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; and personal injury and wrongful death actions.

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.

Because Tom works so hard for his clients, he strives to spend every free minute with his family, being outside, and reading. He looks forward to his children’s games and events more than they do. His outdoor interests range from working in the yard to checking off one of the “top 100 hikes in Tennessee.” And he never misses an opportunity to read. A running joke around the office is to guess how many books he is reading at one time.   

Tom also enjoys hiking in the Warner parks, searching for the best hamburger in town (It’s hard to beat Husk!), collecting bourbon, and supporting Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, and Centre athletics. He still dreams of completing the Rim to Rim and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. 

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS 

• Author of blog on Tennessee non-compete law and related issues (www.tennesseenoncompetelaw.com) 

• Active guest speaker and author on topics such as covenants not to compete, legal ethics, law practice management, legal marketing, and technology 

• Master of the Bench, Belmont Inn of Court, 2024-2025 

• American Bar Association 

• Tennessee Bar Association 

• Nashville Bar Association 

• Williamson County Bar Association 

• Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association 

• Defense Research Institute 

• Member, Committee of the Nashville Bar Association Lawyer Referral Information Service 

• Two-time Chair and current Executive Committee member of the Law Office Technology and Management Section of the TBA 

• Former Editorial Board Member of the Law Practice Today webzine and the Law Practice magazine, which are published by the ABA’s Law Practice Management Section 

• Member of 2016 Class of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Leadership Law (TBALL) 

• Former Member, Harry Philips Inn of Court 

• Former Legal Counsel of the Nashville Area Junior Chamber of Commerce (NAJCC) 

• Spotlight Award Winner 2001 

• Notre Dame Legal Association (1998-present) 

SELECTED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT  

• Member, Parents Council of Centre College, 2023 – Present 

• 2023 Cohort Member, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Connect Program 

• Former Member, Strategic Planning Committee of Saint Matthew School 

• Past Chair and Board Member, School Board of Christ the King School 

• Former Member, Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tennessee, 2007-2020 

• Raised more than $140,000 for the agency through the annual “Lawyers for Littles” Bowl for Kids’ Sake event he co-founded. 

• Past Board Chair and Member of the Father Ryan High School Alumni Board 

• Former Cubmaster of Pack 45 at Christ the King Church 

• Member of 2007 Class of Young Leaders Council (YLC) 

• Member of inaugural class of Nashville Emerging Leaders 

AWARDS & CERTIFICATIONS 

• Included in the 2024-2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation 

• Recognized as a “Superlawyer” by the Mid-South Edition of Super Lawyers Magazine in 2020 –2024 

• Recognized as a Top 100 Lawyers in Tennessee in 2024 by Super Lawyers Magazine 

• Recognized as a Top 50 Lawyer in Nashville in 2024 by Super Lawyers Magazine 

• Recognized as a “Rising Star” by the Mid-South Edition of Super Lawyers in 2011 and 2013 

• Received “AV Preeminent” rating from Martindale Hubbell 

• Recognized as 2023-2024 Client Champion, Platinum Distinction, by Martindale-Hubbell 

• Recognized as a Top-Rated Lawyer 2024 by Martindale-Avvo 

• Perfect 10 rating by Avvo.com 

• Fellow of the American Bar Foundation 

• Fellow of the Nashville Bar Association 

• Legal Process Improvement Professional (LPIP) certified 

• Vanderbilt Executive Education Leadership Coaching Graduate - 2023 

• Eagle Scout 

BAR ADMISSIONS 

• Tennessee 

COURT ADMISSIONS 

• Tennessee Supreme Court 

• United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee 

• United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee 

• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee 

• Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals 

• United States Supreme Court