Paul A. Matthews

Paul A. Matthews

Memphis, TN recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018
Harris Shelton PLLC

32 Best Lawyers awards

Harris Shelton PLLC logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Corporate Law

Biography

Paul A. Matthews is an attorney in Memphis, Tennessee with more than four decades of experience representing businesses, organizations, and individuals in state and federal courts. At Harris Shelton PLLC, his practice includes Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Corporate Law, business and commercial litigation, and matters involving trade associations. His work regularly involves assisting companies with corporate governance, resolving commercial disputes, and addressing financial restructuring and creditor rights issues.

Paul earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University, where he led the History Majors Union and served as an officer in student government. He received his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School and served as chief justice of the school’s Moot Court Board. Before joining Harris Shelton PLLC in 2022, Paul practiced for 29 years with Armstrong Allen, PLLC in Memphis and was previously a senior partner at Bourland Heflin Alvarez Minor & Matthews.

In addition to his legal practice, Paul has long been involved in civic and community organizations in Memphis and throughout Tennessee. He previously served four five-year terms on the Tennessee Historical Commission and has been active with the Duke University Alumni Club of Memphis, including serving as president. He is also a graduate of Leadership Memphis (Class of 1987) and has served the community through roles such as YMCA youth group leader and vestry member and youth basketball coach at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion in Memphis.

Paul currently serves on the Shelby County Conservation Board and is president of the Rural Heritage Trust of Southwest Tennessee. He is also secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Mid-South Public Communications Foundation, the owner and operator of WKNO-TV and WKNO-FM, and serves on the board of advisors of St. Mary’s Episcopal School.

Harris Shelton PLLC

32 Best Lawyers awards

Harris Shelton PLLC logo

Overview

  • English

  • Vanderbilt University, J.D., graduated 1977
  • Duke University, B.A., graduated 1974

  • Tennessee, 1977
  • Mississippi, 2011

  • Memphis Bar Association - Board of Directors, Chairman, Member, various years
  • American Board of Certification - Board of Directors (2012-13)
  • Memphis Bar Foundation - Fellow (2007)
  • Tennessee Bar Foundation - Fellow (2002)

  • U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Western District of Tennessee, 1977
  • U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern District of Tennessee, 1991
  • U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, 1995
  • U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Middle District of Tennessee, 1998
  • U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, 2000 and 2011
  • U.S. Court of Claims, 1980
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1991
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2011
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1998
  • English
  • Tennessee, 1977
  • Mississippi, 2011
  • Memphis Bar Association - Board of Directors, Chairman, Member, various years
  • American Board of Certification - Board of Directors (2012-13)
  • Memphis Bar Foundation - Fellow (2007)
  • Tennessee Bar Foundation - Fellow (2002)
  • Vanderbilt University, J.D., graduated 1977
  • Duke University, B.A., graduated 1974
  • U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Western District of Tennessee, 1977
  • U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern District of Tennessee, 1991
  • U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, 1995
  • U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Middle District of Tennessee, 1998
  • U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, 2000 and 2011
  • U.S. Court of Claims, 1980
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1991
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2011
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1998

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Corporate Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Bankruptcy
  • Nonprofit / Charities Law
Special Focus:
  • Chapter 12
  • Commercial

Additional Information

  • Publications
  • Contributing editor of five editions of Martindale-Hubbell Tennessee Law Digest
  • Other published writings include two books; articles on legal subjects in Tennessee Bar Journal, The Daily News, Memphis Business Journal, Memphis Health Care News, and Tennessee Realtor Magazine; and articles on historical subjects in the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture and The Journal of East Tennessee History.

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