Area of Practice:

• Criminal Law
• Personal Injury
• Wills and Estate

Education:

• Doctor of Jurisprudence-Nashville School of Law, Nashville, TN 1986
• Bachelor of Arts Psychology (with honors) University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 1982

Associations:

• American Board of Trial Advocates, Past President of Tennessee Chapter
• Tennessee Bar Association since 1987
• Tennessee Trial Lawyers

Reported Cases:

• State v. Carter, 889 S.W. 2d 231 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994)
• Simmons v. Simmons, 900 S. W. 2d 682 (Tenn. 1995)
• Emery v. Southern Railway Company, 866 S.W. 2d 557 (Tenn. App. 1993)
• State v. Shuck, 953 S.W. 2d 662 (Tenn. 1997)

Community:

• Recognized at Lady of the Lakeway Area by Citizen Tribune
• Partner at Arrowhead Church
• Theatre Guild, Inc.-Board of Directors 1993-1995
• Discover Tennessee Grants Committee 1992-1996
• Morristown Hamblen High School West Mock Trial Team Coach 1994
• Girls, Inc. Board of Directors 1991-1995
• Girls, Inc. “100 Club” Charter Member
• Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce Board Member 2000-2007
• 2006 President of Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce
• Actively involved in trial of high profile criminal and civil cases in East TN
• Admitted to practice law in Tennessee State Court, U.S. District Court,  Sixth Circuit-Cincinnati
• Morristown Regional Airport Commission
• Avid Supporter of Alps Adult Day Services
• Avid Supporter of Helen Ross McNabb Center
• HC Excel Board Member
• Trustee for Bethesda Cemetery

Personal:

• Born Ozark, Alabama in 1958
• Married to Mike Castellarin.
• Mother of Gabriel Charles Stapleton  a practicing lawyer with the firm and NeNe to her grandson, Henry Charles Stapleton.

Awards:

• ABOTA National named the Tennessee ABOTA chapter- Chapter of the Year in 2006, the year Denise served as President of this statewide organization consisting of plaintiff and defense counsel.
• Walters State Community College- 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award

Personal background:

Denise grew up in the wonderful small town  of Bulls Gap. She attended Bulls Gap School from Grade 1-12.

The most rewarding aspect of my job is that the depth of relationship that I establish with my clients as together we navigate through a difficult time in their life. The bond we form during those times is strong and never forgotten.

In my spare time I enjoy cooking and travelling. My husband and I enjoy seeing new sights and trying new restaurants along the way.

In 2016 Denise and her mother Florence travelled to Antarctica and had fun with the Penguins. Denise and her mother have travelled to all continents with the exception of Australia. The pandemic has put a kink in their travel plans.

Denise and her husband Mike enjoy cooking at home and most recently have filmed episodes of “Cooking with Counsel” in our kitchen. Denise does the cooking and Michael does the filming, lighting and technical components of the show.

Additionally, Denise and Mike love the lake, hiking in the Smokies and following the Vols.