J. Nicholas Arning, Jr.

Practice Areas: 31 years litigating at trial and appellate levels in Commercial, Construction, Insurance Defense, Medical Malpractice Defense, Personal Injury, Product Liability, and Wrongful Death disputes. She is a Rule 31 Listed Mediator in General Civil Mediation. Admitted: Tennessee; Texas; U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee; U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; U. S. Supreme Court. Academic: University of Tennessee: 1986, B. S., with highest honors; 1991...

David Chapman, a shareholder in the firm’s Knoxville office, focuses primarily on the defense of local and national transportation companies, brokers and commercial motor operators, including medical and liability expert retention and discovery, accident investigation and evaluation, and pre-trial, trial and appellate litigation. He has also worked with multiple motor carriers and transportation companies regarding post-accident protocols and FMCSA compliance. Mr. Chapman’s practi...

Rick is a civil litigation attorney. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1987, at which time he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He worked as a systems acquisition officer at the Ballistic Missile Organization at Norton Air Force Base until 1992 and last served as the Reentry Systems Launch Program Acquisition Logistics Manager. Upon separation from the Air Force as a captain, Rick attended t...

Kacie has a wide range of experience in real estate and corporate transactions, including representing both borrowers and lenders in real estate development transactions, commercial leasing and secured lending, as well as representing clients in corporate formations and corporate M&A. Kacie handles long term care transactions, including financing, leasing, acquisitions and dispositions of long-term care and seniors housing facilities. She has particular experience related to environmental...

Wayne A. Ritchie II is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Wayne A. practices law in Knoxville, Tennessee Best Lawyers has recognized Wayne A. Ritchie II since 2018. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Wayne A. Ritchie II is held by ot...

Robert L. Bowman is an extremely qualified, experienced, and effective trial attorney whose practice areas are Employment and Labor and Local Government and Public Utilities. He is recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Mid-South Super Lawyers in the Employment and Labor practice area. Mr. Bowman has over 20 years of experience and is a Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator. He represents Fortune 500 companies as well as small business owners in complex litigation involving employment disc...

Trevor Sharpe is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Trevor practices law in Knoxville, Tennessee Best Lawyers has recognized Trevor Sharpe since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Trevor Sharpe is held by other lawyers.

Taylor A. Williams received his undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Tennessee, graduating with honors. He received his law degree from The University of Tennessee College of Law in 2009, graduating with high honors. In law school, Taylor’s case commentary was published in school’s business law journal. Since joining the firm, Taylor has over ten years of complex litigation practice, focusing on commercial disputes and defense of products liability actions in ...

Cullen Wojcik is a multifaceted, highly successful criminal defense lawyer. He joined Knox Defense in 2019 and focuses his practice on defense of state and federal court prosecutions. He is a 2011 graduate of the University of California Hastings College of Law in San Francisco and a UC Hastings Bridge Fellow where he served as a post-bar certified law clerk with the Knox County Public Defender’s office before opening his own practice. Cullen is a member of the Tennessee Supreme Court, ...

Brandon is an employment lawyer and mediator. He advises clients in the boardroom, and he represents them in the courtroom. Half of his practice is devoted to serving as an outside general counsel for large and small businesses, colleges and universities, and religious institutions, advising them on human resource policies, employment laws, and litigation avoidance. The other half of his practice is spent litigating employment-related issues, such as discrimination, harassment, retaliation, w...