Attorney David Sterling is an experienced litigator with over 25 years of experience in a variety of legal settings, including in small, large, and government firm environments.  He is a founding partner at Cox, Sterling, Vandiver and Botteicher, PLLC and practices general business and commercial litigation, employment law, real estate litigation, and health law.

Mr. Sterling previously served over six years, by appointment of Governor Asa Hutchinson, as Chief Counsel at the Arkansas Department of Human Services – the State’s largest agency with over 7,500 employees and a budget of approximately $10 billion.  There, he supervised over 80 attorneys and a staff of over 160 employees throughout the state providing legal representation to the Department and its 9 program divisions. Mr. Sterling also served as General Counsel at the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, overseeing its legal department for almost two years.

Mr. Sterling has received an “AV” peer review rating from Martindale Hubbell for his high ethical standards and preeminent legal ability.  An “AV” rating is the highest possible rating and means that the lawyer has been rated by his peers as “Very High to Preeminent” in terms of his professional ability and expertise, and as “Very High” in terms of his adherence to the professional standards of conduct and ethics.

J.D., UALR Bowen School of Law, 1997

M.A., Public Administration, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 1994

B.A., University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 1992

American Bar Association 1994-present

• Section of Litigation, Leadership 2006-present
• ABA House of Delegates, 2005-2008
• Young Lawyers Division, Leadership 2001-2008

Arkansas Bar Association 1994-present

• House of Delegates, 2001-2007
• Frank C. Elcan Leadership Award, 2005

Christian Legal Society, 1994-present

Federalist Society, 1994-present

Arkansas Association of Defense Counsel, 2004-present