Jonathan D. Cooper, Criminal Defense Attorney in Knoxville, Tennessee
Over 33 years of legal practice · focused on Criminal Defense, DUI/DWI, and White Collar
Knoxville, TN
Practicing criminal defense in Knoxville since 1993.
- 33+
- Years practicing
- 1
- Bar admission
Practices in
Are you Jonathan D. Cooper?
This profile was built from public bar records and is still unclaimed. Claim it free to control your photo, bio, and fees — and get client inquiries sent straight to you.
Quick answer
Jonathan D. Cooper is an attorney based in Knoxville, TENNESSEE. The practice focuses on Criminal Defense, DUI/DWI, and White Collar. Jonathan has over 33 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Knox Defense.
- Based in
- Knoxville, TENNESSEE
- Experience
- over 33 years
- Known for
- Criminal Defense · DUI/DWI · White Collar
- Handles Criminal Defense, DUI/DWI, and White Collar matters from Knoxville, TENNESSEE.
- Over 33 years of practice as a licensed attorney.
- Recognized with Lawyer of the Year — DUI / DWI Defense (Knoxville) (2025).
About Jonathan D. Cooper: Jonathan D. Cooper is an attorney based in Knoxville, TENNESSEE. The practice focuses on Criminal Defense, DUI/DWI, and White Collar. Jonathan has over 33 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Knox Defense.
Areas of practice
Legal matters Jonathan takes on
Jonathan concentrates on criminal defense, dui/dwi, and white collar. Each area below outlines the kind of case Jonathan handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.
Criminal Defense
View other Criminal Defense attorneys
DUI/DWI
View other DUI/DWI attorneys
White Collar
View other White Collar attorneys
Criminal Defense cases in Knoxville, Tennessee
Jonathan 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 Jonathan agrees to represent you.
DUI/DWI cases in Knoxville, Tennessee
Jonathan 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 Jonathan agrees to represent you.
White Collar cases in Knoxville, Tennessee
Jonathan takes white collar 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 Jonathan agrees to represent you.
Biography
Meet Jonathan D. Cooper — criminal defense lawyer in Knoxville
Jonathan D. Cooper is an attorney based in Knoxville, TENNESSEE. The practice focuses on Criminal Defense, DUI/DWI, and White Collar. Jonathan has over 33 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Knox Defense.
Jonathan Cooper offers decades of experience, unsurpassed personal attention, and zealous representation to his clients. He focuses his practice exclusively in the area of criminal defense, representing citizens accused of crimes in both state and federal courts. His experience of successful representation encompasses the entire spectrum of the criminal justice system, from DUI to homicide, and from narcotics possession to white collar offenses.
Jonathan is a career long member of the Knoxville Bar Association, where he has served on the Board of Governors, as Treasurer of the Board of Directors, and Co-Chair of the Criminal Justice Section. He is a member of the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers where he served as President during the 2019-2020 fiscal year. An active member of the Hamilton-Burnett Inn of Court, Jonathan has served Knox County as Chair of the Ethics Committee, and on both the exploratory and advisory committees for the Knox County Mental Health Court. He is recognized as an BV Distinguished Peer Rated Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell, by Tennessee Super Lawyers, and Best Lawyers in America, where he has been named the DUI Lawyer of the Year for Knoxville in 2023 and 2025 and General Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year in 2021.
He is a 1993 graduate of University of Tennessee School of Law, cum laude, where he participated in Law Review, the National Trial Team, the NACDL Criminal Trial Competition, Moot Court, the Order of Barristers, and was an H.C. Warner Centurion Scholar, and earned his undergraduate, magna cum laude, from Emory & Henry College in Political Science in 1989. Jonathan and his wife, Lisa, have two daughters, Anna and Lucy. They are members of Church Street United Methodist Church. They make their home in Knoxville.
Jonathan's approach to criminal defense cases
Jonathan Cooper offers decades of experience, unsurpassed personal attention, and zealous representation to his clients. He focuses his practice exclusively in the area of criminal defense, representing citizens accused of crimes in both state and federal courts. His experience of successful representation encompasses the entire spectrum of the criminal justice system, from DUI to homicide, and…
The kind of cases Jonathan takes
Jonathan reviews new inquiries case-by-case for criminal defense, dui/dwi, and white collar matters in Knoxville and the surrounding Tennessee area.
Credentials
Education, bar admissions, and languages
Emory & Henry College
BA · 1989
The University of Tennessee
J.D. · 1993
Jurisdictions
Jonathan's state bar admissions
Tennessee, Tennessee
1993 · ACTIVE
Jonathan studied at BA in Emory & Henry College and J.D. in The University of Tennessee.
Law school and academic background
Jonathan completed BA in Emory & Henry College and J.D. in The University of Tennessee. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Jonathan runs in Tennessee is where that training gets applied to real client questions.
Recognition
Recognition and thought leadership
Jonathan has received 18 formal recognitions from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.
Lawyer of the Year — DUI / DWI Defense (Knoxville)
2025
Lawyer of the Year — DUI / DWI Defense (Knoxville)
2023
Lawyer of the Year — Criminal Defense: General Practice (Knoxville)
2021
Best Lawyers in America — DUI / DWI Defense
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: General Practice
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Civil Rights Law
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Hamilton-Burnett American Inn of Court, 1995-1998
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Martindale-Hubbell BV Distinguished Peer Rated Attorney
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Cityview Top Attorney for DUI Defense, 2015
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: General Practice Section, since 2016
2026
Best Lawyers in America — , Criminal Defense: General Practice, Knoxville Metro Area, 2021
2026
Best Lawyers in America — DWI/DUI Practice Section, since 2016
2026
Best Lawyers in America — , DUI Defense, Knoxville Metro Area, 2023, 2025
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Tennessee Super Lawyers since 2018
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Robert W. Ritchie Service Award 2023
2026
Legal awards and honors
Lawyer of the Year — DUI / DWI Defense (Knoxville) (2025). Lawyer of the Year — DUI / DWI Defense (Knoxville) (2023). Lawyer of the Year — Criminal Defense: General Practice (Knoxville) (2021). Best Lawyers in America — DUI / DWI Defense (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: General Practice (2026).
Locations
Jonathan D. Cooper's office in Knoxville
Jonathan's primary office is at 607 Market Street, Suite 1100, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37902. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.
Client feedback
Client reviews of Jonathan D. Cooper
Jonathan has not yet collected verified client reviews on LawyersListed. Reviews here are all from confirmed clients; anonymous ratings are moderated out.
No reviews yet
Only verified clients who have consulted with Jonathan D. Cooper can leave a review.
Schedule your consultationHiring guide
How to hire Jonathan D. Cooper — 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 Jonathan usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.
Consultation formats and pricing
Jonathan charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Jonathan'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; Jonathan 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 Jonathan
Jonathan 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. Jonathan confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.
Payment methods and payment plans
Jonathan'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 Jonathan D. Cooper
How much does it cost to hire Jonathan for a criminal defense case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Jonathan walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does Jonathan offer a free consultation?
Jonathan charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Jonathan's office. Some criminal defense attorneys offer free consults — check Jonathan'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. Jonathan gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can Jonathan take my case if I'm outside Knoxville?
Jonathan 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 — Jonathan 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 Jonathan?
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. Jonathan will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is Jonathan accepting new criminal defense clients right now?
Jonathan'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
Jonathan 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 Jonathan'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.





