David Gantt is a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Worker's Compensation Law. A primary focus of his practice is Social Security Disability. He brings more than 30 years of experience to client representation in Western North Carolina.
At the David Gantt Law Office, we pride ourselves on being accessible to our clients. Our highly trained, focused, professional staff are skilled in every phase of social security disability and workers' compensation law. We are available and accessible.
David believes in leadership through action. He was Chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners for 20 years. He is future-focused and industrious. Employing the practices he sees for Asheville's future, his office is solar equipped and living wage certified.
David Gantt, attorney at law, has over 30 years of experience representing injured and disabled clients throughout western North Carolina. At the David Gantt Law Office in Asheville, he offers clients knowledgeable and compassionate representation as he pursues compensation and benefits for workers' compensation, Social Security disability, and personal injuries.
David is an Asheville based Social Security Disability and Workers’ Compensation Lawyer. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife and two children. The Gantts enjoy hiking, camping, swimming and traveling. David and Charise Gantt are UNC-Chapel Hill graduates. Brett Gantt holds a Ph.D. from NCSU in Atmospheric and Environmental Studies and is employed by the Environmental Protection Agency at Research Park. Carrie Gantt is a Duke undergrad and graduate of George Washington University Law School, employed by the City of New York Legal Department. Basketball games at the Gantt household are lively due to mixed allegiances in the family. The Gantts are proud of the beauty and colorful history of their Western North Carolina home. Among the natural wonders near the Gantt’s home are Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain in Eastern America, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
P: 828-252-2852
Contact David
David's News
David's Credentials
Education
Campbell University School of Law, Raleigh, North Carolina
- J.D. - 1981
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- B.A., Bachelor of Arts - 1978
- Major: Economics
- Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity
Professional Associations & Memberships
- 28th Judicial District
- North Carolina State Bar
- North Carolina Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- President's Club - North Carolina Advocates for Justice
- Sustaining Patron - Advocates for Justice
- National Association of Social Security Disability Claimant's Representatives
- The National Trial Lawyers - Top 100
- The National Advocates - Top 15 Social Security Disability Law - Since 2019
Bar & Court Admissions
- North Carolina Bar; 1981
- North Carolina and U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina; 1981
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, and U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina; 1984
- U.S. Supreme Court; 1985
Memberships & Boards
Past and Present
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee
- Life Member NAACP
- Mountain Resources Commission 2010-2013; move to Past Board Memberships
- Asheville Airport Authority
- United Way
- Eblen Charities Foundation
- Metropolitan Sewerage District Board
- NC Employment Security Commission 2008-2012 Governor appointment
- Asheville Buncombe Community Relations Council
- NC Advocates for Justice Board of Governors
- Chair- Disability Advocate Section of NC Advocates for Justice 2008
- University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Parents Council
- Pack Square Park Conservancy Board
- President, Glen Arden PTA
- Dean, People’s Law School- NC Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Land of Sky Regional Council, Chair, 2001 - 2004
- Mountain Resources Commission, Chair, 2010 - 2012
Publications
- "Woodson Worker's Compensation Case",North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyer Magazine, January, 1996
- Buncombe County Lawyer Newsletter(Editor),1993- 1998
Pro Bono Activities
- Asheville Airport Authority
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee
- Life Member NAACP
Politics
- Elected to Buncombe County Commission 1996-2008
- Elected to Chair of the Buncombe County Commission 2008-present
- Elected as Chair of Land of Sky Regional Council 2001-2004
- Appointed as Member of Mountain Resource Commission by Governor 2010-2013
- Elected to Chair of Mountain Resources Commission 2010 -2013 by Governor
- Appointed to NC Employment Security Commission 2008-2012 by Governor
Awards, Teaching & Legacy Efforts
Awards & Recognition
- Marvin Collins Outstanding Planning Award for Distinguished Leadership by an Elected Official, American Planning Association NC, 2016
- Lawyer of the Year, Workers' Compensation - Asheville, Best Lawyers in America, 2017
- North Carolina Bar Association General Practice Hall of Fame, 2017
- Leaders in the Law (NC Lawyers Weekly/Elon University), 2016
- U.S.News/Best Lawyers in America "Best Law Firms", Workers' Compensation, Asheville, since 2016
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America, since 2015
- AV Preeminent Rated Attorney, Martindale-Hubbell
- Client Champion Gold Rated Attorney, Martindale-Hubbell
- Charles Campbell Regional Leadership Award, 2004 – Present
- Circle of Excellence Award for Community Leadership, 2005 – Present
- NC State Bar Association Centennial Award for Community Service, 2005 – Present
- RiverWise Award for French Broad River preservation, 2006 – Present
- NC State Bar Association Citizen Lawyer Award, 2007 – Present
- Friends of the River Award, 2007 – Present
- Super Lawyer, 2009 – 2010, since 2017
- Top 100 Lawyers in NC- American Trial Lawyers Association, 2009 – 2010, 2015
- WENOA Sierra Club Leadership Award, 2010 – Present
- Society of Legal Advocates 2013-2015
- Stepp Labor Leader Award WNC Central Labor Council 2012
- Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, Legacy Award 2017
- Environmental Excellence Award- Asheville Greenworks, 2011
- Martindale Hubbell Client Distinction Award, 2015
- WNC Elected Official of the Year – Mountain True, 2015
- Top 100 Lawyers- National Advocates 2014, 2015
- Champion of Buncombe County Animals - Asheville Humane Society, 2016
- Minnie Jones Social Justice Award, 2016
- Greenway Hero, Friends of Connect Buncombe, 2016
- American Political Leadership Award, Sierra Club, 2016
- MLK Humanitarian Award, MLK Association of Asheville & Buncombe County, 2017
- Board Certified in Worker’ Compensation Law by Board of Legal Specialization
Environmental Efforts
- Initiated conservation easement program that has preserved over 5,000 acres of Buncombe County farmland, ridge tops, and open spaces
- Initiated ordinance to ban new billboards in Buncombe County
- Initiated measure to protect 80 acres of land adjoining the Blue Ridge Parkway
- Initiated resolution that stopped paved road through National Forest
- Initiated Dark Skies ordinance that saves energy and limits light trespass and light pollution in Buncombe County
- Supported 1st countywide zoning plan to protect mountains and communities
- Supported storm water ordinance that reduces flooding and landslide potential
- Supported creation and funding of 30 acre urban park in downtown Asheville
- Supported measures to limit condominiums on ridge tops and steep slopes
- Supported County law limiting new cell tower construction on mountain tops
- Supported steep slope and ridge top ordinance to protect mountain slopes from over development
- Supported zoning overlay designed to protect views on Blue Ridge Parkway
- Supported ordinance to clean up junk yards, junk cars in Buncombe County
- Supported resolution to create Craggy Garden wilderness area near Blue Ridge Parkway
- Support recycling center for compost, construction waste
- Support one of best land fill programs in North America
- Support measures to clean up trash and garbage in Buncombe County
- Prepared documents that help stop destruction of StandHill Mt. local park
- Awarded the Asheville Greenworks’ Environmental Excellence Award in 2011
Presentations
- "Why practice SS law?", NC Advocates for Justice
- "WC Ethics", NC Industrial Commission, October 2010
- "SS law for Paralegals", NC Paralegal Association, September 2010
- "Basics in Social Security Law", NC Advocates for Justice, June 2009
- "Basic Social Security Benefits", NC Academy of Trial Lawyers, September.2006
- "Where do I find Social Security Rules and Regulations?", NC Academy of Trial Lawyers, March 2006
- "Social Security Regulations", NC Academy of Trial Lawyers, December 2003
- "Damages in Worker’s Compensation Cases", NC Academy of Trial Lawyers, October 2003
- "Ethics in Worker’s Compensation Cases", NC Bar Association, February 2003
- "Intro to Social Security law", NC Academy of Trial Lawyers, December 2002
- "All Star Trial of Sex Harassment Case", NC Bar Association, February 2001
- "Interpreting Social Security Language for Beginners", NC Academy of Trial Lawyers, December 1999
- "Social Security Jargon for Beginners", NC Academy of Trial Lawyers, December 1998
- "Social Security Language Made Easy", NC Academy of Trial Lawyers, November 1996
- "Ethics in Worker's Compensation Cases", Wake Forest University, January 1996
- "Social Security Administrative Mistakes and Remedies", NC Academy of Trial Lawyers, October 1995
- "Ethics from the Plaintiff's Worker's Compensation Perspective", Wake Forest University CLE, August 1994
- "Advanced Worker's Compensation and Ethics", NC Academy of Trial Lawyers, October,1993
- "Farmer's Right of First Refusal", North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, September 1991
- "Trying the Automobile Injury Case in North Carolina", National Business Institute, August 1991
- "A new sustainability index for WNC", Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere conference, Asheville, NC, November 2011
- "Economics of the Blue Ridge Parkway", Virginia Tech Symposium, Roanoke, VA in October 2010
- "Keynote on “Motivation and Inspiration", NC Employment Security Commission employees, Charlotte, NC, October 2009 and October 2006