Dalton McKeel

Dalton S. McKeel is an associate in the Silicon Valley office of Messner Reeves, where his practice focuses on litigation. He brings experience in general litigation and commercial disputes.

Before joining the Messner Reeves team, Dalton practiced at a leading international law firm, where he advised emerging companies and institutional investors on venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance matters. He worked across the full deal lifecycle, including structuring preferred equity financings, SAFEs, and convertible instruments, and counseling clients on fiduciary duties and equity compensation. During that time, he also developed his pro bono practice representing clients in domestic violence and child custody matters.

He draws on his combined litigation and transactional background to provide practical, business-oriented solutions to clients.

Dalton earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from Colorado State University. Dalton earned his J.D., cum laude, from Santa Clara University School of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif and served as an Articles Editor for the High Tech Law Journal. He received multiple academic excellence awards and was consistently named to the Dean’s List. During law school, he externed with in-house counsel at a technology company and for Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. He is admitted to practice in California.