David Ratterman is a Member of the firm's Construction Service Group, concentrating his practice in general construction law, with particular emphasis on the fabricated structural steel industry. His immersion in the construction industry began as a water boy on construction sites at age 10 and evolved through a series of engineering and construction positions with the U.S. Navy, state government and private industry. He has been an officer or advisor to 12 industry trade organizations and professional societies involved in the fabricated structural steel industry. Since 1989, he has served as Secretary and General Counsel of the American Institute of Steel Construction and also serves on that body's "Code of Standard Practice" Committee and as counsel to its National Steel Bridge Alliance. David has been lead trial counsel for numerous contractors, design professionals, material suppliers and construction owners involved in complex matters in litigation, arbitration and construction mediation. Formally trained as a construction arbitrator and mediator and listed on several national construction neutral panels, David has participated as an ADR neutral or advocate in resolution of construction disputes totaling well in excess of a half billion dollars. Mr. Ratterman was also an advisor to FEMA Task Forces that investigated structural damage caused by the 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake and the September 11, 2001, collapse of the World Trade Center towers. He is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, is a Fellow and has served on the Board of Governors of the American College of Construction Lawyers and was the Founder and first Chair of the Kentucky Bar Association Section on Construction and Public Contract Law. David is listed in "Who's Who in American Law;" The Best Lawyers in America® (2003-2012) in Construction Law & Construction Litigation and "Best Lawyer of the Year (2011) in Construction Law in Louisville; Chambers USA, "America's Leading Lawyers in Business" (2010-11) and in Kentucky Super Lawyers magazine. Since 2008 he has been listed among the Top 50 Lawyers in the state by Kentucky Super Lawyers. A prolific author and speaker on a wide variety of construction law topics, David has presented or published in excess of 50 research papers, technical papers and articles. He has participated in or moderated numerous panel discussions on construction law topics at a wide variety of domestic and international academic symposia. Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications · "Collapse of the World Trade Center brings modications to high rise building and fire codes," Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Client Alets, September 12, 2011 · "Preparing your company for life after recovery," Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Client Alert, October 7, 2010 · "Sustainability & Steel: New Laws & Green Codes that Give Steel an Edge," Steel Day Free Webinar, Stites & Harbison, PLLC, September 24, 2010 · "Avoiding Legal Pitfalls in Sustainable Design and Construction," Green Steps Conference, One Southern Indiana Chamber & Economic Development, Jeffersonville, Ind., October 23, 2009 · "AISC Code of Standard Practice for Structural Engineers," Podcast, Structural Engineers Association of Ohio 2009 Annual Conference, September 10, 2009 Memberships American College of Construction Lawyers American Bar Association American Bar Foundation, Fellow Kentucky Bar Association Louisville Bar Association Downtown Louisville Rotary Club Louisville Committee on Foreign Relations American Institute of Steel Construction Society of Construction Law, United Kingdom, Member since 2008 Community Involvement Downtown Louisville Rotary Club University of Kentucky, National Alumni Association, Board of Directors Industry Experience Government Procurement & Contracts Not For Profit & Professional / Trade Organizations Religious Institutions Construction Structural Steel News Collapse of the World Trade Center brings modifications to high rise building and fire codes 75 Stites & Harbison attorneys honored in Best Lawyers in America Kentucky Super Lawyers list"Kentucky Super Lawyers list Chambers USA honors 31 Stites & Harbison attorneys with inclusion in the 2011 guide Federal Dollars for Women-Owned Small Businesses Events Southern Association of Steel Fabricators Convention NASCC - The Steel Conference / The Structures Congress Case Studies American Institute of Steel Construction National Corvette Museum, Bowling Green, Ky. Opryland Hotel's Delta Wing, Nashville Tensor Engineering Co.: Sundial Bridge, Redding, Calif. |