An Experienced Criminal Defense and Personal Injury Attorney in Knoxville, TN
Jeff has more than 30 years of experience representing clients in state and federal courts in both civil and criminal cases throughout the state of Tennessee. Jeff attended East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee, on a baseball scholarship, and there he earned his undergraduate degree. He returned to his hometown of Knoxville after completing his undergraduate studies, where he went on to earn his law degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1988. Jeff was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1988.
At that time, Jeff joined the former law firm of Daniel & Oberman, a firm started by two of the most reputable lawyers East Tennessee has ever produced, his father Zane Daniel and partner Steven Oberman. These two legal giants had tremendous influence on Jeff’s development as a trial attorney.
Focusing his practice on representing those accused of state and federal crimes, as well as individuals injured in accidents, Jeff has maintained a steady practice in the East Tennessee area. During the course of his practice, he has handled multiple criminal trials ranging from misdemeanor offenses such as DUI to complex felony murder cases. Jeff has also fought for his clients rights in personal injury and workers compensation cases, obtaining much-needed compensation for their injuries through both settlement negotiations and trial verdicts. In 2008, Jeff and his brother, Todd Daniel, helped obtain a mediated settlement award of $2,750,000 for an injured motorcycle victim.
Jeff has always prided himself on maintaining a close relationship with those he represents. As he states:
“I have discovered over the years that most clients require and merit more than just legal advice. Most people, regardless of whether they are being accused of a crime or have been hurt in an accident, want to know that the attorney representing them genuinely cares about their situation and will stop at nothing to get the best outcome for them.
Above all, they want a lawyer who is available to them to discuss their case and who is forthright with them regarding its advantages and disadvantages.
Jeff provides each one of his clients with his personal cell phone number. By doing this, he makes himself available to every client, day or night. From the client’s perspective, that guarantees that they can contact their attorney at any time of day to discuss the progress of their case or in case of an emergency.
I want my clients to feel that they have found a friend they can turn to in any situation, in addition to a lawyer, when they leave my office. This was the manner in which my late father practiced law, and he taught me and our legal firm this vital lesson. He was incredibly successful in his practice and other aspects of life, primarily because of that fundamental foundation.”
Jeff was born and has lived his entire life in Knoxville. He lives there with his wife Sharon, and they have three grown children: Hunter, Blakely, and Hollin. Jeff is an avid outdoorsman, and when he’s not working or spending time with his family, he loves to spend his spare time in the woods hunting or on a body of water fishing.