Etowah Lawyers

I am currently a Registered U.S. Patent & Intellectual Property Attorney at Thrive IP®. I have experience in patent, trademark, and copyright prosecution. I also have experience in various forms of intellectual property litigation in addition to general business and transactional law practice. I hold a Juris Doctorate Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee College of Law, and I received my undergraduate degree in Marine Engineering Technology from Texas A&M University Galveston, graduating Summa Cum Laude. I also hold a minor in Maritime Administration. I have a passion for assisting inventors, businesses, and universities in obtaining intellectual property protection.

Attorney Eric Ebbert has been serving the East Tennessee community in different capacities within the legal field for over 25 years. We know the law in Tennessee, we know how it affects you, and we know how to present your case to both judges and juries. The Ebbert Law Firm handles a wide range of legal matters including business law, employment law, elder law, estate planning, wills and trusts, probate law, HOA law, social security disability law and helping victims of nursing home neglect and abuse. We fight for our clients’ rights, and we know what it takes to win...

Martin L. Pierce is a native of Memphis, Tennessee, and received his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Tennessee Technological University in 1978. He received that institution's Outstanding Young Alumnus Award in 1988. Martin received his law degree, with high honors, from the University of Memphis in 1981, where he was a published member of the University of Memphis Law Review. He is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Georgia, as well as before the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Martin works primarily in the areas of: (1) Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Elder Law,...

Mr. Burton is originally from Tennessee. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Burton served as a police officer with the City of Sevierville before becoming a Federal Agent for the Social Security Administration. While working as a Federal Agent, Mr. Burton completed law school at the Nashville School of Law. After returning to East Tennessee, Mr. Burton began his own practice focusing on the representation of disabled individuals and criminal defendants on both the state and federal level. Mr. Burton’s experience as a Federal Agent with the Social Security Administration distinguishes Mr. Burton from other attorneys in his representation of disabled...

My legal career has focused on protecting the rights of individuals against big corporations. My main work in this regard is in three areas: (1) pursuing justice for victims of dangerous corporate products (mainly mesothelioma / asbestos victims); (2) representing labor unions; & (3) advocating for employee's rights.

Tom Kulaga is a patent attorney who worked for 19 years as an electrical and instrumentation engineer before becoming an attorney. Tom focuses on helping inventors and businesses protect their intellectual property through patent protection.

Darrell Douglas was born and raised in LaFollette, Tennessee. He attended the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2010. His Doctor of Jurisprudence was awarded in 2014 from Mississippi College in Jackson, Mississippi. Darrell was licensed to practice law in Tennessee in 2014.

Having grown up in East Tennessee, Darrell knew he wanted to return home to begin practicing law. Darrell’s upbringing gave him a strong desire to assist those who have been injured through no fault of their own; and to help them recover compensation for those injuries.

During his time in practice, Darrell has experience in...

Snyder, J. I graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1987. Upon graduation I clerked for the Honorable Joe D. Duncan, Presiding Judge of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals until his retirement on September 1, 1990. On September 1, 1990, I joined the District Attorney General's Office for the Fifth Judicial District (Blount County, Tennessee) until I went into private practice on September 1, 1996. Six years later, on September 1, 1996, founded the Law Office of James H. Snyder, Jr., and at the same time was...

With more than 25 years of experience in the areas of personal injury claims, property and construction disputes, contract negotiation and preparation, business lawsuits, estate and trust litigation, landlord and tenant matters, homeowners’ association matters, workers’ compensation claims, and various other civil matters, I practice what I enjoy. I am both zealous and professional in my representation of my clients. Our attorneys are active members of the Knoxville, Loudon County, and Tennessee Bar Associations and are also active members of the Tennessee Association of Construction Counsel. I represent a wide range of clients with interests in Tennessee. I created this...

Amanda manages a boutique firm which serves clients in Tennessee and Georgia. Amanda focuses primarily on business and estates matters including: contracts, trademarks, business formation, wills & trusts, powers of attorney, and probate.

E. Michael Brezina, III’s career includes more than fifteen years of litigation experience in the private and public sectors, including extensive and diverse trial experience. Michael graduated Summa Cum Laude in three years from the University of Tennessee (“UT”) in Knoxville, where he was selected Phi Beta Kappa. He was also a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. In 2004, he graduated Cum Laude from UT College of Law. He was a partner for many years at one of the region’s oldest and largest law firms, starting his practice there after graduating from law school in 2004. During his 15-year tenure...

Mital D. Patel prides herself in her zealous and individualized representation of her clients. Ms. Patel handles a wide array of legal matters; however, she has focused on those specific practice areas since she became licensed over a decade ago. Whether you are a business owner, a parent experiencing domestic issues or a couple seeking thorough estate planning and asset protection you can count on Ms. Patel to educate you and guide you through the process. Ms. Patel will take the time to get to know you, to understand your difficulties and to solve your problems.

Ms. Patel is able to...

With more than 25 years of experience as a bankruptcy and family law attorney, attorney Denna Middleton, is a knowledgeable choice for Knoxville, TN clients who deserve quality attention and care during life’s rough legal transitions. Her experience working with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) bankruptcy division provided valuable insight in the area of bankruptcy. Over the years, attorney Middleton has helped countless individuals and businesses alike obtain financial assistance through debt consolidation and bankruptcy filing. Attorney Middleton is a caring attorney who also provides specialized support to families in need of legal assistance for Divorce in Knoxville....

Patrick A. Cruise is licensed in Tennessee, Georgia, and Louisiana. Patrick has handled over one thousand cases, including jury trials in Tennessee, Georgia, and Louisiana. He has obtained millions of dollars in compensation for his clients, including numerous six and seven figure settlements, judgements, and verdicts. Patrick focuses primarily on serious injuries involving commercial motor vehicle wrecks, and is Board Certified in Truck Wreck Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

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...

Mr. MacNeill graduated with honors from Nashville School of Law.

John Mark Griffin obtained his doctorate of jurisprudence from the University of Mississippi in 1988. He obtained his Masters of Business Administration from Louisiana Tech University in 1986 and a bachelor of science in finance in 1982. He is licensed to practice law in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Ohio and is admitted to practice in both Federal and State Courts. For more than twenty-five years, Mr. Griffin has represented individuals hurt by the negligence of others. He has collected millions of dollars for his clients in jury verdicts, judgments, mediations and settlements against insurance companies and corporations for the injuries...

Matt has spent his legal career helping clients when they need it the most. He has helped hundreds of clients get approved for Social Security Disability benefits since 2013. He has gone through NHTSA's field sobriety test training for both alcohol and drug-related DUI's. And he has helped numerous clients receive compensation for injuries they received in auto accidents.

If you're looking for an attorney who is trained and qualified to handle your Disability case, auto accident, or DUI, call Matt Ooten for a free consultation.

Jeffrey W. Rufolo grew up in New Jersey and originally came to Chattanooga in 1983 to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on a wrestling scholarship. He liked the area so much he decided to stay. Since joining Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers, Mr. Rufolo has successfully represented those who have been injured on the job, or injured in car accidents, fall down cases, or other premises liability type cases due to the negligence of others. Recently, Mr. Rufolo successfully overturned an unfavorable decision from the trial court in a wrongful death lawsuit brought against Hamilton County, Tennessee, in which a...

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...

Mr. Hoffer has been an attorney since 1991. Divorce and Family Law make up the bulk of Mr. Hoffer's caseload. After working with several other attorneys after law school, Mr. Hoffer opened his own office on North Ocoee Street in the Spring of 1996.

In the nearly twenty-nine years of practice, Mr. Hoffer has handled thousands of divorces, custody, child support and juvenile cases. He has tried several jury trials over the years. Mr. Hoffer has also practiced in the Court of Appeals and has maintained a membership with the Bradley County Bar Association since 1991. He...

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...

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.

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...

Registered patent attorney with experience in the areas of trademark, copyright and patent law. Experience with industries such as consumer packaged goods, sporting goods, aerospace technology, computer and mobile software, medical devices, composite materials, hazardous material handling, environmental remediation, firearms, pesticides, mechanical devices and electro-mechanical devices. Member of the State Bar of Tennessee and U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

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

Attorney Chase Walker is a young attorney full of energy and a desire to help others. Over the years, Chase has seen numerous legal issues arise with various friends and family members and often heard the same two complaints: I can't afford an attorney, and I don't feel like my interests are being fairly represented. Too often, attorneys claim to be client-centered, while simultaneously trying to figure out how they can resolve as many cases as quickly as possible, for the maximum profit, and with the least amount of time and effort possible. After taking the bar exam, Chase put...

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...