Gregory P. Isaacs

Gregory (Greg) P. Isaacs, graduated from The University of Tennessee College of Law in 1988. Mr. Isaacs founded The Isaacs Law Firm in 1993. The Isaacs Law Firm has maintained the highest professional ratings and levels of recognition by his peers, and most importantly his clients.

Mr. Isaacs has received the distinguished Martindale Hubble AV rating. This rating is based upon a stringent peer review process and signifies Mr. Isaacs as one who exemplifies highest ethical standards of the profession and as preeminent in field of criminal defense.

Mr. Isaacs has consistently received recognition by the most notable publications and societies including, but not limited to, Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, CityView Top Attorneys, Knoxville Business Journal Top Attorney, and most recently has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association.  

The Isaacs Law Firm and its attorneys practice primarily in criminal defense litigation and personal injury cases in state and federal courts throughout Tennessee. Mr. Isaacs has successfully handled a number of high profile cases that have gained national attention, a few notable cases are set out below:

• United States v. Foust: A case portrayed in the novel Dark and Bloody Ground wherein Mr. Isaacs obtained a not guilty verdict for his client who was accused of laundering money obtained through of brutal murder of a Kentucky physician and his teenage daughter.

• State v. Michael Frazier: Mr. Frazier’s case was one of the first Tennessee cases to be televised by Court TV. Mr. Frazier, a prominent newspaper editor, was accused of attempting to murder the husband of a woman he profiled in a story and allegedly had an affair with. Mr. Isaacs successfully litigated the case, landing an impressive verdict of attempted manslaughter.  

• State v. Thomas “Zoo Man” Huskey: In this landmark case, Mr. Isaacs represented one of the most infamous alleged serial killers in recent Tennessee history. Thomas “The Zoo Man” Huskey stood trial for four capital homicides in addition to four counts of rape. The extensive litigation in this case gained significant national and international attention based on salient facts including Mr. Huskey’s multiple personalities and the fact that he was Knox County’s only reputed serial killer. After more than a decade of extensive litigation, Mr. Isaacs and the defense team were able to obtain two hung juries, and the murder charges against Mr. Huskey were ultimately dismissed.   

• State v. Kenneth “Kenny” Bartley: Kenny Bartley was a Campbell County youth who stood trial following a school shooting that resulted in the death of the school principal and injuries to two others. Bartley initially pled guilty to second degree murder under the advice of his original attorney. On Post-Conviction review, Mr. Isaacs was successful in convincing the court that Mr. Bartley’s initial counsel was ineffective, and ultimately securing a new trial for Mr. Bartley. The next step was a jury trial wherein Mr. Isaacs obtained a jury verdict of reckless homicide, resulting in Mr. Bartley’s immediate release after serving eight years in custody.

• The Isaacs Law Firm has also represented a number of prominent individuals within the Tennessee and Knoxville communities including local sheriffs and State Representatives. This representation has spanned various state and federal courts.

• The Isaacs Law Firm has achieved numerous victories in both appellate and post-conviction cases. In State v. Phillip Pack, The Isaacs Law Firm successfully obtained release of Mr. Pack who had been convicted by a jury of murder. In a scathing appellate opinion, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the conviction against Mr. Pack, noting the case was one in which there was “not a scintilla of evidence”.

• In Harland Pollard v. Otie Jones, Mr. Pollard pleaded guilty to first degree murder of his wife after stabbing her 12 times in 1985. Subsequently, Mr. Isaacs filed a writ of habeas corpus in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. In 1993 the federal district court judge ruled that Mr. Pollard received erroneous advice concerning acceptance of the plea offer and that Mr. Pollard’s attorney at the time of his plea rendered ineffective assistance of counsel. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s ruling in 1994.

• In United States v. Joseph Armstrong, our legal team was able to secure an outstanding result for one of the most recognized legislators in Tennessee. Mr. Armstrong, a veteran member of the Tennessee General Assembly who had served over 28 years in office, was facing three separate federal charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States, attempt to evade taxes, and filing a fraudulent tax return. Following a four-day jury trial, Mr. Armstrong was acquitted of the conspiracy and tax evasion charges. After a contentious sentencing hearing against the United States, our team convinced the Court to place Mr. Armstrong on probation with a period of house arrest rather than imposing a sentence in the federal penitentiary as requested by the Government.

• In State v. Norman Clark, Clark was facing two counts of First Degree Murder and two counts of felony murder related to the death of an ex-girlfriend and her unborn child. Following a hotly contested trial, the jury was ultimately deadlocked and unable to reach a verdict unanimously resulting in a mistrial. Following a second mistrial by successor counsel in 2017, the State decided to reexamine their options. In 2018, the Knox County Attorney General’s Office decided to nolle prosequi the case against Mr. Clark ending the prosecution. The case has been featured on Dateline NBC.

Gregory P. Isaacs is also active within the community and has been a leader in many professional and civic organizations including but not limited to the following:

• President of Knoxville Episcopal School
• President of Nucleus Knoxville
• Board of Directors - Zoo Knoxville
• Member -Tennessee Higher Education Commission
• Board of Governors - Knoxville Bar Association
• Adjunct Professor - University of Tennessee College of Law
• Board of Directors - University of Tennessee College of Law Legal Clinic
• Legal Analyst for WATE Channel 6 - "Ask Isaacs” weekly segment

The Isaacs Law Firm team is committed to providing the highest level of client service and standards of professional excellence. The Isaacs Law Firm consists of two associate attorneys in addition to Mr. Isaacs. J. Franklin Ammons, J.D. is a Knoxville native who obtained his degree from The University of Memphis-Cecil C. Humphrey School of Law in Memphis, Tennessee in 2013. Mr. Ammons returned to Knoxville in 2015 joining The Isaacs Law Firm in representing clients at the highest level. Ashlee B. Mathis, J.D. is also a Knoxville native who obtained her degree at the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2015. Ms. Mathis has worked as an Associate at The Isaacs Law Firm Team since her admission to the bar in zealously advocating for our clients. Paralegal and Office Manager Angi Alred works to oversee firm affairs and communications and also works to coordinate scheduling with the firm’s lead investigator, George Lambert, a retired FBI Agent. While results are a crucial factor in the process of litigating both criminal and civil cases, The Isaacs Law Firm and its staff are dedicated to ensuring that clients regardless of situation or result, receive the highest level of professional service.