About Matt

When people hear the name “The Volunteer State,” most probably conjure up an image of the University of Tennessee Volunteers, clad in their iconic orange and white. Fewer know that Tennessee actually earned the nickname ‘The Volunteer State’ because of Tennesseans’ eagerness to step forward to serve during the War of 1812. Fewer still use that knowledge to shape their career. 

Growing up, Tennessee native (and huge Vols fan) Matt Holman was inspired by these acts of service and bravery. He, too, felt a calling to step forward and serve, though not in war, as his fellow Tennesseans had 200 years ago. He knew his calling was to serve by being a voice for others in his community. “I wanted the opportunity to help people,” says Holman. “I knew I could make a real difference in the lives of others.”

Volunteer State of Mind

Born and raised in the Birthplace of Rock n’ Roll, Memphis, Matt’s educational and professional journey has led him all across the Volunteer State. Matt has also lived in Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and, most recently, Clarksville. Not many people can claim that they’ve lived in their state’s 5 largest cities, but Matt can.

According to Matt, the opportunity to immerse himself in so many different Tennessee communities firsthand has given him a unique perspective. It has been invaluable to his practice, helping him better connect with and advocate for his clients.

Though he has called almost half a dozen different Tennessee cities home at one point or another, Matt actually attended undergrad out of state. After high school, he headed south, attending Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi, a town just outside the state capital of Jackson. He went on to graduate summa cum laude with a degree in Business Administration with a Concentration in Sports Management.

After completing his undergraduate degree, the native Tennessean returned to his home state and officially became a Tennessee Volunteer, attending the University of Tennessee College of Law in Knoxville. He received his law degree and graduated magna cum laude, and worked as a Student Attorney in UT’s Legal Clinic. He also served as a Research Editor for The Tennessee Journal of Business Law, the Social Chair for Tennessee’s Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and a Representative for the Christian Legal Society. Here he received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Torts II, Professional Responsibility, Investigatory Criminal Procedure, and Advocacy Clinic.

Drawn to Litigation

Matt’s prior experience includes working in-house for a large corporation, volunteering as a judicial intern, and working in private practice on cases including criminal defense, family law, and civil litigation. While he enjoyed all of these areas of practice, he was particularly drawn to the field of litigation. “I love advocating for other people and coming up with creative solutions to solve difficult problems,” says Matt. 

Matt joined Batson Nolan in 2022, where he currently works in the firm’s litigation group. When asked why he likes working at Batson Nolan, Matt replied, “I like the opportunity to work alongside great attorneys who have years of experience and who are great at what they do.” 

An avid Vols and Braves fan, in his free time, Matt enjoys attending various sporting events and hiking with his dog.

Publications:
  • Case Commentary: Matthew Holman, The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that Tenn. Code Annotated § 57-4-306 does not require municipalities to distribute liquor-by-the-drink tax proceeds to their respective counties, 21 Tenn. J.Bus. L. 415 (2020)
  • Article: Matthew A. Holman, Physicians, Patients, and the Transgender Child: Does the State Have a Legitimate Interest in Prohibiting Gender-Affirming Treatment in Minors?, 56 Family Law Quarterly, no. 1, 2022, at 95.