Professional Experience

Jesse Knowlden has a general legal practice with an emphasis in criminal defense and civil litigation. He has successfully represented and defended clients facing a range of charges from minor misdemeanors to murder. In the civil context, Jesse has achieved favorable outcomes for his clients in a wide variety of litigation and business matters.

Jesse was a law clerk with Cohen, Todd, Kite & Stanford for two years before becoming an attorney. In law school, he served as a member of the University of Cincinnati Law Review and had two articles published. Prior to joining the firm, Jesse served as a fellow with the Ohio Innocence Project where he worked on post-conviction matters for individuals who were convicted of crimes that they did not commit.

Jesse is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and spending time with his wife, Alison.

Representative Matters

• Assisted in representation of individual indicted for Murder, Attempted Murder, and Felonious Assault with firearms specifications for shooting and killing one individual and shooting at another. Charges carried life in prison if convicted. Argued self-defense at trial. Not guilty verdict.
• Represented individual charged with murder for fatally stabbing another individual. Argued self-defense. Charge dismissed.
• Represented individual indicted for two counts of Felonious Assault and one count of Having Weapons While Under Disability for shooting one individual. Argued self-defense. Charges dismissed.
• Represented individual indicted for seven counts, including first-degree felonies Aggravated Burglary and Kidnapping. Not guilty verdict on each indicted offense after a jury trial.
• Represented individual charged with two counts of Rape and one count of Gross Sexual Imposition. Not guilty verdict after a bench trial.
• Represented individual charged with two counts of felonious assault with gun specifications and one count of discharging a firearm on or near a prohibited premises. Charges carried a mandatory minimum of six years in prison if convicted. Argued self-defense. Not guilty verdict after a bench trial.
• Represented individual charged with Driving Under the Influence and Improper Change of Course after an early morning car accident. Not guilty verdict after trial, administrative license suspension terminated, and all case records sealed.
• Represented individual indicted for eighteen felonies, including nine first degree felonies. Conviction as charged carried over 120 years in prison. Negotiated a plea agreement to one misdemeanor, no incarceration, and no probation.

Professional Associations

• Cincinnati Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association
• Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Member, Armed Citizens’ Legal Defense Network, Affiliated Attorney Program

Awards

• Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2023, 2024, 2025
• Best Lawyers In America: Ones to Watch. Criminal Defense – White Collar, 2024