Richard L. Gaines represents individuals facing state and federal criminal charges in Knoxville and across East Tennessee — from arraignment through argument before the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Richard Gaines graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1992, where he served on the editorial board of the Tennessee Law Review and received the Outstanding Editor Award. He clerked for the Honorable H. Emory Widener III of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit before earning an LL.M. from Columbia University School of Law as a Ford Foundation Fellow in Public International Law and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.
"Trial lawyer in the areas of criminal defense and governmental administrative proceedings — with substantial appellate practice, including arguments before the Tennessee Supreme Court."
After beginning his career with the American Bar Association's Section of International Law and Practice and the Washington office of Shearman & Sterling, Mr. Gaines returned to Knoxville, where he has practiced criminal defense continuously since 1996 — as an associate, as a founding partner of Eldridge & Gaines, PLLC, and today as a solo practitioner at his own office on Market Street. For seven years he also served as adjunct faculty at the University of Tennessee College of Law, teaching appellate advocacy and oral argument.
A chronology of clerkships, practice, and teaching — read as it was entered.
Department of Justice, Eastern District of Tennessee. Performed most attorney functions short of appearing in court.
Member of the editorial board; edited six articles across five volumes. Recipient of the 1991–92 Outstanding Editor Award.
Summa cum laude — ranked 4th of 156. Order of the Coif.
Chambers of the Honorable H. Emory Widener III, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Richmond, Virginia.
Ford Foundation Fellow in Public International Law; Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Associate Editor, Columbia Journal of Transnational Law.
Section of International Law and Practice, Washington, D.C. Co-Chair, Working Group on the Protection of U.N. and Associated Personnel.
Washington, D.C. office. Trade and litigation matters, including representation of the Government of Mexico and the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Knoxville, Tennessee. Federal white-collar litigation and a caseload of state clients charged with crimes.
Taught first-year appellate advocacy, brief writing, and oral argument each fall and spring semester.
Knoxville. Criminal defense and governmental administrative proceedings, with substantial appellate practice before the Tennessee Supreme Court.
625 Market St, Knoxville, Tennessee. Solo practice concentrating in criminal defense.
Representation of individuals charged with state and federal crimes, from arraignment through verdict.
Briefing and oral argument in Tennessee's appellate courts, including the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Federal litigation experience developed at Ritchie, Fels & Dillard's white-collar defense practice.
Frequent CLE lecturer on search and seizure law; counsel in governmental administrative proceedings.
Department of Energy (DOE) administrative proceedings related to security clearance, "Q" clearance, and access authorization.
Mr. Gaines is available to discuss state and federal criminal matters throughout Knoxville and East Tennessee.