Thatcher Smith

A Chattanooga native, Thatcher M. Smith joined Warren & Griffin, P.C. in 2021, building a practice centered on advocacy for individuals and families harmed by the negligence of others. In just five years, he has recovered more than $15 million on behalf of his clients—a track record reflecting both the volume and complexity of the cases he takes on.

His caseload spans automobile, motorcycle and tractor-trailer collisions; premises liability; dog bite and animal attack claims; products liability and wrongful death. Thatcher has also developed particular depth in governmental tort claims, guiding clients through the procedural requirements of the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act and litigation before the Tennessee Claims Commission—an area of law that trips up many practitioners unfamiliar with its strict notice and filing deadlines. He is licensed to practice law in Tennessee, Alabama and North Carolina and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Tennessee.

Thatcher’s approach is grounded in accessibility and preparation. Clients navigating a serious injury are often contending with medical bills, lost income and an insurance company working against their interests; Thatcher’s role is to manage that pressure so his clients can focus on getting better, while he builds the strongest case available—from the earliest investigation through trial, if a fair resolution can’t be reached beforehand.

Thatcher is a respected member of the plaintiffs’ bar, named to The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40 and active in the Chattanooga Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the Alabama Bar Association and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.

A frequent guest on Chattanooga television—including Let’s Chatt, 3 Plus You and This ‘N That—Thatcher speaks often on personal injury and safety issues such as distracted driving. That same commitment to public education carries over to social media, where he shares practical guidance on personal injury law with followers at @thatchersmithlaw.

Thatcher graduated first in his class, with highest honors, from the Duncan School of Law at Lincoln Memorial University, where he collected 16 CALI Excellence for the Future Awards—one for each course in which he earned the top grade—and was presented the Lincoln Lawyer Award for Outstanding Character at graduation. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, following his graduation from Boyd Buchanan High School.

A lifelong Chattanoogan, Thatcher now lives in the area with his wife, Jenny. Away from the practice, he’s an avid hockey and football fan who values time spent with family.