Profile

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Keith A. Karlson is a founding partner of Karlson Garza McQueary LLC. Prior to founding KGM LLC with Raymond G. Garza and Mark S. McQueary, Keith was a partner at another law firm where he represented public safety labor unions, and Article 3 and 4 pension funds. At that firm, Keith was the chief strategist on most litigation and appellate matters. Keith currently serves as a Deputy General Counsel for the IPPFA.

Keith has successfully represented firefighters, police officers, their pension funds, and their unions in the courtroom, on appeal, at the bargaining table, and before administrative tribunals. He has not sought, nor will he accept, any work on behalf of the consolidated pension systems. Keith has argued matters of first impression before the Supreme Court of Illinois, 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and Illinois’ Courts of Appeal. He also has drafted several friend of the court briefs on behalf of labor unions, pension funds, the IPPFA, and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. Keith has testified before legislative committees regarding workplace rights of frontline workers.

Keith has taught several seminars regarding administrative, statutory, and civil rights protections afforded public safety officers and frequently lectures about police and fire pension matters. In particular, Mr. Karlson has lectured on multiple subjects for the IPPFA. He also has taught part of the IPPFA Pension Trustee Certification Program. Mr. Karlson has taught university undergraduate and graduate level classes relating to civil liability for police officers, law for fire supervisors, and collective bargaining in the public sector. He has published several articles concerning the pension and workplace rights of police officers and firefighters.

Keith earned an A.A. (Criminal Justice) from Moraine Valley College, a B.A. (Political Science) from Eastern Illinois University, an M.A. (Communications) from Ball State University, and a J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law.

Mr. Karlson is licensed to practice in Illinois and Indiana, the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois, the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, and the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Sixth and Seventh Circuits. In 2013, Keith was certified by the Force Science Institute in analysis of police use of force incidents. He is also certified by Force Science regarding the use of body cameras. Since 2019, Keith has been rated as a "Super Lawyer” by his peers.