David T. Schaefer

Partner

David is a co-chair of the firm’s Product Liability practice group. He has extensive experience defending a wide variety of clients, including automotive, pharmaceutical and medical device companies in product liability cases. He also handles insurance coverage and general litigation matters, including asbestos, premises liability and commercial cases.

Understanding each client has unique tolerances and objectives, David works with his clients at the outset to provide them with a thorough evaluation of the case and identify their options before crafting a strategy that fits their needs. He is adept at all aspects of building a defense, from conducting on-site investigations to taking depositions and securing expert testimony to preparing a case for trial. He has significant experience negotiating settlements but also has taken numerous cases to trial in state and federal courts in Kentucky and Indiana. His appellate experience includes arguments before the Kentucky Supreme Court, Kentucky Court of Appeals, Indiana Supreme Court, Indiana Court of Appeals, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Credentials

Education

Indiana University Maurer School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1986)

  • Indiana Law Journal

Indiana University (B.A., with honors, 1983)

  • Phi Beta Kappa

Bar admissions

  • Kentucky
  • Indiana

Court admissions

  • Supreme Court of Indiana
  • Supreme Court of Kentucky
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana

Affiliations and memberships

  • Product Liability Advisory Council, sustaining member
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Kentucky Defense Counsel, Inc., past director
  • Kentucky Science Center, past board member and general counsel
  • Kentucky Bar Association
  • Indiana Bar Association
  • Louisville Bar Association

Distinctions

  • Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Kentucky Trial Court Review
    • Defense Trial Lawyer of the Year (2022)
  • Kentucky Super Lawyers® 
    • For Personal Injury – Products: Defense (2021)
  • Top 50 by Kentucky Super Lawyers®
  • Best Lawyers®
    • “Lawyers of the Year” in Louisville for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2022)
    • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants(2022-2024)
    • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2022-2024)
  • “Top Lawyers” by Louisville Magazine (2014, 2016)
  • Lawyers for Civil Justice, Outstanding Contributor (2024)

News
  • December 18, 2025

    Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 34 Dinsmore Attorneys on 2026 List

  • August 21, 2025

    260 Dinsmore Attorneys Listed as 2026 Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch

  • December 23, 2024

    Dinsmore Helps Secure Appellate Victory For Hyundai in Tragic Product Liability Case

  • December 17, 2024

    Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 29 Dinsmore Attorneys on 2025 list

  • August 15, 2024

    250+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers ®, Ones to Watch

  • July 25, 2024

    Dinsmore Attorneys Discuss Amended Federal Rule of Evidence 702

  • December 29, 2023

    32 Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2024 Kentucky Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

  • August 17, 2023

    200+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers®, “Ones to Watch”

  • January 26, 2023

    Kentucky Trial Court Review Recognizes David Schaefer as 2022 Defense Trial Lawyer of the Year

  • December 29, 2022

    Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 30 Dinsmore Attorneys; Three Partners Named in Top 25 Women List