledge of medicine and medical and surgical standards and techniques offers context within which to analyze and prosecute cases.

Jennifer has taught a course in medical malpractice litigation with the Sturm College of Law in Denver, has published articles on various topics in medical negligence, and has lectured in various continuing legal education programs and private seminars across the country.

Matthew R. Laird

Having served as a paratrooper in the 82^ndAirborne Division and completed deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, earning a Bronze Star for his service, Matthew brings a unique dedication, determination, and perspective to advocating for seriously injured individuals. He has more than ten years of experience in his field and is admitted to practice in Colorado, the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, the Combined Court of the Armed Forces, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Matthew has also handled cases in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, the District of Columbia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Matthew completed his undergraduate education at DePauw University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in history and classical civilizations. He went on to attain his J.D. at DePaul University College of Law. During his time at DePaul, Matthew received CALI awards in Federal Evidence and Federal Criminal Law as the top student in both courses and was a student intern at the Colorado Public Defender’s office, where he gained experience adjudicating jury trials under the Colorado Student Practice Act. Matthew held an internship at the Cook County Public Defender’s office where he worked with the Murder Task Force defending clients charged with capital offenses.

After working for the Colorado Public Defender’s Office, Matthew went on to serve his country as an attorney for the United States Army. For five years, Matthew represented both the United States and individual US Soldiers as a Federal Prosecutor and Federal Criminal Appellate Attorney.

At Thomas Keel & Laird, Matthew continues to demonstrate his love of country by representing veterans that have been injured or have suffered due to medical negligence.

Courtney Rose Klontz

Courtney Rose Klontz is a recent Juris Doctor graduate from University of Colorado Law School. She is young, ambitious, and thrilled to commence her legal career at Thomas Keel & Laird. Having interned at Thomas Keel & Laird her first two years of law school, Courtney was directly mentored by all three partners – acquiring insight to the procedural niceties of civil litigation and discovery, and enhancing her personal injury acumen. Courtney is extremely detail-oriented and keen to think outside the box when maneuvering through the, often complex, factual scenarios that arise in personal injury law.

During her final year of law school, Courtney represented indigent clients in Boulder County in Colorado Law’s criminal defense clinic while operating under the license of her professor. Courtney routinely performed in-custody jail county court and municipal advisements and learned how to effectively draft and argue motions while thriving in a fast-pace environment.

Courtney obtained her undergraduate degree at the University of California Santa Barbara. During her time at UC Santa Barbara,
Courtney interned as a shift lead at a sea lion rehabilitation facility. Courtney graduated with distinction in both of her majors.

She began law school immediately after moving to Colorado.

When Courtney is not immersing herself in legal studies, she can be found traveling, cooking, dancing, or outdoors. Having been a recipient of spinal surgery after her days of cheerleading in high school, Courtney is especially sympathetic towards injured plaintiffs and passionate about advocating on their behalf.