Paul A. Gontarek - a Nashville, Tennessee (TN) Estate and Trust Litigation Lawyer

Nashville Estate and Trust Litigation Lawyer

Updated: 03/10/2026

Areas of Practice

Estate and Trust Litigation
Estate and Trust Administration
Fiduciary Compliance
Conservatorships and Guardianships
Commercial Litigation

Attorney Information

Overview

Paul Gontarek is a member of Mobley & Gontarek, PLLC and concentrates his practice in the area of trust and estate litigation as well as probate and trust administration. His principal clients include financial institutions and fiduciaries (both corporate and individual), as well as families, individuals, charities or other entities that are beneficiaries of trusts and estates. He also represents creditors in actions against estates and trusts.

Over the past eleven years, Mr. Gontarek has represented multiple banking institutions and trust companies in lawsuits alleging breach of fiduciary duty related to the management and administration of a trust and/or estate. Mr. Gontarek's trust and estate experience also includes the representation of families, individuals, charities and other entities in will contests; court actions to clarify, interpret or refine specific provisions of wills and trusts; requests to the court on behalf of trustees for instruction and direction; litigation to terminate or reorganize trust instruments; litigation to nullify lifetime transfers because of undue influence; elective share litigation; and litigation to settle distributive rights to beneficiaries in both trust and estate settings.

Additionally, Mr. Gontarek provides representation to families and individuals seeking to obtain conservatorships or guardianships over disabled individuals.

While at his former firm, Mr. Gontarek was part of a team of attorneys that successfully represented the State of Tennessee in its efforts to return the $100 million Maddox Foundation to Tennessee after its controversial move to Mississippi. The Maddox Foundation case involved litigation in trial and appellate courts in three states and garnered extensive media attention, including coverage in the New York Times.

Awards and Honors

Honors

Best Lawyers in America® (2013 - 2024) in the Litigation – Trust and Estates category
Graduate, Leadership Law Program of the Tennessee Bar Association, 2004

Education

Legal Education
- Vanderbilt University Law School, Nashville, Tennessee, 1999
  J.D.
Non Legal Education
- Baylor University, Waco, Texas, 1996
  B.B.A.

Current Employment Position(s)

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Partner
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Past Positions

Gideon & Wiseman PLC, Nashville, TN, Associate
Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis LLP, Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, Partner

Pro Bono Activities

Past President, Secretary, General Counsel and Executive Committee Member, Outlook Nashville
Former Board Member and Executive Committee Member, First Steps. Inc.

Representative Cases

State of Tennessee v. Maddox Foundation, 216 S.W. 3d 758 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006)
In re Estate of Grass, 2008 WL 2343068, (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008)
In re Estate of Shults, 2008 Tenn. App. LEXIS 96 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008)
In re Cannon Family Trust, 2012 Tenn. App. LEXIS 834 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2012)
Daugherty v. Doyle, 2014 Tenn. App. LEXIS 750 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014)
In re Estate of Wair, 2014 Tenn. App. LEXIS 424 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014)
Hanover Ins. Co. v. Clemmons, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 135966 (Sept. 30, 2016)
In re Estate of Link, 2017 Tenn. App. LEXIS 673 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2017)
In re Estate of Donald Cowan, 2020 Tenn. App. LEXIS 384 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2020)
In re Trust of Katherine D. Graham, 2022 Tenn. App. LEXIS 442 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2022)

Bar Admissions

Tennessee
U.S. District Court Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee

Other Affiliations

Nashville Bar Association, Probate Court Committee, 2008 - 2017 (Chair)
Tennessee Bar Association, Probate Court Committee (Member)
Nashville Bar Association (Member)
Tennessee Bar Association (Member)
Tennessee Bar Journal Editorial Board, 2010 - 2022 (Member)

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Contact

Nashville, TN

2319 Crestmoor Road
Nashville, TN 37215

Directions

Phone: 615-704-4837

Fax: 615-627-4448

Email: Send a message

Website: https://www.mglawtn.com/

Free Consultations

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Paul A. Gontarek - Nashville, TN