Steve Smith is currently the elected Public Defender of the 11th Judicial District. He serves as Vice-Chair of the Tennessee Public Defender's Conference. While public defenders nationwide have historically and chronically suffered a lack of resources and manpower, during his first term Steve expanded the number of attorneys from 13 to 21, all who help indigent residents of Hamilton County navigate the criminal justice system. Accounting for the representation of 86% of all defendants with criminal cases serious enough to retain counsel, Steve's office typically opens and closes 10,000 case files annually. In addition, the Office of the 11th oversaw the creation and establishment of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Mental Health Court, and staffs the many recovery courts to divert as many people as possible directly into treatment and rehabilitation. Previously, Steve served as an assistant district attorney trying cases to juries in Division 1 of Criminal Court, served as a member of a small litigation firm and as an associate of a state wide firm. A graduate of the University of Memphis Law School, he also holds a B.S. degree in Geology, is a board member of the Bachman Community Center, an enthusiastic Big Brother and a fledgling sailor, gardener and musician.

Scott Johnson is a Tennessee trial lawyer who has litigated cases throughout Tennessee and the 6th Circuit of the United States Courts for over two decades. He often serves as a Tennessee Rule 31 listed General Civil Mediator on all types of legal disputes. He cheers for the University of Tennessee and the University of Memphis. Scott has achieved the Martindale Hubbell highest rating (AV) from his peers and judges.

Mark is a founding member of Litchford, Pearce & Associates, PLLC. Mark is licensed to practice in Tennessee and Georgia and concentrates his practice in government law, commercial litigation, estate planning (wills & trusts), real property, personal injury, business transactions, and criminal defense. In 2016, Mark was named a “2016 Rising Star” by Super Lawyers of Thomson Reuters and in 2020 was nominated for inclusion in the 2020 SuperLawyers Profile published by Thomson Reuters. Mark has extensive trial experience in representing clients in a variety of areas, including governmental regulations, personal injury, criminal defense, federal and state constitutional law, real property disputes, and public records and annexation actions.  Mark also serves as general representation counsel to various companies involved in the following markets: oil & lubricant distribution, logistic freight, restaurant, medical, and real estate.  The services provided to these companies include labor & employment counseling, collections, contract negotiations, and member/shareholder agreements. Mark also represents and/or serves as trustee for various trusts in connection with estate planning services.

Rob Philyaw is the Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge where he has served since 2013. Judge Philyaw obtained his B.S. and M.B.A. degrees from Christian Brothers University and his J.D. degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis where he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Tennessee Journal of Practice & Procedure. He formerly served as a municipal judge, as an adjunct professor of the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis, on the Tennessee Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee, and on the boards of the Chattanooga Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and several non-profit organizations. Judge Philyaw founded the local Youth Court in 2013 and the Hamilton County Juvenile Recovery Court in 2014. He currently serves on the Tennessee Commission for Children and Youth and as Secretary/Treasurer of the Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Law Judges.   

Lynda Minks Hood is in her twenty-seventh year as Executive Director of the Chattanooga Bar Association. She received her education from Girls Preparatory School and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She received her certified General and Advanced Mediation Training Certificate in 1998.  

Lynda's current professional memberships include:  ROTARY Club of Chattanooga (Paul Harris Fellow in 2010 and 2018); the National Association of Bar Executives ; American Bar Association ; the Tennessee and American Society of Association Executives ; National Association of Female Executives ; South East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women; Public Relations Society of America; Association for Fundraising Professionals; and Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute.  Social memberships include the Black Creek Country Club, and the Walden Club. Lynda was appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court to serve on the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education for a three-year term until 2022. She was appointed by County Mayor Jim Coppinger to serve as a Tri-Chair for the "Hamilton County Women's Suffrage Yellow Rose Committee" for the 100th Celebration of the 19th Amendment for 2020. Lynda currently served as Chairwoman of the Erlanger Health System Foundation from 2018 through December 2020 and is currently serving as Past Chair. She is married to Michael Hood and they have a daughter, Lauren. They live in Chattanooga and attend the Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church.

Zack W. England is a 2005 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He received his B.A. degree in English magna cum laude. Mr. England obtained his doctorate of jurisprudence from the University of Cincinnati in 2008. He is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Georgia.

Mr. England has represented individuals who were injured by others in car accidents, work injuries, dog bites, medical malpractice, and other various acts. Mr. England also has experience with criminal, bankruptcy, and probate matters.Mr. England's practice is devoted to helping those who have been wronged by the negligent acts of others.

For over 35 years, Everett (Bo) Hixson Jr. has practiced in Tennessee and Georgia on behalf of individual and corporate clients. He has extensive experience in general commercial litigation, including business disputes, real estate, construction, and personal injury. He has asserted creditor’s rights in bankruptcy and state court on behalf of financial institutions, shopping centers, and commercial property managers and owners. His diverse practice includes representing individuals in corporate dissolutions and litigation between franchisees and franchisors. Bo’s real estate practice includes conducting foreclosures and litigating wrongful foreclosures against and on behalf of lenders and loan servicers. He frequently represents buyers, sellers, and realtors in real estate transactions as well as title insurance companies and property owners in title disputes and boundary line issues. Bo represents homeowner associations in Tennessee and Georgia, including the preparation and enforcement of covenants, conditions and restrictions in both states. In the area of construction litigation, Bo represents developers, owners, architects, and contractors with various construction defaults, liens, defects and other disputes arising out of the development of commercial properties, subdivisions, PUDs, and residences. His regulatory experience includes representing architects and engineers before professional licensing boards. Bo’s landlord and tenant practice involves representing commercial and residential property owners and managers with various tenant defaults and disputes. He represents theaters, restaurants, shopping centers, and hotels regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act claims and defends premises liability claims, including inadequate security, personal injury, and third-party criminal actions. His personal injury practice involves the representation of victims arising out of automobile, school bus and tractor-trailer collisions. Additionally, Bo has extensive appellate practice experience with over two dozen reported decisions in Tennessee and Georgia courts and U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts.

Keith H. Grant graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1998, where he was a member of the Honors Program. He received his law degree from Louisiana State University in 2001. He received his license to practice law in the State of Louisiana in October 2001 and remained there until December 2003, practicing in both state and federal courts, with a primary focus on labor and employment law. Mr. Grant joined Robinson, Smith & Wells in 2010 and became a partner in 2014. He is licensed to practice in Tennessee and has been admitted to practice in state and federal Courts, including the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Grant’s litigation practice focuses on healthcare liability defense and municipality defense, where he represents healthcare professionals, municipalities and municipal employees. He also represents defendants in general personal injury litigation as well as in criminal matters. Mr. Grant was previously a member of the Brock-Cooper Inns of Court chapter located in Chattanooga and is currently a member of the Chattanooga Bar Association and the Tennessee Bar Association. Mr. Grant served as adjunct faculty at Chattanooga State Technical Community College for approximately four years where he taught a course entitled “Introduction to Legal Process”. Mr. Grant is an Elder at Rivermont Presbyterian Church and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Children’s Nutrition Program of Haiti.

Katherine Lentz is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee who joined the firm in 2004. Katherine was previously a summer associate with Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison during law school. She attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Studio Art, with a minor in Art History. Katherine attended the Publishing Institute at New York University before obtaining her J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where she was a student-attorney in the Domestic Violence Clinic. Katherine is a member of the Chattanooga and Tennessee Bar Associations, as well as the Southeast Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women. She is admitted to practice in Tennessee and Georgia and before the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee. Katherine is the immediate past President of the Brock-Cooper American Inn of Court and is currently serving a second term on the Board of Governors for the Chattanooga Bar Association. Katherine’s practice focuses on family law, alternative dispute resolution, and litigation. She strives to provide the best representation for individuals and families during some of the most difficult times of life. Katherine is designated as Rule 31 Listed Family Law Mediator by the Tennessee Supreme Court and enjoys helping litigants resolve their issues outside of litigation. Katherine is married to Jason Lentz and has two daughters. She enjoys being outdoors, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

For more than 20 years, Joe has guided clients through both proactive planning and dispute resolution concerning trusts, estates and related property interests. Joe is familiar with the distinctive and ever-changing challenges of settling final affairs. He regularly advices clients on estate planning, and prepares their necessary documents. He has extensive knowledge of planning requirements for spouses with children from prior marriages. Administering trusts and estates, including probate matters, is another service Joe provides. Clients appreciate his resourcefulness in working with banks and trust departments to avoid litigation and mediate favorable solutions. In addition, Joe advises on tax preparation and represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on audits, appeals, petitions and collections. Clients trust Joe's extensive background in dealing directly with the IRS when they face the complications of unfiled income tax returns and in reaching creative and equitable settlements for outstanding tax liabilities, trust fund recovery penalty assessments and audit appeals.

Nicole Watson is an attorney and senior policy advisor based in Holland & Knight's Chattanooga office and also handles work out of the firm's Nashville office. Ms. Watson is recognized for her leadership and judgment in developing and executing effective legislative and government relations strategies across Tennessee and the Southeast. She represents the interests of corporate clients, industry groups, professional associations and not-for-profit organizations before elected officials in the Tennessee General Assembly and government officials in numerous local, state and federal agencies.

Ms. Watson's experience includes drafting and negotiating legislation, assisting with regulatory and rulemaking compliance strategy and traditional lobbying to the state legislature, the state executive branch, congressional representatives, state and federal agencies, city councils, county officials and community leaders. Additionally, she monitors legislative developments and educates clients on legislative processes, procedures and progress. Ms. Watson has vast experience assisting clients on strategic risk management and communication planning. She also manages political action committees (PACs) and fundraising programs for clients and provides guidance on grassroots advocacy efforts and the development of coalitions.

Previously, Ms. Watson led government relations, public policy and economic development initiatives for a Chattanooga-based law firm. Earlier in her career, she gained valuable government and regulatory affairs experience with Tennessee American Water Company and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council.

While attending law school, she served as a federal government affairs summer associate for the National Rifle Association and a government relations intern for a leading bipartisan government relations firm in Washington, D.C. Before attending law school, she served as a congressional intern on Capitol Hill for Sens. George Allen (R-Va.) and John Warner (R-Va.).