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Brandon Fersten, Criminal Defense Attorney in Knoxville, Tennessee

focused on Criminal Defense and DUI/DWI

Barnes & Fersten

Knoxville, TN

Trusted criminal defense attorney serving Knoxville.

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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.

Main office

Barnes & Fersten

109 South Northshore Drive, Suite 310

Knoxville, Tennessee 37919

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Client feedback

Client reviews of Brandon Fersten

Brandon has not yet collected verified client reviews on LawyersListed. Reviews here are all from confirmed clients; anonymous ratings are moderated out.

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Hiring 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

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.