Faculty Profile: Thomas Shumate IV

Tom Shumate is the founder of Meridian Law, PLLC, which represents individuals and businesses across Tennessee in a variety of civil matters including business, contract, and employment litigation; disputes involving non-competition agreements and theft of trade secrets; insurance defense; personal injury and wrongful death actions; and probate cases.
Mr. Shumate graduated with honors from Vanderbilt University in 1995 and from Notre Dame Law School in 1998. He has practiced in Nashville, Tennessee since that time. In 2011 and 2013, Mr. Shumate was selected as a "Rising Star" by the Mid-South edition of Super Lawyers Magazine and a "Super Lawyer" in 2020-22. He has a perfect 10 rating from Avvo (www.avvo.com) and a top "AV Preeminent" rating from Martindale-Hubbel in the areas of labor and employment, litigation, and torts. He was one of approximately 30 attorneys from across the state selected to participate in the 2016 Leadership Law Program of the Tennessee Bar Association. He is a past member of the Editorial Boards of Law Practice Today webzine and Law Practice magazine, monthly publications of the Law Practice Section of the American Bar Association. He is also a past Chair and current Vice-Chair of the Law Office Technology and Management Section of the Tennessee Bar Association. Mr. Shumate has lectured to attorneys across the state and written on issues related to covenants not to compete, legal ethics, legal marketing, and technology.

Mr. Shumate is actively involved in the Nashville community and various Bar organizations. He served on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee for approximately thirteen years and has raised more than $150,000.00 for the agency through the annual "Lawyers for Littles" Bowl for Kids' Sake event. He is the Past-Chair of the Father Ryan Alumni Board and the School Board of Christ the King School.

When not resolving his clients' matters as efficiently as possible, Mr. Shumate enjoys spending time with his wife and children, reading, running, and supporting Vanderbilt and Notre Dame athletics.