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 RJS Attorneys’ Recent Work, Professional Service, and Community Involvement.
Catalina L.C. Goodwin Presents Oral Argument at the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals
On January 29, 2025, Catalina L.C. Goodwin presented oral argument in State of Tennessee v. Justin Keith Willoughby at the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals in Knoxville, TN. A written opinion from the Court of Criminal Appeals is forthcoming. The video recording of...
Stephen Ross Johnson (’02) Relaunches Wrongful Convictions Clinic – University of Tennessee – Knoxville College of Law
This past spring, Stephen Ross Johnson, ( ’02), stepped back into the classroom. He was on a mission to reestablish the University of Tennessee College of Law Legal Clinic’s commitment to bringing justice to those who have been wrongfully convicted. “As a student and...
Stephen Ross Johnson Sworn In as Second Vice-President of Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar
Washington, DC (Jul. 29, 2024) – Stephen Ross Johnson was sworn in as Second Vice-President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) at the Association's annual meeting held on July 27 in Seattle, WA. Johnson is a criminal defense trial and...
Stephen Ross Johnson Sworn In as Secretary of Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar
Washington, DC (August 7, 2023) - Stephen Ross Johnson was sworn in as Secretary of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) at the Association's annual meeting held on August 5 in Chicago, IL. Johnson is a criminal defense trial and appellate...
Samantha Ellis receives the President’s Award for her service with the Tennessee Bar Association’s Young Lawyers’ Division.
On June 16, 2023, Samantha Ellis was awarded the President’s Award by Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers’ Division President Brittany Faith. Ms. Ellis received the award for her service as the the CLE Chair and New Attorney Liaison for East Tennessee for the...
Stephen Ross Johnson selected for inclusion in “The Best Lawyers in America” and as a 29th Edition “Lawyer of the Year” for his work in Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Stephen Ross Johnson has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 29th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© and as “Lawyer of the Year” for his work in Criminal Defense: White-Collar, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He has been selected for inclusion in Best...