David W. Garland

When high-profile employers face allegations of wrongdoing and the specter of a public trial, David W. Garland’s meticulous, fact-driven defenses persuade juries to deliver favorable verdicts for employers. David reduces the reputational and existential threats of significant employment claims for major companies and their leaders. He has earned a national reputation as a veteran trial attorney who easily connects with juries and skillfully manages the media attention his clients’ cases attract.

David has prevailed in courtroom defenses against claims of sex harassment, employment discrimination, whistleblowing, retaliation, breach of contract, and more. He also represents employers seeking to prevent the misappropriation of confidential business information by former employees—and represents companies against claims that they have wrongfully poached employees.

With countless jury trials in more than 30 years of practice, David builds detailed litigation strategies that set new precedents and position clients well. His early career in government and politics, as an assistant to U.S. senators and a governor, laid the groundwork for David’s aptitude with the sensitivities that workplace claims carry and the importance of public messaging. David represents well-known public and private employers, including multinational manufacturers, media corporations, and financial services companies, with national and global operations.

In addition, David leads the firm’s National Employment, Labor & Workforce Management Steering Committee. He helped establish and build the firm’s groundbreaking alliance with Deloitte Legal, which provides global workforce solutions. David extends his international perspective—and clients’ resources—as co-chair of the International Labor and Employment Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s section of Labor and Employment Law.