About Garner Legal LLC
David R. Garner, Attorney at Law
David R. Garner founded Garner Legal LLC after a decade litigating at respected regional and national firms. He built the practice on a simple idea: the attorney who understands your case should be the one arguing it. This is the story of how he got here, what he has done, and how he works.
J.D. cum laude, Kentucky Law Journal
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Admitted to the Utah State Bar in 2016
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A decade of courtroom litigation
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Big-firm and national litigation experience
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Multiple jury trials and hundreds of hearings
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Serving Kaysville & Davis County
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Credentials & Experience
Trust & Estate Litigation
- Admitted, Utah State Bar, 2016
- Admitted, U.S. District Court for the District of Utah
Education
- J.D., 2016, cum laude — Production Editor, Kentucky Law Journal
- B.S., Math Education, Brigham Young University, 2011
Experience
- Roughly a decade as a full-time litigator (since 2016)
- Prior firms: Kipp & Christian; Holland & Hart; Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, one of the largest law firms in the country
- Hundreds of cases over ten years, including multiple jury trials and dozens of hearings in Utah state and federal courts
- Defended dozens of UALD investigations on behalf of employers
The Path to Litigation
David did not set out to draft documents. He was drawn to the harder, more contested side of the law: the disputes that do not resolve on their own and demand real strategy to work through. He enjoys solving complex legal problems and building the arguments that move a case forward. That instinct is what pointed him toward litigation, and it has shaped every year of his practice since.
His route there was not the usual one. Before law, he earned a B.S. in Math Education from Brigham Young University in 2011. The habits of that training, breaking a hard problem into parts and reasoning through it methodically, carry directly into how he approaches a case today.
Why He Built Garner Legal
David spent the first decade of his career at firms that taught him how the best-resourced litigators build and try a case. He learned the craft at a high level. He also saw how the layers of a large firm can put distance between an attorney and the client who actually needs them.
So he left to build something different, a practice where he works directly with clients from the first conversation to the last. When you hire David, you are not handed to an associate you never met. He stays involved at every stage, and you always know who is responsible for your matter.
How David Represents Clients
“I wanted to make a meaningful difference in the lives of my clients and the community I serve. After working at one of the largest firms in the country, I wanted to move beyond the layers of bureaucracy and build a practice where I could work directly with my clients, understand their needs, and focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for them.”
David R. Garner
In practice, that means the work gets done early. On the employer side, David has defended dozens of investigations before the Utah Antidiscrimination and Labor Division, which is the kind of matter that is far cheaper to handle correctly at the charge stage than after it becomes a lawsuit. In trust and estate disputes, it often means finding a resolution that keeps a family out of prolonged litigation, when a resolution is available.
He will not guarantee an outcome, because no attorney ethically can. What he offers instead is an honest assessment, a realistic strategy built on the facts of your case, and an attorney who stays prepared to try the matter if that is where it needs to go.
Where David Focuses
David keeps his practice intentionally narrow, concentrating on contested matters in four areas rather than handling a little of everything. Each area has its own page with the detail it deserves, so this is only a map of where he works.
He handles disputes, not paperwork. David does not draft estate plans or wills, and he does not take divorce, custody, or other family law matters. On the employment side, he represents employers, not employees. If your matter falls outside that, he is glad to point you toward someone who handles it.
A Kaysville Attorney, Not a Statewide Name
David moved to Kaysville when he was four years old. He grew up here and graduated from Davis High School. When it came time to build his own practice, he did not open it in Salt Lake City and commute. He built it in Kaysville, in the community where he is raising his own kids, because he believes clients deserve experienced representation close to home.
You are working with an attorney who knows these courts and this community, and who is invested in it the way a neighbor is, not a firm that treats Davis County as one more pin on a statewide map.
Outside the Courtroom
Away from the practice, David is a husband and father, and most of his time is devoted to his family. He is an Eagle Scout, he speaks Cambodian, and he spends as much time outdoors as he can, hiking with his kids and golfing when he gets the chance.
Talk to David Directly
If you are facing a dispute and are not sure where you stand, an early conversation can help you understand your options before positions harden. You will speak with David himself, an experienced Kaysville litigation attorney who will tell you honestly what he thinks of your case.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Litigation in Kaysville
Who is David Garner?
David R. Garner is the litigation attorney and founder of Garner Legal LLC in Kaysville, Utah. Admitted to the Utah State Bar in 2016, he has spent roughly a decade litigating civil disputes in Utah state and federal courts, including time at several respected firms, before opening his own practice to work with clients directly.
What types of cases does David Garner handle?
David handles contested civil matters in four areas: trust and estate litigation, employer-side employment law, business litigation, and insurance defense. He represents clients from pre-litigation negotiation through administrative proceedings, motion practice, and trial in Utah state and federal courts, including the Second District Court in Davis County.
Does David Garner handle divorce or family law?
No. Garner Legal LLC is a litigation practice focused on trust and estate disputes, employment matters on the employer side, business litigation, and insurance defense. David does not handle divorce, child custody, or other family law cases, and he does not draft estate plans or wills. He is happy to refer you to an attorney who does.
Where did David Garner go to law school?
David earned his J.D. in 2016, graduating cum laude, and served as Production Editor of the Kentucky Law Journal. Before law school, he earned a B.S. in Math Education from Brigham Young University in 2011.
How long has David Garner been practicing law?
David has been a full-time litigator since 2016, roughly a decade. His practice has focused on contested civil matters throughout that time, spanning hundreds of cases, multiple jury trials, and dozens of hearings in Utah state and federal courts.
What courts is David Garner admitted to practice in?
David is admitted to the Utah State Bar (2016) and to the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah. That allows him to represent clients in both Utah state courts, including the Second District Court serving Davis County, and federal court in the District of Utah.
Which firms did David Garner work at before Garner Legal?
Before founding Garner Legal LLC, David practiced at Kipp & Christian; Holland & Hart; and Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, one of the largest firms in the country. That experience shaped the direct-access practice he built on his own.
Do I work directly with David, or is my case handed off?
You work directly with David. Because Garner Legal LLC is his practice, he stays personally involved from the first consultation through negotiation, hearings, and trial. The attorney who understands your case is the same one arguing it.
Tell Me What's Happening
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Office
330 Main Street, Suite
25 Kaysville, Utah 84037
dgarner@garnerlegalutah.com
Business Hours
Mon – Fri, 9 AM – 5 PM
I personally review every inquiry and typically respond within one business day.
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