Bradley Stephens

Brad Stephens joined McCarter | East, PLLC as an Associate Attorney in August 2023. He is admitted to practice law in all Tennessee state courts and in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Since joining the firm, Brad has devoted his practice primarily to civil litigation, criminal defense, and family law representation. He has worked with clients throughout Middle Tennessee.

Brad is proud to have advocated for local individuals and businesses both inside and outside of court. He has used resourcefulness and creativity to resolve civil disputes in his clients’ favor. Brad has also passionately defended numerous citizens charged with crimes ranging from minor misdemeanors to major felonies. His criminal defense experience includes successful advocacy before the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. And in highly personal disputes such as divorce and custody matters, Brad has used a level-headed approach to help clients obtain favorable results for them and their families. Brad has also drafted wills, contracts, leases, and business agreements for clients.

Brad started at the firm following a judicial clerkship for the Honorable Howard W. Wilson, Chancellor for Cannon and Rutherford Counties. During this clerkship, he researched U.S. and Tennessee constitutional law to prepare for motion hearings, drafted orders and jury instructions, and assisted in conducting court. A wide range of criminal charges came before the court, from felonies such as arson and kidnapping to misdemeanors like driving under the influence and simple drug possession. Brad watched firsthand how these cases are argued and decided.

While Brad’s clerkship focused on criminal law, he gained experience with civil law matters during his time at Belmont University College of Law. He interned with a local non-profit law firm, earning law school honors for his pro bono work. Brad also clerked for a metropolitan government, a federal agency, and an attorney practicing employment law. He was active within his class, serving as Managing Editor for the Belmont Entertainment Law Journal and as a peer mentor.

Prior to his legal career, Brad was a professional sports journalist in his native Kentucky. He attended Western Kentucky University, serving as sports editor for the school’s award-winning college newspaper. Brad then covered high school and college sports and horse racing for various publications. He won awards for writing, photography, and page design. Brad has covered the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, college football bowl games, and six Kentucky Derbies.

Brad is an active member of the Rutherford & Cannon County Bar Association. He is married to Stephanie, an elementary school teacher and lifelong Murfreesboro resident. They live in Murfreesboro with Luna, their Dalmatian. In his spare time, Brad enjoys spending time outside with Luna, trying local restaurants, travelling to concerts and sporting events, and following the Cincinnati Reds, Green Bay Packers, and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.