Atty. Jonathan D. Cooper
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.
Criminal Defense: General Practice & More Attorney · Serving Knoxville, TN · 33+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Jonathan D. Cooper at a Glance
Jonathan D. Cooper is a dui/dwi, criminal defense, and white collar attorney based in Knoxville, Tennessee, practicing at Knox Defense. They have 33+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1993. Admitted to practice in Tennessee, Tennessee Supreme Court (1993). Educated at The University of Tennessee (J.D., 1993) and Emory & Henry College (BA, 1989). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — DUI / DWI Defense (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: General Practice (2026). Serves clients in Knoxville, TN and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Jonathan D. Cooper
- 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
Practice Areas Explained
Jonathan D. Cooper's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Jonathan D. Cooper handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Knoxville.
DUI / DWI Defense in Knoxville
Find experienced DUI and DWI defense attorneys near you. Compare verified profiles, read client reviews, and consult about your case for free.
Jonathan D. Cooper is one of 29,739 dui/dwi attorneys indexed nationally. Browse dui/dwi attorneys in Tennessee →
Criminal Defense in Knoxville
A criminal defense attorney protects your rights from arrest through trial. Find experienced lawyers handling DUI, drug, federal, theft, and violent-crime charges.
Jonathan D. Cooper is one of 212,605 criminal defense attorneys indexed nationally. Browse criminal defense attorneys in Tennessee →
White Collar Crimes in Knoxville
Jonathan D. Cooper is one of 19,824 white collar attorneys indexed nationally. Browse white collar attorneys in Tennessee →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Knoxville
Practicing law in Tennessee. Legal matters in Tennessee are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Knoxville are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Tennessee state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Tennessee brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Tennessee courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Knoxville Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Knoxville-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Tennessee attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Knoxville or all attorneys in Tennessee.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Knoxville Choose Jonathan D. Cooper
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Jonathan D. Cooper's practice in the field of dui/dwi, criminal defense, and white collar.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Jonathan D. Cooper brings 33+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering dui/dwi, criminal defense, and white collar, Jonathan D. Cooper can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Knoxville
A Knoxville-based practice means Jonathan D. Cooper attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
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Jonathan D. Cooper's Practice Areas & Specializations
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