Atty. David B. Ratterman
David Ratterman is a Senior Member of the firm's Construction Service Group, concentrating his practice on the fabricated structural steel industry in the United States and internationally. 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.
Construction Law & More Attorney · Serving Louisville, KY
Profile Summary
About David B. Ratterman at a Glance
David B. Ratterman is a construction attorney based in Louisville, Kentucky, practicing at Stites & Harbison PLLC. Admitted to practice in Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association. Educated at University of Louisville (J.D., 1975) and University of Kentucky (—, 1970). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Construction Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Construction (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Awards: (2026). Serves clients in Louisville, KY and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Get Legal Help from David B. Ratterman in Louisville
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
About David B. Ratterman
- David Ratterman is a Senior Member of the firm's Construction Service Group, concentrating his practice on the fabricated structural steel industry in the United States and internationally
- 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, government and private industry
- David has been an officer or advisor to 12 industry trade organizations and professional societies involved in the international fabricated structural steel industry
- Since 1989, he has served as Secretary and General Counsel of the American Institute of Steel Construction and as counsel to its National Steel Bridge Alliance
- David has been lead trial counsel for numerous structural steel fabricators and other 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, he has participated as an ADR neutral or advocate in resolution of construction disputes totaling in excess of a billion dollars
- David 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
- He is a Fellow and former Governor of the American College of Construction Lawyers, and in 2014 was presented the college's Past Presidents' Award for exemplary service to the College over a period spanning nearly the entire 25-year history of the College's existence
- He was the Founder and first Chair of the Kentucky Bar Association Section on Construction and Public Contract Law
- In March 2012, The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) named a college scholarship program after Mr. Ratterman, the "David B. Ratterman Fast Start AISC Scholarship
- The scholarship program currently provides financial assistance to 10 college age children of the steel industry's blue- and white-collar families each year
- In March 2019, AISC awarded David the Lifetime Achievement Award honoring those who have provided outstanding service to AISC and the structural steel design/construction/academic community
- In 2012, he received the 2012 Distinguished Service Award from the University of Kentucky (UK) Alumni Association
- He is a past President of the UK Alumni Association
- In 2016 he was inducted into the UK College of Engineering Hall of Distinguished Alumni and in 2018 was awarded the Department of Civil Engineering’s Construction Management Founders Society (CMFS) Lifetime Achievement Award
- 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
Practice Areas Explained
David B. Ratterman's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases David B. Ratterman handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Louisville.
Construction Law in Louisville
David B. Ratterman is one of 40,302 construction attorneys indexed nationally. Browse construction attorneys in Kentucky →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Louisville
Practicing law in Kentucky. Legal matters in Kentucky are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Louisville are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Kentucky state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Kentucky brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Kentucky courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Louisville Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Louisville-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Kentucky attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Louisville or all attorneys in Kentucky.
Frequently Asked
Common Questions About David B. Ratterman
Where is David B. Ratterman's law office located?
What practice areas does David B. Ratterman handle?
Where did David B. Ratterman go to law school?
How can I contact David B. Ratterman for a consultation?
What awards or recognition has David B. Ratterman received?
Professional Profile
Why Clients in Louisville Choose David B. Ratterman
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish David B. Ratterman's practice in the field of construction.
Focused Construction Practice
Concentrating on construction means David B. Ratterman's knowledge of relevant statutes, case law, and procedural nuances stays current — unlike generalist practices that spread attention across unrelated fields.
Local Presence in Louisville
A Louisville-based practice means David B. Ratterman attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Search Reference
How People Find David B. Ratterman Online
Prospective clients searching for legal help in Louisville commonly use a combination of the attorney's name and their specific legal need. The following search terms frequently lead people to this profile and to attorneys like David B. Ratterman.
If any of the above matches what you searched for, you've found the right profile. Use the contact options at the top of this page to get in touch with David B. Ratterman directly.
David B. Ratterman's Practice Areas & Specializations
Education & Law School Background
Awards & Professional Honors
Bar Admissions & Licensed Jurisdictions
Client Reviews & Ratings — David B. Ratterman
No reviews yet.