Michelle Friends is the Chief Operating Officer for Keker, Van Nest & Peters, a litigation boutique based in San Francisco, CA. She oversees day-to-day operations, including the firm’s business, IT, and administrative functions, working closely with firm management, the CFO, partners, and department leaders. Michelle has more than twelve years of experience in the legal industry, including serving in marketing and business development roles. 

She served two terms on the International Board of Directors for the Legal Marketing Association, including roles as Member-At-Large and Treasurer. She is a seasoned speaker with the association on topics ranging from career development to marketing technology and the business of law. She is also a Chapter Resource Team member with the Association of Legal Administrators. While in Denver, she served on local boards such as the Denver Metro EDC Board of Governors, Denver Zoo Leadership Council, Colorado Judicial Institute, and Colorado State University Extension Jefferson County. 

Michelle assisted many companies during the COVID-19 pandemic with their operational challenges. She presented more than twenty times to organizations like the Association for Corporate Counsel, CO SHRM State Council, The CFO Leadership Council, and various podcasts. 

Before joining the legal industry, Michelle worked in the non-profit sector. She holds a Master of Science in Legal Administration from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and a Master of Applied Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and Marketing from the University of Denver. She received her undergraduate degree in Marketing from Metropolitan State University.