AREAS OF PRACTICE

Republic Centre
633 Chestnut Street, Suite 900
Chattanooga TN, 37450

Matt Wayne

Of Counsel

Matt Wayne is a construction and business litigator who represents businesses, professionals, and individuals in complex matters throughout Tennessee and Georgia.

Matt’s construction practice spans the life of a project—from contract drafting and negotiation through permitting, licensing, project counseling, site inspections, investigations, payment claims, liens, litigation, and arbitration. Equally comfortable on a jobsite or in a courtroom, he represents owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, suppliers, and specialty trades. His experience includes disputes involving defective work and design, delays and disruptions, changes in scope, payment and retainage, contractor licensing, code compliance, and breach of contract. He also advises clients on the day-to-day legal and practical issues that arise during active projects.

Beyond construction, Matt handles commercial disputes across a range of industries, including matters involving contracts, business torts, restrictive covenants, and employment issues. He regularly advises privately held and family-owned businesses on litigation, risk management, and the legal issues that accompany operating and growing a business.

Matt takes a hands-on approach to representation. He works to understand each client’s people, projects, operations, and objectives before developing a strategy. Clients value his direct advice, responsiveness, and ability to translate complicated legal and factual issues into practical guidance that supports clear business decisions.

Matt is an Associate Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America, an invitation-only organization whose membership is limited to 1,200 construction-law practitioners worldwide. He has also served as Pupillage Group Leader for the Justices Ray L. Brock Jr.–Robert E. Cooper American Inn of Court, supporting the Inn’s commitment to professionalism, civility, and mentorship. Matt is a member of the Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Georgia Bar Associations and has been selected as a Mid-South Rising Star in Construction litigation by Super Lawyers since 2023.

Raised in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, Matt earned his J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where he served as Research Editor of the Tennessee Law Review. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Before entering private practice, Matt gained experience with the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and as a judicial law clerk.

Matt’s community involvement has included leadership roles with Chattanooga Rotaract and service to the UTC Alumni Board, the Chattanooga Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division, and other local organizations. He also supports a scholarship for college-bound graduates of South Pittsburg High School.



Outside the office, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife, Hannah, and their daughter, Adelynn, following Tennessee football, CrossFit, and reading presidential biographies.