Top best Environmental Lawyers in Knoxville | 32 available

Since graduating from the University of Tennessee Law School in 1980, I have worked diligently to establish myself nationally as an authority on the intricacies of DUI law.  My background in the sciences gave me a unique perspective in defending those accused of DUI.  I have successfully represented over two thousand clients charged with DUI.  In 2006, I became the first DUI lawyer in Tennessee to be recognized by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization as a certified specialist in the area of DUI Defense law.. I am the author of the state treatise entitled, "DUI: The Crimes & Consequences in Tennessee"; and since 2003, have been the co-author of the national treatise "Drunk Driving Defense" with Lawrence Taylor of Long Beach, California.  Both texts are widely relied upon by judges, prosecutors and defense lawyers.  In 1995, I became a founding member of The National College for DUI Defense, Inc. and have served on their Board of Regents since 1999.  During 2009-2010 I had the honor to serve as Dean of the College.  I have also served as chair or co-chair of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' DUI Committee since 1995. For more details about my background and experience as a Tennessee DUI attorney, you may view my resume / vitae.. I am also a frequent contributor to The Champion, the official publication of The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.  I am one of only a few lawyers in the nation who have been certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to administer the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.  I have also been trained as a Drug Recognition Evaluator and have taught thousands of lawyers on the Field Sobriety Tests and hundreds on the Drug Recognition Tests.. I have handled cases from the General Sessions Court (our lowest court in Tennessee) all the way to the Tennessee Supreme Court.  After my argument in a DUI case before the Tennessee Supreme Court, the Court unanimously dismissed the charge against my client.. I have been honored by many national rating systems for decades.  In 2004, Business Tennessee Magazine described me as:. "'Godfather statewide in the area of DUI.' With his treatise on DUI in Tennessee, which debuted in 1991 and has appeared annually since then, stays at the forefront of drunk driving defense in the state. Represents high-profile clients in Knoxville and across the eastern part of the country. 'Brilliant lawyer, great teacher.' Well-regarded trial attorney with 'professorial' demeanor. . ." Alexei Smirnov, Best Lawyers in Tennessee, Business Tennessee Magazine, p. 50 (January 2004).  I was also named Knoxville's 2013 Lawyer of the Year by the "Best Lawyers" organization in the area of Criminal Defense, Non-White-Collar Crime.  Moreover, "U.S. News and World Report" designated  Oberman & Rice as a "Tier 1 Best Law Firm" in Tennessee for DUI Defense and Criminal Defense.. Some of my other honors include: Receiving the highest rating from the renown Martindale-Hubbell™ and AVVO rating system; Named as a "Mid-South Super Lawyer," a "Top 100 Trial Lawyer" by the American Trial Lawyers Association, a "Best Lawyer in America" by a publication of the same name, and one of Knoxville CityView Magazine's "Top Attorneys.". Moreover, I have enjoyed my work as an adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee Law School since 1993 and have received prestigious awards for my faculty contributions. One of my most enjoyable experiences, though, was teaching in 2019 as a Fulbright Scholar when I was a visiting professor at The University of Latvia in the capital city of Riga, Latvia (near Russia).  There I taught two classes: American Criminal Law and American Trial Advocacy.. I spend my "spare time" speaking at seminars throughout the United States on various topics relating to DUI defense. My audiences have included seminar attendees of the National College for DUI Defense, Inc., the American Bar Association, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. As of 2019, I have been honored to speak over 130 times to various bar associations, police training classes, judicial conferences and other seminars in more than 30 states and six foreign countries.  In 2002, I was honored to demonstrate cross-examination techniques and lecture at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia on the topic of courtroom testimony and in 2006, I was appointed to the Governor’s Task Force on DUI Laws in Tennessee and was elected Vice-Chair of the Committee by my peers.. I hope you will take the opportunity to contact me to discuss your case.  The chances of obtaining a successful result will increase dramatically if you obtain representation within a few days of your arrest.  DUI and other criminal charges can affect your career and your life—forever.  While I can never guarantee a result, you have my assurance that no one will give you or your case more attention.  Steve Oberman

Ryan N. Shamblin, originally a native of Miami, Florida, moved to Blount County, Tennessee in the mid 1980’s where he attended and graduated with honors from William Blount High School. Following graduation from high school, Mr. Shamblin attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he pursued a double major in Political Science and History. While attending the University of Tennessee, Mr. Shamblin was actively involved in the Student Government Association and was inducted into numerous honor societies including: the Golden Key National Honor Society; Phi Alpha Theta, National History Honor Society; and Pi Sigma Alpha, Political Science Honor Society. In 1997, Mr. Shamblin graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts in both Political Science and History. Following graduation from the University of Tennessee, Mr. Shamblin spent two years in pursuit of a Masters degree in Political Science where he maintained a 3.73 G.P.A.. While preparing to complete his post-graduate studies, Mr. Shamblin was admitted to the University of Tennessee, College of Law. While in law school, Mr. Shamblin was selected to serve as a student member of the Hamilton Burnett American Inn of Court; represented indigent defendants in the school’s legal clinic and was accepted into Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity. In law school, Mr. Shamblin academic excellence was recognized by his induction into several honor societies including: Who’s Who: American Law Students; Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and his receipt of various awards including: Dean’s List: Highest Honors; Highest Section Grades in Evidence, Advocacy Clinic & Pretrial Litigation. In 2002, Mr. Shamblin graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee, College of Law with a J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence, having graduated 25th in his class (top 17%).. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Shamblin decided to trade the azure ocean and sun-soaked beaches of South Florida for the grassy meadows and stately mountains of East Tennessee and took up the practice of law in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mr. Shamblin was licensed to practice law in courts of the State of Tennessee in November 2002 and was admitted to United States District Court for the Eastern District in May of 2003. Mr. Shamblin is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association; the American Association for Justice (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America) and is a licensed Notary in the State of Tennessee.. Since his admittance to the bar, Mr. Shamblin has represented clients throughout East Tennessee in numerous counties including, but not limited to: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Roane, Sevier, Sullivan, Union, and Washington counties. Mr. Shamblin has handled or otherwise participated in cases in General Sessions, Probate, Chancery, Circuit and the Appellate Courts of Tennessee as well as in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Although Mr. Shamblin has practiced primarily in state courts located in the Central and Southern portions of East Tennessee, he has represented clients in Middle Tennessee, as far West as Maury County in Federal Court, and was admitted to practice pro hac vice in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Columbia Division.. Straight out of law school, Mr. Shamblin was fortunate enough to be hired by a small close-knit law firm, comprised of two experienced attorneys with successful, albeit very different areas of practice. During this formative period, Mr. Shamblin had the rare privilege of being mentored by a highly skilled litigator whose practice focused on wrongful death/ catastrophic personal injury cases and a prominent attorney who served as local counsel for a large multi-state financial institution.. While working closely with these two exceptional attorneys, Mr. Shamblin expanded on his knowledge of tort law, while at the same time developing an understanding and appreciation for the complexities of bankruptcy, corporate, banking and commercial law. Making the most of his opportunity, Mr. Shamblin gained valuable real-world experience by working extensively on a number of complex commercial and business cases involving issues such as lender liability; breach of commercial construction contracts; breach of depository agreements; forgery and embezzlement.. Today, Mr. Shamblin’s law practice is focused primarily on civil litigation involving: wrongful death; loss of limb; serious/ catastrophic personal injury; automobile accidents; products liability; toxic torts; medical malpractice; will contests/ will construction; breach of contract cases; property line/ boundary disputes and some employment law.. Aside from a growing litigation practice which includes counseling clients; motion practice; conducting hearings, depositions and trials; and participating in mediations, Mr. Shamblin represents various corporate clients and devotes a significant portion of his time to transactional work, such as drafting contractual agreements, deeds or wills. In 2016, Mr. Shamblin successfully completed mediation training and was listed as Rule 31 General Civil Mediator.. Mr. Shamblin has proven himself to be a skilled researcher and an adept legal writer through numerous extensive research and writing projects. On a number of occasions, Mr. Shamblin’s researching and brief writing skills have meant the difference between winning or losing close cases and on more than one occasion his compelling briefs, have led to an involuntary dismissal/ directed verdict of an opponent’s case without having to even present a case.. Mr. Shamblin is an avid Big Orange fan and a National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) certified scuba diver. His hobbies include photography, growing scorching hot exotic chili peppers and being a fresh water aquarist (raising tropical Amazonian fish). In 2008, capitalizing on his experience growing and cooking with exotic chili peppers, Mr. Shamblin formed a team of family and friends which won First Prize at the East Tennessee Chili Cook-Off which is held annually in Knoxville, Tennessee to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank. In 2014, Mr. Shamblin's team was the first team to win First Prize at the East Tennessee Chili Cook-Off a second time.

Mr. Eldridge was educated at the University of Tennessee, receiving his undergraduate degree in 1982. He graduated from the Wake Forest University School of Law, cum laude, in 1986. While there, he served as the Editor-in-Chief of its law review publication. Following graduation, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable W. Eugene Davis of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.. Mr. Eldridge began the private practice of law in 1987, joining Ritchie, Fels & Dillard in 1988, where in 1992 he became a partner. In 2003, Mr. Eldridge established the law firm of Eldridge & Blakney, P.C. where he serves as the managing partner. He has devoted his practice to the representation of individuals and organizations facing criminal investigation and prosecution for over 27 years.. Mr. Eldridge has received the highest rating awarded by Martindale - Hubbell (AV) for the last fifteen (17) years and is a graduate of the National Criminal Defense College in Macon, Georgia. He is Board Certified as a Criminal Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, is certified as a Criminal Trial Specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization, and has been selected by his peers to be included in The Best Lawyers in America since 2006 and was named as Lawyer of the Year for Knoxville in Criminal Defense: Non-White Collar for 2011 and received the same honor for Criminal Defense: White Collar for 2014.  Mr. Eldridge has been selected for inclusion among the top 100 lawyers in Tennessee in the Mid-South Super Lawyers magazine since 2006.. He has taught at continuing legal education seminars hosted by the American Bar Association (ABA), the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the Bureau of National Affairs, the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA), the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (TACDL), the Institute for Continuing Legal Education for Georgia, the Knoxville Bar Association (KBA), and others. He has also published instructional articles in ABA, NACDL, TBA, TACDL, and KBA publications.. Mr. Eldridge has also lectured overseas at the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan where he presented a discussion of the Implications of World Wide Media Coverage of the Criminal Justice System.. He is the past Chair of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section, is a member of TACDL, a Life Member of NACDL, and is past president of the Hamilton Burnett American Inn of Court. Mr. Eldridge is a Past President of the Knoxville Bar Association.  He was inducted as a Fellow of the Knoxville Bar Foundation in 2007 and a Fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation in 2008.  He was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2013.

Hanson R. Tipton is a member of Watson, Roach, Batson & Lauderback. He is a member of the bars of the state of Tennessee, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Mr. Tipton is an AV rated lawyer by Martindale – Hubbell.

Environmental attorney with background in aquatic ecology. Experienced in Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, and Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act matters. Explores legal matters at the intersection of law and science. Creative ability extends to graphic design and collaborative work.

Born in Columbus, MS, Martin Ellis attended the University of the South, Sewanee, TN (B.S., 1973) and the University of Tennessee (J.D., 1978) and was admitted to the bar in 1978 and admitted to the United States Supreme Court in 2003. Memberships include the Knoxville Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association (member of the General Practice section, Tort and Insurance Practice section), Tennessee Defense Lawyer's Association, Defense Research Institute (Transportation Committee and Trucking Sub-Committee), and American Bar Association. He is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization and by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 listed mediator in state and federal courts. He has spoken on numerous occasions on medical malpractice issues, truck litigation, and issues relating to sexual harassment. Mr. Ellis was selected as a member of a National Trial Team for a product manufacturer resulting in trials in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kansas, and Missouri.   Mr. Ellis has received an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell, which identifies lawyers with a very high to preeminent legal ability, indicating they demonstrate the highest professional and ethical standards.  Mr. Ellis was admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States of America in 2003.

Experienced Environmental attorney serving clients in Knoxville and surrounding areas.

Experienced Environmental attorney serving clients in Knoxville and surrounding areas.

Experienced Environmental attorney serving clients in Knoxville and surrounding areas.

Experienced Environmental attorney serving clients in Knoxville and surrounding areas.

Experienced Environmental attorney serving clients in Knoxville and surrounding areas.

Experienced Environmental attorney serving clients in Knoxville and surrounding areas.

Experienced Environmental attorney serving clients in Knoxville and surrounding areas.

Experienced Environmental attorney serving clients in Knoxville and surrounding areas.