Brandon Fersten, Criminal Defense Attorney in Knoxville, Tennessee
focused on Criminal Defense and DUI/DWI
Knoxville, TN
Trusted criminal defense attorney serving Knoxville.
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Practices in
Are you Brandon Fersten?
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Quick answer
Brandon Fersten is an attorney based in Knoxville, TENNESSEE. The practice focuses on Criminal Defense and DUI/DWI. Currently practicing at Barnes & Fersten.
- Based in
- Knoxville, TENNESSEE
- Experience
- attorney
- Known for
- Criminal Defense · DUI/DWI
- Handles Criminal Defense and DUI/DWI matters from Knoxville, TENNESSEE.
- Recognized with Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: General Practice (2026).
About Brandon Fersten: Brandon Fersten is an attorney based in Knoxville, TENNESSEE. The practice focuses on Criminal Defense and DUI/DWI. Currently practicing at Barnes & Fersten.
Areas of practice
Practice areas handled by Brandon Fersten
Brandon concentrates on criminal defense and dui/dwi. Each area below outlines the kind of case Brandon handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.
Criminal Defense cases in Knoxville, Tennessee
Brandon takes criminal defense matters in Knoxville, Tennessee. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Brandon agrees to represent you.
DUI/DWI cases in Knoxville, Tennessee
Brandon takes dui/dwi matters in Knoxville, Tennessee. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Brandon agrees to represent you.
Biography
About Brandon Fersten — Attorney of Tennessee criminal defense experience
Brandon Fersten is an attorney based in Knoxville, TENNESSEE. The practice focuses on Criminal Defense and DUI/DWI. Currently practicing at Barnes & Fersten.
Brandon D. Fersten is the owner of Barnes & Fersten, PLLC, a Knoxville, Tennessee law firm dedicated to criminal defense, including general criminal matters, DUI / DWI defense, and juvenile defense. Brandon regularly appears in General Sessions Court, Criminal Court, and Juvenile Court throughout East Tennessee, where he represents individuals facing misdemeanor and felony charges. His practice includes defending clients through negotiations, hearings, bench trials, and jury trials. Brandon has also argued an appeal in Criminal Court that resulted in a reversal of the trial court’s ruling.
Brandon’s commitment to criminal defense has been recognized through several professional honors, including the National Trial Lawyers’ 40 Under 40 award and being named to Best Lawyers’ Ones to Watch. His work focuses on protecting the rights of clients accused of criminal offenses and DUI charges in Knoxville and surrounding communities.
Brandon graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee College of Law with a concentration in Advocacy & Dispute Resolution. While in law school, he earned a place on the Dean’s List for three consecutive years and received CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Advanced Criminal Law, the Advocacy Clinic, and Negotiation. In 2020, he was also honored with the Jerry P. Black, Jr. Student Clinic Attorney Award. Prior to attending law school, Brandon earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Economics from the University of South Florida.
Brandon's approach to criminal defense cases
Brandon D. Fersten is the owner of Barnes & Fersten, PLLC, a Knoxville, Tennessee law firm dedicated to criminal defense, including general criminal matters, DUI / DWI defense, and juvenile defense. Brandon regularly appears in General Sessions Court, Criminal Court, and Juvenile Court throughout East Tennessee, where he represents individuals facing misdemeanor and felony charges. His practice…
The kind of cases Brandon takes
Brandon reviews new inquiries case-by-case for criminal defense and dui/dwi matters in Knoxville and the surrounding Tennessee area.
Credentials
Brandon Fersten's legal education and bar admissions
University of South Florida
B.S.
The University of Tennessee
J.D. · 2019
Jurisdictions
Brandon's state bar admissions
Tennessee, Tennessee
ACTIVE
Brandon studied at B.S. in University of South Florida and J.D. in The University of Tennessee.
Law school and academic background
Brandon completed B.S. in University of South Florida and J.D. in The University of Tennessee. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Brandon runs in Tennessee is where that training gets applied to real client questions.
Recognition
Awards, publications, and recognition of Brandon Fersten
Brandon has received 8 formal recognitions from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.
Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: General Practice
2026
Best Lawyers in America — DUI / DWI Defense
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Top 40 Under 40: Criminal Defense
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Super Lawyers: Rising Stars
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Jerry P. Black Jr. Student Clinic Attorney Award
2026
Best Lawyers in America — CALI Excellence for the Future Award: Advanced Criminal Law, Negotiation, and Advocacy Clinic
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Graduate of the Tennessee Criminal Defense Trial College
2026
Legal awards and honors
Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: General Practice (2026). Best Lawyers in America — DUI / DWI Defense (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Awards: (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Top 40 Under 40: Criminal Defense (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Super Lawyers: Rising Stars (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Jerry P. Black Jr. Student Clinic Attorney Award (2026).
Locations
Brandon Fersten's office in Knoxville
Brandon's primary office is at 109 South Northshore Drive, Suite 310, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37919. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.
Barnes & Fersten
109 South Northshore Drive, Suite 310
Knoxville, Tennessee 37919
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Client reviews of Brandon Fersten
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Schedule your consultationHiring guide
How to hire Brandon Fersten — what to expect in your first consultation
Working with a new criminal defense attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Brandon usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.
Consultation formats and pricing
Brandon charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Brandon's office.
What to bring to your first meeting
Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Brandon will tell you what matters and what doesn't.
Questions to ask a criminal defense attorney in Knoxville, Tennessee
A short list to run through before you commit: How many criminal defense matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?
Fees & payment
Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Brandon
Brandon discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in criminal defense practice — ask which fits.
Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options
Every criminal defense matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Brandon confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.
Payment methods and payment plans
Brandon's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many criminal defense practices work with clients on structured schedules.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about Brandon Fersten
How much does it cost to hire Brandon for a criminal defense case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Brandon walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does Brandon offer a free consultation?
Brandon charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Brandon's office. Some criminal defense attorneys offer free consults — check Brandon's current terms during booking.
How long do criminal defense cases in Tennessee typically take?
Simple criminal defense matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Brandon gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can Brandon take my case if I'm outside Knoxville?
Brandon is licensed in Tennessee. Matters governed by Tennessee law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Brandon will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with Brandon?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Brandon will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is Brandon accepting new criminal defense clients right now?
Brandon's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.
Areas served
Criminal Defense attorneys serving Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis in Tennessee
Brandon handles criminal defense matters throughout Tennessee. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified criminal defense attorneys in that community.
More counsel
Other top-rated criminal defense attorneys in Tennessee
If Brandon's intake is full or the fit isn't right, these criminal defense attorneys in Knoxville handle similar matters. Every profile below is verified and open to consultations.





