Decatur Lawyers

I am happily married to my wife, Heather, and I am the proud father of three amazingly beautiful daughters. My life revolves around my family. I started practicing law in 2006 and I have operated a successful law practice since 2007 where I have represented hundreds of clients in personal injury cases, divorces, child custody battles, murder cases, drug cases, business disputes, etc. I have obtained six-figure settlements for some of my clients through aggressive and strategic negotiation. I have won numerous trials in custody battles. I have saved clients from life sentences. I have...

As the founder of Jackson Law Firm, PLLC, I provide counsel in Social Security Disability and personal injury cases. Prior to deciding to found my own firm, I spent a number of years with several firms in the Southeastern United States. After spending the early years of my career working at larger law firms, it was clear to me that I should start my own firm to help the injured and disabled in the way I believe it should be done. By keeping the firm small, we are able to give our clients their legal concerns the...

Pete Johnson has experience representing a wide variety of businesses ranging from small local companies to some of the country’s largest publicly traded corporations. Before joining the Hutton Company, Johnson was the General Counsel for a real estate development and commercial general construction company. Johnson has practiced with law firms in Georgia and Tennessee, including an AmLaw100 firm, primarily in the areas of general corporate transactions, government representation, construction, and real estate law. Johnson has held a variety of public offices including serving as Assistant District Attorney, City Solicitor, and Magistrate. He has been...

Daniel Barnes graduated cum laude with a degree in English from Sewanee: The University of the South in 2009. He attended law school at the University of Tennessee, where he was a member of Moot court board and the black law students association. He also received the "Raptor Award" in first semester torts, and received an award for the highest grade in Criminal Seminar. He graduated and was admitted to the Tennessee bar in 2012 and takes cases in the fields of criminal law, immigration, family law, and wills and estates.

Wayne grew up around Law Enforcement and Education. Wayne spent his formative years being active in the outdoors and sports. Wayne spent 12+ years in private sector investigations and holds advanced interview and interrogation techniques certifications.

Graduated Vanderbilt University in 2002 Graduated from University of TN College of Law in 2005 Former Law Clerk to the Honorable Joseph Tipton on TN Court of Criminal Appeals Worked with Summer, Rufolo & Rodgers (formerly known as Summers & Wyatt) in Chattanooga since 2006 Specializes in appellate work and criminal defense, including state and federal cases.

For caring counsel and strong representation on a wide range of legal issues, many in the Cleveland-Chattanooga region of Tennessee turn to the attorneys and staff of William J. Brown & Associates. From divorce to personal injury, criminal defense to a contract dispute, you can depend on an honest assessment of your case. When we represent you in negotiations or litigation, you will benefit from decades of experience and a passion for service to our valued clients.

Nick has practiced law since 2012. His main practice areas include automobile liability, business and commercial litigation, family law, construction litigation, and premises liability, among other general civil litigation matter.

I am a Tennessee-licensed attorney and my practice focuses exclusively on assisting my clients with the acquisition, maintenance and enforcement of intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights.

One of my primary roles is to identify potentially patentable inventions and the scope of protection available for those inventions. In this role, I regularly prepare, file and prosecute U.S. patent applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and also work with attorneys around the world in order to obtain foreign patent protection.

I also assist clients in identifying competing technologies that might limit the scope of their patent protection or...

Chad W. Hampton received his B.A. in History, cum laude, from the University of Tennessee and his Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, from the University of Tennessee College of Law. While in law school, he completed a Concentration in Business Transactions in association with the Clayton Center for Entrepreneurial Law and earned honors as the top graduate. He maintains a transactional practice with a focus on general corporate and business matters, real property matters, and estate planning and administration.

Trial Attorney

Ben McGowan became a member of the firm, then known as Summers & Wyatt, PC, in 2012, following six years of successful private practice and Of Counsel association with Cavett & Abbott, PLLC. A native of New York City, Ben first moved to southeast Tennessee to attend the University of the South where he served as a University Proctor, fraternity president, and student Chief of the University fire department. After graduating in 1994, Ben lived abroad briefly before returning to the United States and in 1998 attending law school in Boston at Northeastern University. After graduation, he served as a Law...

Arthur Bass graduated from the University of Tennessee law school, receiving his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1975. He has practiced law for 41 years, providing quality legal services for reasonable fees to the people of Bradley County and the surrounding counties of southeast Tennessee. He has handled cases in all the local state courts as well as the Tennessee Court of Appeals and the Tennessee Supreme Court. Arthur Bass is also licensed in federal court and has handled cases before the Eastern District of TN and in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Annette Kelley uses the past experience she had as an insurance defense lawyer for over a decade to help secure just compensation for her clients in cases involving car wrecks, truck wrecks, workers compensation, premises liability and other serious personal injury cases throughout Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.

Herbert Thornbury, Esquire and his staff work with clients who have personal injury claims including social security, workers’ compensation and accident injuries in Tennessee.

Julia Spannaus works in several areas of law related to families and children. Her goal is to provide you with a variety of options for your particular circumstance and work with you to find the most efficient route to your stated goal. Her experience as an agency attorney in two states and as an attorney for children and parents provides her with a unique background to assist you and your family. Most consultations are free, so call today to find out what she can do for you and your family.

I have been practicing criminal law for over 26 years in federal and state courts. I am licensed to practice in the states of Tennessee and Georgia, however, I have appeared or consulted in criminal cases in many other states across the United States. I have tried well over 150 jury trials, including approximately 20 murder and/or death penalty cases. I have also been successful in appellate litigation, and have argued cases before federal court of appeals and state supreme courts. In 2011, I successfully argued a constitutional speedy trial violation before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, which resulted...

I have been practicing law in the Cumberland county area for over 25 years. Although I perform various tasks requested by my loyal clients, my practice is generally more focused than most attorneys in rural areas. I offer real estate closings and title work in both Cumberland and Putnam counties along with attorney Ian Deaderick. I provide representation in all manner of land issues including but not limited to; ownership claims, boundary disputes, roads and easements, partition actions, Home Owner Associations, land damage, trespass and condemnation. I also provide contract work, contract litigation and personal injury representation.
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Morgan Adams limits his practice to cases involving tractor trailers, buses, dump trucks, box trucks, and other commercial vehicles involving wrongful death and serious personal injury. With offices on the East Coast and West Coast he is able to handle cases nationally. He has helped injured clients in 42 states to date.

Wagner & Wagner is one of the longest-established law firms in Chattanooga. With more than seven decades of proven legal experience, our law practice has steadily grown through repeat business, valuable referrals and a tradition of client satisfaction.

Valerie W. Epstein currently owns her own firm concentrating her practice in the areas of civil litigation, wills and estates, arbitration/mediation and business. She has been a practicing Rule 31 mediator for over 10 years and she has been a commercial arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association for over 15 years (by invitation only). She was awarded a contract with the State of Tennessee to perform Independent External Reviews and she is a neutral for the American Health Lawyers Association. She has had numerous cases in Chancery, Circuit and Sessions court in Hamilton County representing both plaintiffs and defendants. She...

Dillon Zinser is a proud East Tennessee native. Dillon was born in Knoxville, but grew up in Maryville Tennessee. Shortly after graduating from college in 2013, Dillon moved to Knoxville, where he resides now. From a young age, Dillon wanted to be a lawyer to help people through difficult situations.

Dillon earned his Associate’s Degree from Pellissippi State Community College, before transferring to the University of Tennessee to complete his Bachelor’s Degree. Dillon spent three years working as a Supplemental Instructor and Tutor in Biology and Anatomy before commencing his legal education at the University of Tennessee College of Law in...

I have practiced law for twenty years. I learned the Court system under the guidance of my father who practiced law for over forty years. I have represented persons accused of offenses as minor as traffic citations and as serious as homicide. I have tried countless jury trials in both State and Federal Court and take pride in the knowledge that when discussing matters with prosecutors they have no doubt that if they are unreasonable I will try your case.

I am also very experienced in probating estates. I understand that not only is a...

Zack England, the founder of England Injury Law, is a native of the Chattanooga area who has dedicated his life to serving the community he holds dear. His journey into the legal field began with a strong academic foundation, earning a Bachelor’s in English Language and Literature from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. After completing his undergraduate studies, Zack pursued his legal education at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. His decision to become an attorney was deeply rooted in his desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives and...

Jerry H. Summers is a lifelong resident of Chattanooga and Hamilton County, Tennessee. Following his graduation from law school, he initially worked for two years as a prosecutor in the Hamilton County District Attorney's Office. Entering private practice in 1969, he became the founding member of what is now Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers. An experienced trial lawyer, Mr. Summers is one of a small number of attorneys who has been included in every yearly volume of "Best Lawyers in America" in both personal injury and criminal law. He is also only one of approximately five attorneys in the State of...

Jimmy W. Bilbo has been a practicing attorney in Cleveland, Tennessee since 1985. He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist by the TN Commission on CLE and Specialization. He is Dual Board Certified as a Trial Specialist and in Civil Pretrial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is a former president of the Tennessee Association for Justice.

Estes has been practicing law since 1974. He started in Memphis, TN where he worked for the best criminal and personal injury lawyers in that City. He moved to Chattanooga in 1976 where he again worked under the tutelage of one of Chattanooga's premier criminal attorneys. In 1999 he joined ERMC and eventually became the Chief Legal Officer and Sr. Vice-President of that company. In that capacity he oversaw civil personal injury litigation in over 40 states and supervised up to 100 outside top-notch personal injury lawyers around the country, attending numerous trials and mediations regarding...