Lauren M. Fuchs
Top rated Criminal Defense attorney in Memphis, Tennessee
The Law Office of Massey McClusky Fuchs & Ballenger
Practice areas: Criminal Defense
Licensed in Tennessee since: 2009
Education: The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2011 - 2014, 2017 - 2022 
Virtual Appointments 
Free Consultation The Law Office of Massey McClusky Fuchs & Ballenger
3074 East StreetMemphis, TN 38128 Phone: 901-384-4004 Email: Lauren M. Fuchs Visit website
Details 
A life-long Memphian, Lauren Massey Fuchs received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature at Christian Brothers University, where she graduated with honors, before beginning law school in Memphis. Mrs. Fuchs joined the Law Office of Massey McClusky after her graduation from University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2009. In March of 2013, Mrs. Fuchs became a partner in the law firm, now named The Law Office of Massey McClusky Fuchs & Ballenger. Mrs. Fuchs has served two terms on the TACDL Board of Directors. Currently, Mrs. Fuchs is on the faculty for both the TACDL Trial College and the TACDL Advanced Trial Skills seminars, in addition to speaking at various criminal law related CLEs.
She is an effective negotiator and a fierce fighter in the courtroom. She works every day to hone the skills of her craft. Mrs. Fuchs and all the members of her firm bring the heart for the fight to the courtroom.
First Admitted: 2009, Tennessee
Professional Webpage: http://www.masseymcclusky.com/Attorneys/Lauren-M-Fuchs.shtml
Bar / Professional Activity
- TACDL Board of Directors, 2016
- TACDL CLE Committee, 2018
- Co-organizer of the monthly TACDL Round Table for Memphis, TN, 2011
- TACDL Board of Directors, 2015
- TACDL Board of Directions, 2018
- National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
- Association of Women Attorneys
- TACDL Board of Directors, 2017
- Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Charged: 2 counts of First-Degree Murder, Theft of Property $10,000 or more, Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Intentionally Evading Arrest in a Motor Vehicle. Negotiated settlement: ALL CHARGES DISMISSED, 2024
- Charged Second-degree Murder, Aggravated Assault Resulting in Death, Aggravated Assault, and Employing a Firearm during a Dangerous Felony. Trial Verdict: NOT GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES, 2023
- First Degree Murder conviction reversed at the Motion for New Trial - the case ended up settling on 13 years of Community Corrections., 2020
- Trial Verdict: Weakley County - Client was charged with Second Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault Resulting in Death, Aggravated Assault, Employment of Firearm during Dangerous Felony - NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS, 2023
- Charged Bribery of Public Servant x2, Official Misconduct, and Violation of Computer Act – Guilty plea to Criminal Attempt Bribery of Public Servant with 4 years of upfront diversion, 2022
- Charged First Degree Mruder – Guilty plea to lesser included offense of Second Degree Murder for 13.5 years at 85%, 2022
- Charged with Aggravated Robbery - this case was dismissed entirey, 2021
- Charged with First Degree Murder – Guilty plea to lesser included offense of Voluntary Manslaughter for 10 years at 35%, 2021
- Charged with Felony Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Simple Possession of Marijuana, and Alteration of Item’s Permanent Distinguishing Numbers – this case was dismissed entirely, 2021
- Charged with Criminal Attempt Second Degree Murder, Employing a Firearm during a Felony. Reckless Endangerment, Aggravated Assault (2 counts) – Negotiated settlement of upfront diversion on Aggravated Assault, 2021
- Aggravated Assault Class B Felony reduced through negotiations to a Misdemeanor Assault with upfront probation, 2020
- Shelby County, Negotiated Settlement, Criminal Attempt First Degree Murder dismissed., 2019
- Shelby County, Charged First Degree Murder dismissed on trial date for lack of prosecution., 2019
- Shelby County, Negotiated Settlement, State dismissed Criminal Attempt First Degree Murder , 2019
- Shelby County, Order of Protection against my client was dismissed during the hearing., 2020
- Shelby County, Negotiated Settlement, 2 counts of Trafficking for Sexual Servitude dismissed., 2019
- Shelby County, Negotiated Settlement, Aggravated Arson reduced to E felony Setting Fire to Personal Property for time served., 2019
- Shelby County, Negotiated Settlement, Aggravated Assault dismissed upon payment of restitution., 2019
- Shelby County, Negotiated Settlement, 2lbs of marijuana reduced to a misdemeanor with upfront probation for 6 months., 2018
- Shelby County, Negotiated Settlement, Promoting Prostitution dismissed, 2018
- Shelby County, Negotiated Settlement: Client was charged with Criminal Attempt First Degree Murder, Employing a Firearm during a Felony, Aggravated Assault, and Domestic Assault. Client plead to Criminal Attempt Second Degree Murder with all other counts dismissed with 10 years of upfront probation., 2018
- Shelby County, Negotiated Settlement, 3 counts of Extortion dismissed with no court costs., 2018
- Shelby County, Negotiated Settlement: Client was charged in one indictment with Rape, which was superceded by an indictment for Aggravated Rape, a Class A felony carrying 100% time and the sex offender registery and community supervision for life, and another indictment for Aggravated Assault, Intentionally Evading Arrest, and Vandalism, which was superceded by an indictment for 2 counts of Aggravated Assault, Intentionally Evading Arrest, and Vandalism. The negotiated agreement involved a guilty plea to one count of Aggravated Assault and one count of Kidnapping, which was presented as a separate superceding indictment, for a total of 7 1/2 years with upfront probation, no sex offender registry and no community supervision., 2018
- Shelby County: negotiated settlement - Charged A felony Aggravated Arson - Guilty Plea to 1 day time-served on the E felony of Burning Personal Property, 2018
- Shelby County: negotiated settlement - Burglary of Building dismissed, 2018
- Shelby County, Trial: Charged originally with Second Degree Murder and Employing a Firearm during a Dangerous Felony: Count 2 was dismissed by motion of the defense prior to trial, Count 1 went to trial - Mistrial: jury hung 9 for Not Guilty to 3 for Voluntary Manslaughter, 2018
- Lauderdale County: Negotiated settlement - Charged with B Felony Rape (carries Sex Offender Registry and Community Supervision for Life), which was amended down to the C Felony Aggravated Assault on Diversion, so client should have this removed from his record by 2021, 2018
- General Sessions negotiation in Shelby County - 64.9tgw of fentanyl dismissed, 2018
- Shelby County General Sessions, Negotiated Settlement, E felony marijuana case dismissed., 2017
- Charged D felony (>10lbs) Marijuana (2 counts) and Possession of a Firearm during a Felony - Negotiated Settlement: each reduced to a misdemeanor with upfront probation, 2017
- Shelby County: Charged in General Sessions with 2 counts of Criminal Attempt Second Degree Murder and 2 counts of Especially Aggravated Burglary - after Preliminary Hearing, both counts of Especially Aggravated Burglary were dismissed for no probable cause - Grand Jury dismissed the remaining counts and returned a No True Bill , 2017
- Shelby County, Negotiated settlement: Theft of Property over $10,000, Theft of Property under $500 - Dismissed with court costs, 2017
- Shelby County, Negotiated Settlement: charged Theft of Property over $10,000 dismissed upon payment of court costs, 2017
- Shelby County, Charged second degree murder - Negotiated settlement: 3 years upfront probation on voluntary manslaughter, 2017
- Shelby County, Negotiated Settlement - Aggravated Sexual Battery dismissed, 2017
- Shelby County: Trial - Charged with 4 counts of first degree murder - Verdict: 2 counts of second degree murder which merged, 1 count of reckless homicide, and 1 count of criminally negligent homicide, 2017
- Shelby County: Charged ct. 1 First Degree Murder, ct. 2 Especially Aggravated Robbery, ct. 3 First Degree Murder - Dismissed for Lack of Prosecution in Criminal Court, 2017
- Shelby County, Negotiated settlement, Aggravated Robbery dismissed, 2016
- Shelby County, Negotiated Settlement: charged Aggravated Assaualt - dismissed, 2016
- Shelby County, Negotiated settlement, Aggravated Rape dismissed, 2016
- Shelby County, trial on first degree murder - verdict: second degree murder, 2015
- Tipton County, trial on first degree murder - verdict: faciliation of reckless homicide, 2013
- Shelby County - First Degree Murder dismissed at Grand Jury after presenting alibi proof at preliminary hearing, 2013
- Shelby County, trial aggravagted rape, aggravated kidnapping, domestic assault - verdict: misdemeanor domestic assault, not guilty on all other counts, 2013
- Shelby County, trial on first degree murder - verdict voluntary manslaughter, 2012
- Shelby County, trial on first degree murder - verdict: voluntary manslaughter, 2012
Videos
- First Degree Murder Trial in Shelby County, State of Tennessee v. Shelby Isaac, Law And Crime Network, 2017
- CLE Presenter on Mitigation and 100% Crimes after Truth in Sentencing, ACDL Annual, 2023
- Interview regarding State of Tennessee v. Shelby Isaac, Interview with Law and Crime, Law And Crime Network, 2017
- Closing Argument in First Degree Murder Trial in Shelby County, State of Tennessee v. Shelby Isaac, Law And Crime Network, 2017
- First Degree Murder Trial in Shelby County, State of Tennessee v. Shelby Isaac, Law And Crime Network, 2017
- First Degree Murder Trial in Shelby County, State of Tennessee v. Shelby Isaac, Law And Crime Network, 2017
- First Degree Murder Trial in Shelby County, State of Tennessee v. Shelby Isaac, Law And Crime Network, 2017
- First Degree Murder Trial in Shelby County, State of Tennessee v. Shelby Isaac, Law And Crime Network, 2017
Educational Background
- Graduated with honors from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee, 2005
- Graduated from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, 2009
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Speaker regarding Photographic Identifications and Lineups during TACDL's 2018 Suppression Seminar in Memphis, TN, Speaker, Suppression of Identifications and Photo Lineups, TACDL, 2018
- TACDL Annual Seminar - CLE on Sentencing, Presenter, CLE Presentation, 2020
- Teaching in small groups as to each section of the seminar, as well as presenter to the large group on Ethics in Closing Argument, Instructor, Tennessee Criminal Defense College, 2021
- One hour presentation on the ethical duties and challenges facing criminal defense attorneys in a pre-trial setting., Speaker, Ethics in Pre-trial Practice, TACDL, 2018
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Faculty at the TACDL Trial College, 2018
- Faculty at TACDL Trial College , 2023
- Faculty at the Tennessee Criminal Defense College, 2021
- Faculty at the TACDL Advanced Cross Examination Seminar, 2020
- Faculty at the Tennessee Criminal Defense College, 2020
- Faculty at TACDL Advanced Trial Skills Training, 2018
Honors
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2011
- Recognizing Excellence in Criminal Law, Layers of Distinction, 2024
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2014
- The National Trial Lawyers recognize the Top 100 trial lawyers in the field of Criminal Defense., Top 100 - Criminal Defense, The National Trial Lawyers, 2016
- Exceptional and outstanding client service, 10 Best - Tennessee, American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, 2018
- For exceptional and outstanding client service, 10 Best Female Attorneys - Tennessee, American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, 2017
- Super Lawyers Rising Star, Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2012
- Massey McGee Trial Advocacy Award Recipient for West Tennessee, Massey McGee Trial Advocacy Award, Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, 2012
- Rising Star, Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2017
- Client Satisfaction Award, 10 Best Female Attorneys in Client Satisfaction - Tennessee, American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, 2016
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2013
- This recognition required a nomination by the Institute, clients, and/or a fellow attorney. This award recognizes exemplary performance and client satisfaction., Criminal Law 10 Best Female Attorneys in Tennessee, American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, 2016
- For exceptional and outstanding client service, 10 best Under 40 Attorney - Tennessee, American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, 2018
Office location for Lauren M. Fuchs
3074 East Street
Memphis, TN 38128
Selections
3 Years Super Lawyers
10 Years Rising Stars
- Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 2011 - 2014, 2017 - 2022