Hamilton County Lawyers

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...

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...

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...

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.

I am a sole practitioner with 15 years experience practicing law in Tennessee. I am known for going the extra mile with my clients and for fighting for the very best possible outcome. I spend time on each case and respect the fact that there is a person behind every case. Because it impacts your life, it is of the utmost importance to me to do the best job I can for you - Your life and my reputation depend on it.

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...

Trial Attorney

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...

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...

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.

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...

Attorney Lisa Conner co-founded Conner & Roberts, PLLC in September 2010 and is the firm’s managing member. She was born in Chattanooga, and received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga before receiving her Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) from Florida Coastal School of Law. Upon graduation from law school, Lisa returned home to practice law in her native Tennessee. Her first job as a lawyer was at a large, multi-state defense firm where she was a managing attorney. She started to see how big firms did not serve the needs of local individuals, so she decided to work...

I help you build things— patent applications, expert reports, amicus briefs, opinions on patentability, freedom to operate, due diligence, and state-of-the-art. The things I help you build assist you build your business—intellectual property to keep others from using your things without your permission, and opinions to help keep you from using other people's stuff without their permission. I provide answers, specifically to questions that need an understanding of chemistry and patent law. I have a passion and background in chemistry. I love patents, especially useful ones. Everything is an opportunity to learn, collaborate, and provide value. I do all three...

Mr. Gilbert assists families in both the employment law and in special education law. He believes a wrongful termination affects an entire family. Additionally, Mr. Gilbert has long been active in upholding the rights of schoolchildren with disabilities—those who have individual education plans (IEPs) or 504 plans.

Jed is licensed to practice law in the State of Tennessee and the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee. He is a graduate of the University of Memphis School of Law. He earned his Juris Doctorate in 2015. He has a B.S. in History from Tennessee Technological University in 2010, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

Jed is also a Captain in the Judge Advocate General currently serving in the U.S. Army Reserve. Jed graduated from the Army's Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course in 2017 drills at Fort Campbell, KY, supporting the operations of the 101st Airborne Division.