About Brent
Brent Horst earned a Bachelor of Science from Bowling Green State University in 1984 and completed his legal education at the University of Toledo in 1987. Those years established a foundation in legal studies and prepared him for a career that would move between public service and private defense work.
He began his post-law school career in Florida. In 1988 he joined the State Lawyer’s Office for Florida’s 6th Circuit as an assistant state lawyer. That early courtroom experience exposed him to a wide range of criminal matters and gave him regular time at the lectern. He handled preliminary hearings, motions and trials in county courts, learning the practical demands of trial work and case preparation.
In 1995 Horst shifted to Tennessee, taking a position as an assistant lawyer general in the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office. The role expanded his exposure to state-level criminal issues and allowed him to work on appeals and complex prosecution-driven matters. A year later he moved into private practice. In 1996 he established Horst Law and began handling criminal defense matters full time.
Horst is a Certified Criminal Trial Specialist through the National Board of Legal Specialty. That credential reflects a specific emphasis on courtroom practice and jury trials. He is also active in professional organizations: membership listings include the National Trial Lawyers Association, the American Institute of Criminal Law Lawyers, the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and The Florida Bar. Those memberships have kept him connected to peers and current developments in criminal law across two jurisdictions.
His courtroom work spans arraignments through jury trials. He has handled cases in both Florida and Tennessee, representing clients at multiple stages of the criminal process. The practice emphasizes defense representation in criminal matters, including trial preparation, plea negotiations and post-conviction issues. He maintains licenses in the states where he practices and continues to appear in state courts.
Colleagues describe him as someone who prefers the procedural detail of trial work and the advocacy required at trial. He has built a practice that reflects his years in public service and his subsequent private defense work. He currently practices at Horst Law, where his work centers on criminal defense in Florida and Tennessee.
