Stephens & DiRado, LLP - Knoxville, TN
Stephens and DiRado, LLP is a premier Knoxville criminal defense law firm led by former Knox County District Public Defender Mark E. Stephens and veteran litigator Melissa C. DiRado, delivering aggressive trial defense across East Tennessee.
Fearless Criminal Defense Advocacy in Knoxville, Tennessee
When criminal accusations threaten your freedom, professional license, and family stability, securing experienced trial advocates is essential. Located on West Main Street in downtown Knoxville, Stephens and DiRado, LLP provides strategic defense for individuals facing state and federal investigations. Founding partners Mark E. Stephens and Melissa C. DiRado bring over 50 years of combined courtroom experience. Having led the Knox County Public Defender Community Law Office, the firm's attorneys understand how prosecutors build cases-and how to dismantle that proof. If you need an attorney who will relentlessly defend your constitutional rights, this practice provides zealous advocacy.
Comprehensive Defense for State and Federal Criminal Charges
Every stage of a criminal case demands immediate intervention, from police questioning to jury trials. As elite criminal defense lawyers, the legal team represents clients across Knox, Blount, Anderson, and Loudon counties:
- Dui/dwi defense lawyers: Challenging breathalyzer calibration, blood draw protocols, field sobriety testing procedures, and unlawful traffic stops to protect your driving privileges and prevent mandatory incarceration.
- Drug crime defense lawyers: Formulating powerful defense strategies against misdemeanor possession, felony intent to sell, interstate drug trafficking, and prescription fraud while contesting unlawful search and seizure violations.
- Violent crime defense lawyers: Defending individuals accused of aggravated assault, domestic assault, robbery, firearms violations, and homicide with exhaustive investigative preparation.
- Theft and burglary defense lawyers: Protecting defendants against grand larceny, shoplifting, identity theft, embezzlement, and property crimes through rigorous evidence examination.
- Traffic ticket lawyers: Helping commercial drivers and motorists avoid license suspensions, accumulated points, and hefty fines resulting from traffic citations.
Criminal Appeals, Post-Conviction Relief, and Pre-Charge Counsel
A conviction is not always the end of the legal fight. The firm's appellate division, bolstered by litigator Martha O. Dinwiddie, regularly handles appeals and post-conviction relief petitions before the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and Supreme Court. From uncovering ineffective assistance to winning motions for new trials, the team works to overturn unjust verdicts. For clients under investigation, early intervention helps prevent formal charges and protects reputations.
Why Clients Trust Stephens and DiRado, LLP
When you decide to hire an attorney in East Tennessee, selecting a team with respected courtroom credentials makes a measurable difference:
- American College of Trial Lawyers fellowship: Managing partner Mark E. Stephens is a Fellow in this prestigious institution, an honor reserved for the top one percent of trial attorneys nationwide.
- Decades of courtroom experience: More than 75 jury trials handled and thousands of courtroom hearings conducted across Tennessee criminal courts.
- Free initial consultation: Prospective clients receive a direct, confidential case evaluation to explore defense avenues without financial obligation.
- Client-centered approach: Treating every client with dignity, transparency, and accessible communication through every phase of the criminal justice system.
Contact a Knoxville Criminal Defense Attorney Today
Never enter an interrogation room or appear in General Sessions Court without seasoned defense counsel. If you need to find a lawyer who possesses the courage and courtroom skill to fight for your freedom, contact Stephens and DiRado, LLP. Schedule your complimentary consultation today to start building an uncompromising legal defense.
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Location & Access
Primary Address
Located in the heart of the Downtown Knoxville Business District, just steps away from local, state, and federal courthouses.
Building Location
This is a 3-story professional brick office building known as Main Place. It features a tall open atrium running the height of the building and is located near World's Fair Park.
Parking Details
Paid public parking is available at several nearby locations, including the Cumberland Ave Parking Lot and the Volunteer Lot, with additional street-level metered parking available along Main Street.
Public Transit
Served by Knoxville Area Transit Route 11 (Kingston Pike); nearest stop is at Main St EB @ Walnut St.
Accessibility / Suite Access
Enter the Main Place building through the open atrium lobby. You can take the elevators or the open wood-accented central stairway to reach Suite 250 on the second floor.