KNOX COUNTY, TN - Effective February 17, 2026, the Supreme Court of Tennessee permanently disbarred attorney Darren Vincent Berg from the practice of law, ordered him to pay all costs and fees of the Board of Professional Responsibility, and further ordered him to pay restitution to former clients.

After a formal hearing upon the disciplinary petition, a Hearing Panel determined that in eleven (11) separate matters, Mr. Berg engaged in ethical misconduct that involved failure to provide competent representation, failure to act within the scope and authority communicated by clients, failure to act with reasonable diligence, failure to communicate with clients, charging of unreasonable fees, engaging in conflicts of interest, failure to properly terminate representation, knowing reliance upon non-meritorious claims, failure to expedite litigation, making of false statements to courts and parties, improper communication with represented parties, unauthorized practice of law after temporary suspension of his license, repeated abandonment of his clients and their cases, failure to provide legal services after accepting substantial fees, and multiple instances of conduct involving deceit or dishonesty and prejudice to the administration of justice.

The appointed Hearing Panel determined that Mr. Berg’s actions and omissions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1 (competence), 1.2 (scope of representation and allocation of authority), 1.3 (diligence), 1.4 (communication), 1.5 (fees), 1.7 (conflict of interest), 1.16 (declining or terminating representation), 3.1 (meritorious claims), 3.2 (expediting litigation), 3.3 (candor towards the tribunal), 3.4 (fairness to opposing party and counsel), 3.5 (impartiality and decorum of the tribunal), 4.2 (communication with represented persons), 4.4 (respect for the rights of third persons), 5.5 (unauthorized practice of law), 8.1 (disciplinary matters), 8.4(b) (criminal misconduct), 8.4 (c) (misconduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation) and 8.4(d) (misconduct involving prejudice to the administration of justice), and recommended permanent disbarment.

Mr. Berg must comply with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 28, regarding the obligations and responsibilities of disbarred attorneys, pay all Board costs and fees, and make restitution to two (2) former clients in the sum amount of $65,000.00.