Matt Potempa | Estate Lawyer in Tennessee

About Matt Potempa

Matt’s practice has been devoted exclusively to probate and trust litigation for over twelve years. In addition to being a trial lawyer, Matt is a mediator in the area of probate litigation and also an adjunct law professor at Belmont University College of Law.

A native Memphian, Matt received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Memphis in 2003 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. Matt studied international and comparative law at University College Dublin School of Law, the University of Edinburgh Law School and the European Union Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. The experience ignited a lifetime passion for travel that has since taken Matt to more than 35 countries around the globe.

In 2008, Matt founded the Law Office of Matt Potempa, PLLC focusing on resolving probate, matrimonial and business disputes.

Matt is active in and a Fellow of the Nashville, Tennessee and American Bar Associations and has received numerous accolades for his service to the public and the legal profession.

The Nashville Post named Matt as a “Law Leader Rising” in 2012. The Nashville Chamber of Commerce awarded him their Emerging Leader Award in the Legal Services category in 2015. He has been named “Best of the Bar” by the Nashville Business Journal from 2016 through 2023 and designated a “Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters from 2016 through 2023, a distinction achieved by less than 5% of Tennessee attorneys.

Matt is a frequent lecturer for the Nashville, Tennessee and American Bar Associations as well as LexisNexis and the Nashville Business Institute on topics related to Probate Administration and Litigation, Law Practice Management, Client Relations, Professional Ethics and Law Office Technology.

Matt is a founding partner at MHPS.

With an office located in the heart of Hillsboro Village near downtown Nashville, MHPS Law focuses on providing Estate and Trust Planning, Family Wealth Preservation, Probate and Business Litigation and Conflict Resolution, Conservatorships and Guardianships as well as Family Law and Personal Injury.

Matt and his wife Kate live in the Historic Belmont neighborhood with their three sons, Philip, Patrick and Penn.

Education

J.D., University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas

B.A., University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee

International Education

University College Dublin School of Law

University of Edinburgh Law School

European Union Headquarters

Professional Honors & Awards

Rule 31 Mediator designation by the Tennessee Supreme Court
Designated as a “Super Lawyer” by Thomas Reuters, 2016 through 2022
Nashville Business Journal, “Best of the Bar” 2016 through 2022
Inducted as a Fellow to the Nashville Bar Foundation, 2016
Inducted as a Fellow to the American Bar Foundation, 2016
Tennessee Supreme Court, Board of Professional Responsibility, 2012-2019 Hearing Panel Member
Nashville Post, January 2012 named one of twenty “Law Leaders Rising”
2013 Recipient, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce: Emerging Leader Award Winner in Legal Services Category

Nashville Bar Association

2018 – Representative to American Bar Association House of Delegates
2016 – First Vice President
2012-2016 – Member, Governance Committee
2012-2016 – Member, Board of Directors
2015-2016 – Member, Technology Committee
2010 – President’s Award for Bar-at-Large
2010 – Young Lawyers Division Leadership Award
2010 – Disaster Legal Services Coordinator in response to May floods
2010-2012 – Solo/Small Firm Committee, Founder and Co-Chair
2010-2011 – Modest Means Panel Member
2010-2011 – Lawyers Care Committee, Co-Chair
2009-2010 – Non-Profit Showcase Founder (in conjunction with Young Leaders Council and Center for Nonprofit Management)
2008-2010 – Young Lawyers Division Board Member

Tennessee Bar Association

June 2013 – Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law (TBALL) Graduate
January 2008, January 2009, June 2010, June 2011 and June 2012 – Star of the Quarter Award, Young Lawyers Division
2009-2013 – Disaster Legal Services Committee Member
2009-2013 – Representative to American Bar Association
2008-2009 – Tennessee Continuing Legal Education Chair
June 2008 – President’s Special Recognition Award
2007-2008 – Continuing Legal Education, Middle Tennessee Chair
2008 – 2010 – Young Lawyers Division Board Member
2009-2010 – Transitional Legal Education Co-Chair
2008-2010 – Continuing Legal Education Board Member

American Bar Association

2016-2019 – Law Practice Division, Lawyer Wellness Committee Vice Chair
2017-2019 – Law Practice Division, Outreach Committee Vice Chair
2015-2016 – Law Practice Division Fellow
2011-2012 – Nashville Conference Host Committee Chair – secured and organized Nashville as host site for ABA YLD’s Spring 2012 meeting
2011-2012 – National Public Service Project Coordinator – Design and implementation of national pro-bono initiative “Project Salute: Young Lawyers Serving Veterans”
2010 – National Outstanding Young Lawyer Nominee
2009-2011 – Judicial Division Council Member
2009-2011 – Young Lawyers Division District Representative (Tennessee and Kentucky)
Responsible for coordinating pro-bono legal services with FEMA in response to federally-declared disasters
2008-2010 – International Law Section, Lawyers Lifestyle Taskforce Advisory Board Member

Civic Affiliations

Phoenix Club of Nashville, Recipient of Emeritus Award 2019
Belcourt Theater, Board of Directors 2018 – 2019
Nashville Chamber of Commerce, Judge of Emerging Leader Awards’ Legal Services, 2014-2016
Young Leaders Council – Alumnus, Class 56, Spring 2011
Belcourt Theater – 2011-2012, Board Member
Phoenix Club of Nashville
- 2015-2016 – Board Member, Liaison to PENCIL Foundation of Nashville
- 2009-2012 – Board Member

Publications

Author: “Protect Your Freedom and Fortune by Executing a Durable Power of Attorney”, Forward Focus, Spring 2010.
Tennessee Bar Association, Leadership Law, CLE Presentation: “Ethics of Social Networking for Lawyers”, May 2010.
LexisNexis, CLE Presentation: “Ethical Concerns of Social Networking for Lawyers”, May 2010.
Tennessee Bar Association, Tenn Bar U Webcast CLE Presentation: “Introduction to Social Networking for Lawyers”, August 2009.
Author: Misconceptions in the Generation Gap: The Times They are a’ Changin’, Tennessee Young Lawyer, Volume 3, Issue 4, Summer 2008.

Presentations

American Bar Association, Law Practice Division, TED Talk “Building the Practice of your Dreams”, October 2019
Nashville Bar Association, CLE Presentation: Closing the Deal: Conveying Real Estate With and Without the Probate Court, August 2019
M. Lee Smith Publishers, Law Conference for Tennessee Practitioners, CLE Presentation: “Probate Process Overview”, November 2018 and 2019
Tennessee Bar Association, CLE Presentation: “Wellness for Our Profession; Science Based Strategies that Work”, December, 2017
American Bar Association, Law Practice Today Article: “Tips for Dealing with Difficult People”, August 2017
Tennessee Bar Association, CLE Presentation: “Everything you Need to Know to Go Solo”, February 2017, February 2018
Tennessee Bar Association, CLE Webcast Presentation: “Conflicts and Confidentiality for New Lawyers”, November 2016
American Bar Association Law Practice Division Member Spotlight – Featured Attorney, March 2016
American Bar Association, Center for Professional Development, CLE Webinar: “Mind Your Own Business: Just DO IT! Tips for Understanding What Your Law Firm Needs from You”, November, 2015
Tennessee Attorneys Memo, CLE Presentation: “The Probate Process”, November 2015
National Business Institute, CLE Presentation “The Ultimate Guide to Probate”, May 2015
Nashville Bar Foundation 2015 Leadership Class, “Finding a Method to the Madness”, March 2015
University of Tennessee College of Law, “Leadership and Leaving a Lasting Legacy”, August 2014
National Business Institute, CLE Presentation: Probate Bootcamp, “Educating the Personal Representative” and “Spouse’s Elective Share vs. Second Probate”, May 2014 – December2015
Tennessee Bar Association, CLE Ethics Presentation: “Opening a Law Practice and Getting New Business”, February 2014
Tennessee Bar Association, CLE Presentation: Transactional Practice “Probate: A Practical Primer”, October 2013
Nashville Bar Association, CLE Presentation: “Impact of New Conservatorship Legislation”, October 2013
University of Tennessee College of Law, Lecture to Leadership Class: “Leadership and Leaving a Lasting Legacy”, August 2013
Middle Tennessee Paralegal Association, Lunch and Learn Presentation: “Maintaining a Healthy Work-Life Balance While Thriving in a Law Firm”, March 2013
Tennessee Bar Association, CLE Presentation: “Law Practice Succession for Small Firms or Solo Practitioners”, September 2012
Tennessee Attorneys Memo, CLE Presentation: “Social Networking for Lawyers: Proceed With Caution”, November 2011
American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, National Teleconference Presentation: “Integrating Pro Bono Into Your Practice”, September 2011.
Tennessee Bar Association, General Practice Bootcamp, CLE Presentation: “Opportunity for New Business: Maintaining a Steady Stream of New Clients”, August 2011.
Tennessee Bar Association, CLE Presentation: Transitional Legal Education for New Bar Admittees: Beginning and Ending the Lawyer/Client Relationship, June 2011, November 2011, June 2012, November 2012 and June 2013
American Bar Association/Federal Emergency Management Association Annual Training, Chicago, IL, “When Disaster Strikes: Mobilizing Disaster Legal Services”, June 2011.

Testimonials

“MHPS is a top-notch estate planning firm. My firm works exclusively with affluent clients as a personal risk manager and insurance broker, so I get to see the work of many various attorneys. I’ve spent a significant amount of time interviewing estate attorneys looking for ones that understand their important role in overall risk management strategy for clients and MHPS is easily a favorite because of their expertise. Unlike many generalist attorneys, Dave Heller is on another level of expertise. He has been instrumental in explaining and teaching me his thoughts and techniques for estate planning. He’s always helpful in discussing ideas and strategies for my clients. Very few attorneys I’ve met with can do this and understand its importance in asset protection for clients. I’ve also known Matt Potempa as a friend for over 20 years and before he went to law school. While I haven’t needed his expertise for disputing an estate, I’m more than confident in his abilities. I’ve always respected him as a smart guy and with his niche focus, I would recommend him without hesitation.” – Ryan

“I refer my large estate and trust clients to Dave Heller on the regular. If there is a will dispute – Matt Potempa is the man! This is a great firm with great attorneys! As an attorney, I’m happy to highly recommend this firm.” – Grover

“This is the first time I have ever needed a lawyer, and it was for an unusual will change that occurred the day before a tragic accident. One always hears all these lawyer jokes, none of these would be appropriate. Matt was always there, a phone call away, I always felt like he was honest, and really did care about what was going on, I never felt like I was “just a client”. I would highly recommend him to anyone needing an attorney. He made me feel like my case was important to him. This was so reassuring as I had no idea what was going on. Thank you, Matt.” – Michael D.

“Matt Potempa put me at ease during my entire legal probate process. He was very good at defusing situations. I highly recommend him if you need an attorney. I have high expectations of attorneys. He fulfilled desired results.” – Anonymous

“Matt provided outstanding legal guidance and always made smart and thoughtful recommendations during lengthy, and often tense family litigation. Matt was extremely professional and easy to speak with throughout the entire process. He was very responsive via email and phone whenever I had questions and compassionate when I was stressed. He always took the time to break down complex legal procedures in an easy to understand way. I would highly recommend Matt and his firm to anyone looking for solid Trust and Estate Litigation representation in Tennessee.” – Richard

“Matt is a tremendous attorney with a good heart. We came to him at a very emotional time for our family and he was able to help us navigate the legal system with a guardianship case. He, and his team, kept us informed, communicated with us every step of the way, addressed all our questions and concerns in a timely manner and left no stone unturned. We cannot say enough good things about Matt and would recommend him, without any hesitation, to anyone needing a probate attorney.” – Susanna