Criminal Defense & Investigations
Our criminal defense practice ranges from complex white collar crime cases (antitrust, business, bankruptcy, environmental, health care, defense, and tax) to prosecutions for personal and property crimes.
Civil Litigation
Our civil practice encompasses business disputes, serious personal injury and wrongful death cases, employment cases, insurance coverage claims, consumer protection claims and other litigation.









Experienced In Litigation.
The Firm’s attorneys have been recognized for decades for handling significant and challenging cases in a broad range of practice areas.






Firm News
Some of RDJS Attorneys’ Recent Work, Professional Service, and Community Involvement.
Samantha Ellis Appointed as CLE Chair and New Attorney Liaison of TBA’s Young Lawyers Division.
Effective July of 2022, Samantha Ellis has been appointed to serve as the CLE Chair and New Attorney Liaison for East Tennessee for the Tennessee Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division. As part of the Practice Services Committee, Mrs. Ellis will plan and coordinate...
Stephen Ross Johnson Sworn in as Treasurer of Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar
Washington, DC (Oct. 15, 2021) - Stephen Ross Johnson was sworn in as Treasurer of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) at the Association's board meeting held on October 9, 2021, in Washington, DC. Johnson is a criminal defense trial and...
Trial Practice Conference set in Milan, Italy
The American Board of Trial Advocates will conduct a trial practice conference with members of the Italian Bar in Milan on October 11-12, 2021. Wayne Ritchie (Knoxville) and Steve Laird (Ft. Worth) co-chair ABOTA’s International Issues Committee which has been...
Stovall made named partner.
James R. Stovall was announced a named partner of the firm on July 1, 2021, at a reception in Knoxville attended by over 100 friends and colleagues. The event was held at the City View Terrace at the Hyatt Place Hotel. Mr. Stovall has been a partner at the firm since...
Stovall obtains dismissal of federal securities fraud action.
A motion to dismiss filed by James R. Stovall in a federal securities fraud action was granted by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The motion addressed, among other things, whether the negotiation of a stock purchase agreement...
Ritchie reappointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court Rules Commission.
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee reappointed RDJS attorney Wayne Ritchie to serve on the Supreme Court’s Rules Commission. The Commission periodically reviews and evaluates proposals for changes in various rules applicable to Tennessee courts, including the...