Exhibit 8.1
LUSE GORMAN, PC
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
5335 WISCONSIN AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 780
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20015
TELEPHONE (202)274-2000
FACSIMILE (202)362-2902
www.luselaw.com
July 24, 2018
Athens Bancshares Corporation
106 Washington Avenue
Athens, Tennessee 37303
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Registration Statement onForm S-4 (as amended or supplemented through the date hereof, the “Registration Statement”) of CapStar Financial Holdings, Inc., a Tennessee corporation (“CapStar”), including the joint proxy statement/prospectus forming a part thereof, relating to the proposed transaction between Athens Bancshares Corporation, a Tennessee corporation, and CapStar.
We have participated in the preparation of the discussion set forth in the section entitled “MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER” in the Registration Statement. In our opinion, such discussion of those consequences, insofar as it summarizes United States federal income tax law, and subject to the qualifications, exceptions, assumptions and limitations described therein, is accurate in all material respects.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and to the references therein to us. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Sincerely,
/s/ LUSE GORMAN, PC