Our Team

Vanessa Coates is from Sunnyvale, CA and went to college at Cal State Fresno, where she earned her B.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism. After college she worked throughout California in advertising before moving to Las Vegas, NV, where Vanessa worked in marketing for casinos. In 2019 Vanessa moved to Knoxville to continue working in advertising, but soon joined the Garza Law Firm team in the intake department. She loves cooking, traveling, spending time with family, friends and especially her cat Winston. She enjoys exploring the beauty of East Tennessee and finding all the hidden gems in the South… including the best barbecue.

With over twenty years in marketing, advertising, and video production, Krista has developed a strong foundation in strategic planning and data-driven insights to drive results. While her analytical skills fuel performance, her creativity shines in art, design, and video content creation. Originally from beautiful West Virginia, Krista has called Knoxville home since 2001. She loves traveling the world, exploring cultures through cooking classes, and volunteers locally with Habitat for Humanity and Second Harvest Food Bank.

Mallory Garrison is originally from Conway, AR and moved to Johnson City, TN at a young age. She has been in Knoxville since 2020 and loves working for the people of East Tennessee. Mallory started her paralegal career working with Tony Seaton before moving to the Garza Law Firm. She is now the Civil Operations Manager who oversees the firm’s civil division. Mallory has done mission work in Haiti and El Salvador and enjoys volunteering at Garza Law-sponsored motorcycle events. She enjoys spending time with friends and family as well as taking care of her dog, Payton. She also loves trying new restaurants in Knoxville and around the world!

Chad Harrison, a Tennessee native with roots in Gallatin, moved to Knoxville in 2002. He, his wife, and three kids love exploring the Great Smoky Mountains, indulging in activities like hiking, hunting and fishing. Despite his educational background in industrial engineering, Chad’s extensive experience in applied behavior science and psychometrics forms the foundation of his HR career. With over twenty years experience, he has developed leaders and provided executive coaching in ten countries. As Head of People at Garza Law, Chad focuses on talent management strategies, leveraging his insights into both people and processes gained through a career spanning Fortune 500 companies in the retail, travel, finance, and technology industries.

Commander Breckenridge Morgan is a retired Surface Warfare and Human Resources Officer and Commanding Officer in the Navy. His tours as Commanding Officer include the Military Entrance Processing Station Knoxville and Navy Recruiting District Atlanta. An adept administrator, Cmdr Morgan joined the team in 2021 and is an advocate for Garza Law clients in providing exceptional client support. A native of Knoxville, he can be found cheering on the Volunteers throughout the year or poolside as a USA Swimming Referee, Starter, or other official positions supporting all levels of swimming.

bmorgan@garzalaw.com

Lyndsay Southern is a native of Campbell County, TN. She’s always had a strong desire to work with the public in the legal field. Lyndsay began her legal career in the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office in Campbell County where she worked for over sixteen years before joining Garza Law. She is now operating the new Jacksboro, TN office as a legal assistant for the Garza Law criminal defense team. Lyndsay helps prepare attorneys for court while ensuring that every client’s needs are being met. Lyndsay is married with one young son. She loves traveling to new places and making memories with her family. In her spare time, she enjoys playing with her son, shopping, running, being outdoors, and hiking in East Tennessee. She can also be found at community events in Campbell County and surrounding areas.

Investigator Adam Woody was born in Rogersville, TN and raised in Rockwood, TN. He was in the Tennessee Army National Guard and served time in Iraq. He also has twenty years law enforcement experience with the Oak Ridge Police Department and Tennessee Highway Patrol. He has a Master of Professional Studies from the Tennessee Technological University in Public Safety and a Bachelor of Science from Bethal University in Criminal Justice. He attended the Northwestern School of Staff and Command, Tennessee Governors Leadership Program, and specializes in crash reconstruction. In his spare time, Adam loves spending time with his family and flying general aviation aircraft.