Chris Williams is a civil trial lawyer. He has personally represented hundreds of individual, business, and local government and municipal clients throughout Tennessee. He has a strong reputation for winning high success for his clients, both in the courtroom and at the conference table, and is recognized for giving aggressive and client-focused service. Chris is best known as a no-nonsense family lawyer with a track record of victories in divorce and child custody cases. Beyond his domestic practice, he is often sought out to lead special projects and unique litigation, like election contests and eminent domain cases for county and city governments. 

 

As a Rule 31 listed general civil and domestic mediator with the Tennessee Supreme Court, he has participated in scores of mediations helping people settle claims and avoid the high costs and risks of trial, both as the impartial mediator and as counsel for individual parties. Chris is also listed by the Tennessee School Boards Association as an approved impartial hearing officer and administrative law judge for disputes between teachers, teacher unions, school administrators, and local school boards.

 

He has prepared and argued cases at every level in Tennessee, including the Court of Appeals and the Tennessee Supreme Court. In addition, Chris is admitted to practice in the federal court for the Middle District of Tennessee and the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. 

 

Chris is the county attorney for Giles County, Tennessee and the city attorneys for Lynnville and Elkton, Tennessee. Out of the office, he is adjunct faculty in American government, business law, and ethics in the University of Tennessee system, an ordained elder on the governing Session of the First Presbyterian Church of Pulaski, a past conflict mediator to the Pulaski District of the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church, a member of the Pulaski Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, and an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Chris has been selected to serve as District Governor for Rotary District 6760 (covering Middle and West Tennessee) in 2025-26 and as Moderator of the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee in 2026. 

 

You can follow Chris on Facebook, twitter and LinkedIn for his regular posts on trending family law and legal issues.

 

Background: 

     The University of the South at Sewanee 

     Varsity Football Team, Order of the Gownsmen, Chi Psi National Fraternity, Tonya Public Affairs Scholar 

 

     Samford University - Cumberland School of Law

     Tennessee Student Bar Association (President)

 

Teaching & Lecturing:

Adjunct Professor of Business Law and American Government, Martin Methodist College 

 

Professional Memberships & Affiliations:

Tennessee Bar Association, Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, Tennessee County Attorneys Association, Tennessee Association for Justice, American Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, Giles County and Lawrence County Bar Associations, Tennessee Council of School Board Attorneys, Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society

 

Honors & Recognitions:

Fellow, Tennessee Bar Foundation

Paul Harris Fellow and Paul Harris Society member, Rotary International

Certified Rule 31 Domestic and Civil Mediator, Tennessee Supreme Court

Education Administrative Hearing Officer, Listed Approved, Tenn. School Boards Association

 

Noteworthy Cases (listed professionally as J. Christopher Williams): 
Taylor v. Lawrence Co. Election Commission, et al., Tenn. Court of Appeals 
Barrett v. Giles Co. Election Commission, et al., Tenn. Court of Appeals
Lawrence Co. Educ. Assn. and Taylor v. Lawrence Co. Bd. of Education, et al., Tenn. Supreme Court
Wisdom v. Wonda Carroll Trucking, LLC, et al., Tenn. Court of Appeals
Town of Cornersville v. Harmon Scrap Metal, et al., Tenn. Court of Appeals
Huntsville Golf Development v. Brindley Construction, Inc., et al., U.S. Dist. Court for the Middle District of Tenn.
Keeton v. Daniel, Tenn. Court of Appeals