David A. Harris
Principal- Location:
- Decatur, Georgia
- Phone:
- 615-742-9311
- Fax:
- 629-500-1137
- Email:
- dharris@manierherod.com
David Harris represents surety clients in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina on a range of issues, including, construction defect litigation, claim investigations, indemnity and subrogation rights, payment & performance bond disputes, commercial and miscellaneous bonds, fidelity bonds, fraudulent transfer claims, and creditor rights in bankruptcy.
Mr. Harris joined the firm in 2026 and is a member of the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee of the ABA, serving as Vice Chair of its Underwriting and Risk Management Subcommittee. Mr. Harris is also on the board of directors for the Surety Claims Institute and is on the Attorney Advisory Council for the National Association of Surety Bond Producers.
Mr. Harris received his B.A. in History and Business Administration, cum laude, in 2003 from Milligan College (n/k/a Milligan University) in Milligan, Tennessee. Mr. Harris received his J.D., with honors, in 2007 from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia.
Practice Areas
Bar Admissions
- Georgia, 2007
- North Carolina, 2017
- South Carolina, 2023
Education
- Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, Georgia – J.D.
- Emory Candler School of Theology – M.T.S.
- Milligan College (n/k/a Milligan University), Milligan, Tennessee – B.A.
Honors & Awards
- Georgia Super Lawyers (2022 – 2026)
- Georgia Rising Stars (2017 – 2020)
Published Works
- Author, Bonded Contract Provisions Critical to the Performing Surety: Scope, Price, and Time, in Bond Default Manual (ABA 5th ed. forthcoming).
- Author, Recent Developments in Fidelity and Surety Law, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal (multiple issues 2017 – 2026).
- Author, Extra-Contractual Damages and the Conflict of Laws, in Fidelity & Surety Law Newsletter (ABA Summer 2025)
- Author, Connection and Risk: Relationship Building in Underwriting, in Fidelity & Surety Law Newsletter (ABA Fall 2024)
- Author, Chapters on Georgia and South Carolina in The Electronic Payment Bond Deskbook (ABA 2023)
- Author, Bond Agent Duties and Liabilities, in Surety Bond Quarterly (Spring 2022)
- Author, Myths vs Facts: Payment Bond MythBusters, in Surety Bond Quarterly (Winter 2021)
- Author, Surety Successfully Enforces Assignment Right to Settle Its Principal’s Affirmative Claims, in NASBP Blog (July 7, 2023)
Classes/Seminars
- Co-Chair, 2026 TIPS FSLC Surety Spring Conference, May 2026
- Faculty Member, Surety School (Fall 2024, Spring 2026)
- What is “Incorporation by Reference” and What does that Mean?, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, April 2026
- Surety at the Supreme Court, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, April 2025
- “Last of the Labor”: A review of the Miller Act’s Statute of Limitations, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, April 2024Financing the Principal, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, March 2023
- Case Update: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, April 2022
- An Exploration of the Duties and Liabilities of Bond Agents, Surety Claims Institute, June 2021
- Program Chair, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, April 2021
- Project Oversight, Control, and Staffing, Fidelity & Surety Law Spring Conference (ABA), May 2019
- Payment Bond Mythbusters, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, April 2019
- Moderator, Surety Claims and Legal Panel, Surety Association of Georgia, March 2019
- Current Issues Under the Indemnity Agreement, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, April 2018
- Handling High Volume Document Review, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, April 2017
- Surety Law Update, Surety Association of Georgia, June 2016
- Performance Bonds: Surety’s Defenses and Options, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, 2016
- Program Chair, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, April 2015
- The Surety’s Assignment Rights to Equipment, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, 2015
- Payment Bonds: Who is Covered?, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, 2014
- Don’t Be Put off by “Setoff”, Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Conference, 2013
- In the Pursuit of Indemnity: Perfection Not Required, National Bond Claims Association, 2009
Professional Associations & Memberships
- American Bar Association, TIPS, Fidelity & Surety Law Committee, Vice ChairFidelity & Surety Law Committee, Underwriting and Risk Management Subcommittee, Co-Chair (2022 – Present)
- Fidelity & Surety Law Committee, TIPS Journal Subcommittee, Chair (2020 – Present)
- National Association of Surety Bond Producers, Attorney Advisory Council (2026 – Present)
- Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Association, President (2024 – Present)
- Surety Claims Institute, Board of Directors (2025 – Present)
- Atlanta Surety Claims Association (2012 – 2023)