Dawn Fry

Dawn Fry is a lifelong resident of the Upper Cumberland and a dedicated advocate for families and individuals throughout Middle Tennessee. A graduate of Cookeville High School and Tennessee Tech University, Dawn earned her law degree from Nashville School of Law in 1999 and has practiced law in the Upper Cumberland since 2000. Her practice focuses primarily on adoption law and conservatorships, where she is known for her compassionate approach and commitment to helping families navigate complex legal issues with confidence and care.

In addition to her legal practice at Fry, Knight and Richardson Attorneys at Law, Dawn is deeply involved in community leadership and advocacy. She currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Putnam County School Board, Vice Chairman of U-Trust, and Chairman of Rising Above Ministries. She previously served as Chair of Exceptional Bean. Dawn was appointed by the Governor of Tennessee to serve on both the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Governor’s Advisory Council for Students with Disabilities. She also served for more than ten years as an adjunct professor of business law at Tennessee Tech University.

Dawn and her husband, Shawn, have been married for more than 30 years and are the proud parents of twins, Sydney and Austin. Her passion for serving the special needs community is deeply personal, inspired by her son Austin’s autism diagnosis and her firsthand understanding of the challenges families often face.

Brett Knight

Brett Knight is a criminal defense attorney serving clients throughout
the Upper Cumberland and Middle Tennessee. A resident of Overton County
and graduate of Belmont University College of Law, Brett began his legal
career as a prosecutor with the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office
before transitioning into private practice, where he now focuses
primarily on criminal defense.

Drawing from experience on both sides of the courtroom, Brett has
represented clients facing charges ranging from simple possession
offenses to serious felony cases, including homicide allegations. He is
passionate about helping people navigate some of the most difficult
moments of their lives and believes that a mistake, accusation, or past
struggle should not define a person’s future.

Known for his personal approach and dedication to his clients, Brett
works to ensure every individual is treated with dignity, respect, and a
strong defense. He is committed not only to protecting the legal rights
of his clients, but also to helping people pursue second chances and
move forward with their lives.

In addition to his legal work, Brett remains active in the community
through ministry and recovery outreach efforts. He is also the author of
From the Gavel to Grace, a book designed to help individuals and
families navigate the legal realities of drug and alcohol charges while
encouraging the pursuit of recovery and restoration. Brett is also a
member of the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

BrettKnightLaw.com

uppercumberlandinjury.com

KYLE RICHARDSON

Kyle Richardson is an experienced attorney who currently practices at Fry & Knight Attorneys at Law in Cookeville, Tennessee. Kyle is a graduate of Jackson County High School, Tennessee Tech University, and a 2020 graduate of Cumberland School of Law.

Prior to joining Fry & Knight, Kyle served as a Judge Advocate (JAG) on active duty in the United States Army. He was an administrative law attorney at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, a legal assistance attorney at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he drafted hundreds of estate plans, and the Chief of Military Justice at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Kyle was also appointed as a federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of Virginia where he served as the lead prosecutor on all crimes that occurred on the Fort Belvoir and Fort Myer military installations.

Kyle is a Christian and resides in Gainesboro, Tennessee. When he is not zealously advocating for his clients, he enjoys hosting fundraising benefits for members of his community and volunteering for worthwhile causes. He was named the Grand Marshal of the 2024 Jackson County Christmas Parade and the 2025 WCTE Upper Cumberland Neighbor of the Year.