Matthew Todd Sandahl

I did not grow up in a military family, but I am often asked that question.  Instead, my father was a college and professional football coach.  I lived in ten (10) states from Mississippi to Washington state to California and New York with many states in between before I was eighteen (18) years old.  Consequently, I appreciate all parts of our great country and the different backgrounds and experiences that people share with me every day.  During my upbringing, I learned to adapt to many different situations.  After all, the Southern culture is much different than California and New York. 

I attended many different schools and had great difficulty deciding what I wanted to do when I grew up.  I also really enjoyed athletics and had great dreams to be a professional athlete.  I happened to be living in Buffalo, New York when I graduated from high school and started my college education at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York playing football.  I finished my first degree at the University of Mississippi in English.   I played football at Ole Miss for one (1) year as an ineligible transfer, but during that year I discovered the Greek life and focused on my social life.

After graduating from Ole Miss, the opportunities afforded an English graduate were not appealing to me.  As a result, on the advice of my grandfather and uncle, I enrolled in the accounting program at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee.  Christian Brothers was the only school willing to allow me to complete the requirements for the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) exam in a calendar year.  It was a difficult program, but I completed the necessary accounting hours and accepted an associate accountant position with Coopers & Lybrand (n/k/a PricewaterhouseCoopers) in Memphis.

My experience at Coopers & Lybrand was an incredible opportunity to learn about many different businesses and people.  I traveled the United States providing auditing and consulting services to clients.  However, as I worked on initial public offerings for our clients, I realized that the legal side of professional service was more suitable to my interests and professional development. 

In 1997, I completed my law school education at the University of Mississippi.  It was a great experience returning to school.  In fact, I enjoyed school so much that I continued in a graduate English program upon my graduation from law school.  I worked in the Dean of Students Office at the University of Mississippi and coordinated sorority rush while pursuing my Masters in English.  It was a great Fall semester until my girlfriend (now wife) told me that I needed to get a real job.

My pursuit of a real job brought us to Nashville.  I have called Nashville and Middle Tennessee home for almost eighteen (18) years.  Our three (3) children keep us running all over town with their many interests.

My law practice has evolved over the years.  I started my legal career defending physicians in medical malpractice cases.  I worked in small litigation firm before making the decision to practice as a sole practitioner in 2003.  I have been asked to represent people in all types of conflict situations including domestic relations, criminal defense, civil and commercial litigation and probate matters.  I also assist people with estate planning and advisory services.  My diverse professional background affords me the ability to share my knowledge with clients by delivering straightforward practical advice and solutions.  I continue to maintain my Tennessee CPA license in addition to my Mississippi law license.  I am still hoping for a case in Oxford during football season.  Due to the nature of my practice, I rarely have a conflict that prevents me from discussing your case and I do not have any insurance or corporate clients to prevent me from providing an honest answer to your question.