About

Bret Alexander

Former Federal, State, Gang & DUI prosecutor with 25 years of experience working in Chattanooga and the Criminal Courthouses surrounding Hamilton County, Tennessee

Background

Bret Alexander is a former Federal, State, Gang & DUI prosecutor with 25 years experience working in Chattanooga and the Criminal Courthouses surrounding Hamilton County, Tennessee. His trial experience includes Homicide, Attempted Homicide, Vehicular Homicide, Armed Robbery, Major Drug Charges, Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, DUI cases (numerous) as well as other felonies and misdemeanors. During his time living within walking distance of the Arizona/California border with Mexico, he further worked major drug trafficking cases involving tens of kilos of cocaine and methamphetamine, over 1000 pounds of marijuana, and money shipments to Mexico. He dealt with MS-13 gang members and even handled a case involving an attempted escape from federal incarceration.

Bret has used this extensive experience to defend individuals charged with federal and state criminal matters in Chattanooga, Tennessee and the surrounding region. His practice has included high-profile cases with national media attention, major felonies, significant federal drug trafficking and gun cases as well as hundreds of misdemeanor charges for DUI, domestic assault and related offenses. After close to ten years in a partnership with another well-known Chattanooga criminal defense attorney, he has started his own firm to serve his clients to be best of his ability.

Bret’s firm is centered on helping people navigate the court system when stuck in unfortunate circumstances or bad moments in life. He believes that the vast majority of people facing criminal charges care about their reputation and good name. Circumstances are often misunderstood at first glance. Therefore, delving into the facts of each case is paramount to understanding and comprehending the real truth underlying criminal charges. Bret is patient and will take the time to listen to what occurred, research the facts and evidence, and present the client’s position thoroughly, professionally and honestly.

From years of experience, Bret knows there isn’t a fast and quick way to a proper and good result. One must know the courthouse, the efforts, purposes, and personalities of the District Attorney’s Office, the substance and procedure of criminal law, and have resolve in helping others understand your client’s case.

If you need help with a criminal matter in Chattanooga criminal court, sessions court, federal court, or one of the surrounding counties, call Bret and his team. He will listen to your case, and he will help you develop a correct strategy for addressing your problem. Along the way, he will care about you and your family, including how your case affects your job and your family’s well-being.

About Bret

Bret grew up in Chattanooga, attending Ooltewah High School and graduating as Valedictorian in 1994. He was Captain of the Marching Band, President of the National Honor’s Society, a founding member of the school’s Mock Trial Team, and a varsity runner on the Cross-Country and Track teams. He attended Sewanee (encouraged by his Mock Trial coach) on a Wilkins Scholarship where he continued to run on Sewanee’s varsity Cross-Country and Track squads. It was during his college years that he met his wife LeAnn, a ferocious sprinter and hurdler.

Graduating college with Majors in Economics and French, Bret attended law school at the University of Texas. He married LeAnn, a Spanish teacher, prior to his third year of law school. They enjoyed their time in Austin watching Texas football, eating at Chuy’s and taking in Austin’s live music scene. They recently celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. They moved back from Austin to Chattanooga upon graduation in 2001.

Over the years, Bret continued to enjoy athletic pursuits including road cycling, mountain biking, and kayaking. From time to time, he still rides at Enterprise South or the Collegedale Bauxite trails with one of his high school buddies. He kayaks on the Tennessee River with his father who loves to paddle on smooth water. Bret and LeAnn attend services at Ridgedale Baptist where they enjoy the sermons and time with many local friends.

Bret and LeAnn have two children, a son-in-law, and a grandchild. Their daughter and son-in-law will graduate later this year from Berry College. Their younger child still loves dinosaurs and every aspect of Jurassic Park. Their granddaughter has them wrapped around her little finger (in between episodes of Bluey). When not working, with family, or at Ridgedale, Bret and LeAnn enjoy restoring her parents’ rustic farm with a 1964 Massey Ferguson tractor and the earnest desire to one day raise a few head of cattle.

Jay Underwood

Partner

Jay was born and raised in the Ooltewah/Collegedale area. He graduated from Southern Adventist University in 2007 and then went to law school at the University of Memphis, where he graduated in 2010.

Since then, his practice has been almost exclusively focused on criminal defense. He spent about five years at the Public Defender’s Office, and for the remainder he has been in private practice. He also served as Special Judge for the City of Collegedale from 2023 – 2025.

Jay has successfully litigated serious trials and motions and has earned the respect of judges and other criminal defense attorneys. He has also successfully handled cases at the Court of Criminal Appeals, persuading the Court to reverse two separate murder convictions. He is licensed in Tennessee and Georgia, and has also been admitted to practice in Federal Court in the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Jules-Madeline Landry

Office Manager & Paralegal for Chattanooga Criminal Defense Law Firm

Jules is adventurous and tough, having lived in both Texas and Alaska prior to moving to Tennessee. Accepted by Lee University, a highly ranked private college in Cleveland, Tennessee, she helped pay her own way through college by earning the university’s prestigious Presidential Scholarship. During her time at Lee, she cultivated a strong passion for political theory and jurisprudence—an interest that continues to shape her approach to legal work today. Her dedication to understanding case law and procedure allows her to thoughtfully advocate for each and every client. Jules earned her bachelor’s degree in political science in 2023 and quickly fell in love with East Tennessee, recently putting down roots in Collegedale.

Following graduation, Jules joined Chattanooga’s very own District Attorney’s Office as a legal secretary, where she gained firsthand experience in criminal law. In that role, she assisted with trials, attended weekly criminal court proceedings, and supported a team of nine attorneys in their daily needs. Through this experience, Jules discovered a passion for helping people navigate difficult situations, which ultimately led her to join Chattanooga Criminal Defense Law Firm.

At Chattanooga Criminal Defense Law Firm, with the many jobs she learned while working for the District Attorney’s Office, literally inside our main, local criminal courthouse, she easily transitioned into the role of paralegal and office manager. In this capacity, she continues to prepare the attorneys for court so they can be as ready as possible for every eventuality. In a private firm setting, she also has an opportunity to delve deeper into cases and legal issues, satisfying that passion she first developed in college for the law and its practical application on individuals’ rights and liberties. Thankfully, she still finds time to manage the office, keeping Bret and Jay mindful of daily business needs.

Jules enjoys spending her evenings cultivating her small, but aspirational garden, reading a cozy mystery novel, or crocheting. On weekends you may find her enjoying live music with her fiancé or traveling to Blue Ridge for a weekend getaway.

Alley Hindmon

Paralegal

Alley Hindmon commenced her career in the legal field several years ago while working as a criminal court clerk in Red Bank; a municipal court within the greater Chattanooga area. In this capacity, she gained valuable experience working hand-in-hand with prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, and the public in addressing daily criminal court needs. This provided her with insight into the inner workings and daily pressures facing an active court and clerk’s office.

As a municipal court, Red Bank is presided over by an elected judge who is barred from representing criminal defendants within the municipality. However, municipal judges often practice as criminal defense attorneys outside of their home jurisdiction. In Alley’s case, the Red Bank judge recognized her work ethic, attitude, and attention to detail, and offered her a position at his law practice. Since that time, she has served as a paralegal, helping defendants with their cases.

Jay Underwood was impressed with Alley’s abilities, in a very similar fashion to the Red Bank judge. When he joined Chattanooga Criminal Defense Law Firm, his first executive decision was to ask Alley to become a part of the team. Everyone here has been better since the day she walked through our door.

Born and raised in Soddy-Daisy, Alley values strong community ties and believes in treating every client with kindness, compassion, and respect. She is passionate about helping others feel supported during difficult times and strives to make every client interaction welcoming and reassuring. Outside of work, Alley is a proud mom and wife, who enjoys spending time with her family. She also enjoys relaxing with a good book in her spare time.