David N. Garst

David N. Garst, B.Arch., J.D., is a shareholder in the Lewis Thomason Nashville office, where he serves a pivotal role as the chair of the Construction Law Practice Group and on the firm’s Board of Directors. Mr. Garst’s legal practice is focused on general construction law, with emphases on architects’ and engineers’ professional liability, construction defect litigation, design and construction contract negotiation, and professional discipline.

With over three decades of legal experience, Mr. Garst provides counsel and representation to a diverse clientele of general and specialty contractors, architects, engineers, surveyors, suppliers, and building owners across a wide range of construction project types, both locally and regionally. His impressive track record includes litigation or arbitration of hundreds of construction disputes involving sports stadiums, airports, industrial buildings, commercial, educational, and hospitality projects, roads, subdivisions, dams, and major civil works projects.

Mr. Garst’s commitment to the construction industry goes well beyond his legal practice as he actively participates in multiple construction industry organizations. His dedication to these organizations underscores his unwavering support for the construction community and his ongoing contributions to its growth and development.

PROFESSIONAL HONORS AND ACTIVITIES

• 2024 and 2025 Chambers USA Top Ranked - Construction Law - Nashville

• fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of America

• Best Lawyers 2026 Construction Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville

• Best Lawyers 2025 Litigation - Construction “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville

• Best Lawyers 2022 Litigation - Construction “Lawyer of the Year”in Nashville

• Best Lawyers 2021 Construction Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Nashville

• Best Lawyers 2020 Litigation - Construction “Lawyer of the Year”in Nashville

• Named to Mid-South Super Lawyers Top 100 Tennessee Attorneys

• Life fellow, American Bar Foundation

• Member, Nashville Bar Foundation

• Selected by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell as Elite Lawyer of the South, 2018

• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rating, 18 years

• The Best Lawyers in America

• Best Lawyers in Nashville, 18 years

• Mid-South Super Lawyers, 18 years

• Premium Member, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)

• Presidential Award of Excellence - AIA Tennessee (2015)

• Presidential Award of Merit for Distinguished Service - AIA Tennessee (1997)

• General Counsel, Middle Tennessee Chapter of the American Institute of Architects

• Board Member, Associated General Contractors of Tennessee, 2011 - 2013

• Elected Officer, Middle Tennessee Branch of the Associated General Contractors of America, 2008 - 2014

• Tennessee Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors

• Associated Builders and Contractors

• Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers

• The Jefferson Society

• Construction Specifications Institute

• Chapter Technical Excellence Award - CSI Knoxville

• Committee Member, XL Design Professional Insurance Company Contract Guide