David L. Grebel is widely recognized as one of the top personal injury trial lawyers in Missouri and the Midwest. A lifelong resident of St. Louis, Dave has devoted his career to representing individuals and families who have suffered catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, and harm caused by defective products, toxic exposure, and unsafe premises.

Since beginning his practice in 2003, Dave has built a national reputation for fearless advocacy, meticulous preparation, and record-setting results. Over the course of his career, he and his firm have recovered more than $3 billion for injured clients, including some of the largest verdicts and settlements in Missouri and U.S. history.

Record-Setting Results

Grebel’s career is defined by numerous record-setting results, including:

• $745 million jury verdict in a wrongful death case involving nitrous oxide (“Whip-It”) distribution.
  • Largest personal injury verdict in Missouri in 2023.
• $11 million jury verdict against Stanley Black & Decker for a staple gun that shot out a client's eye.
  • Largest verdict in U.S. history for the loss of an eye.
• $23.71 million settlement in a product liability case involving a defective boat roof.
  • Largest personal injury settlement in Missouri in 2023.
• $16 million settlement for a client rendered quadriplegic by a falling tree.
  • Highest individual plaintiff settlement in Missouri in 2019.

Other significant recoveries include:

• $6 million settlement in Knott v. Shepherd, Inc. for a woman seriously injured in a truck accident.
• $3.49 million recovery for three power line workers electrocuted by a defective wire reel stand.
• $1.3 million settlement for a client injured in a dump truck collision.
• $1.175 million recovery in a product liability case involving a client’s death.
• $1.087 million settlement for a family injured when rear-ended by a tractor-trailer.

As a result of his many successes, he was asked to author the introduction to the Missouri Bar’s CLE desk book entitled “Settling Cases.” This desk book, which is used by attorneys around the state, gives advice from experienced personal injury attorneys on the best ways to settle cases and obtain the best results for clients.

Awards & Memberships

• Best Lawyers in America (Personal Injury), selected every year since 2015
• Super Lawyers, including Top 50 St. Louis and Top 100 Missouri & Kansas distinctions
• Life Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Co-Founder of Niemeyer, Grebel & Kruse

Dave co-founded NGK Law Firm to make sure that people who have been injured have the same level of preparation, resources, and courtroom strength as the large corporations and insurance companies they face.

The firm focuses on catastrophic injury, wrongful death, toxic exposure, and complex product liability cases, taking a boutique approach that allows Dave and his partners to invest deeply in every client’s case.

At the heart of Dave’s practice is a belief that corporations and insurers often operate under the assumption that their size and wealth make them untouchable. Dave challenges that assumption every day—through meticulous forensic preparation, technical mastery, and fearless trial advocacy.

Equally important to Dave is the human side of his work.

He builds trust and connection with clients, guiding them through life-changing injuries with patience, empathy, and clear communication. For Dave, every case is both a legal challenge and a personal responsibility to ensure his clients are heard, understood, and fully compensated for their losses.

Defense-Side Training, Plaintiff-Side Advantage

Early in his career, Dave practiced at two of the Midwest’s most respected defense firms. There, he represented insurance companies, manufacturers, and corporate defendants in complex civil litigation.

This experience provides Dave with a unique insider perspective.

He understands how insurance carriers evaluate claims, how corporations defend cases, and how defense attorneys deploy procedural tactics. Today, he uses this knowledge to dismantle defense strategies, secure higher settlements, and win at trial.

Rooted in a Family Legacy of Law

Dave’s approach to litigation is shaped by his family's legacy in law. He is the son of Lawrence “Larry” Bovard Grebel, a legendary Missouri trial lawyer and lead counsel in the litigation arising from the Hyatt Regency skywalk collapse, one of the deadliest structural failures in United States history.

Growing up around high-stakes litigation gave Dave early exposure to the realities of the courtroom, instilling the values of preparation, professionalism, and strategic acumen that define his practice today.

Personal Life

Dave lives in St. Louis with his son and daughter. He is a proud lifelong Missouri resident.