Business Details
48 Years
experience
Trusted Legal Solutions for Dispute Resolution
With over 38 years of legal experience, Joe Manuel is a Certified Civil Trial Specialist dedicated to resolving disputes through mediation, arbitration, and litigation. As one of Tennessee's most skilled legal professionals, he combines deep expertise in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) with a commitment to personalized client service. Joe's practice emphasizes business mediation, divorce/family mediation, and small business law, informed by his role as a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Listed Mediator and arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. He has authored the Tennessee Alternative Dispute Resolution Handbook and created the ADR Professor Series of continuing legal education courses, establishing himself as a thought leader in ADR.His approach prioritizes client control over outcomes while maintaining the integrity of ongoing relationships. Joe's career began in 1978, and he has maintained an active trial practice in Tennessee and Georgia, earning recognition from the National Board of Trial Advocacy. His office in Chattanooga, TN, serves clients seeking solutions that balance legal rigor with practical problem-solving.
Services
Business Mediation
Divorce Mediation
Arbitration Services
Legal Consultation
Small Business Law
Details
- Year established: 1978
Highlights and features
- 38+ years of legal experience in Tennessee and Georgia
- Certified Civil Trial Specialist by TN Commission and NBTA
- Pioneer of Tennessee's ADR education programs since 1999
- Author of state ADR Handbook and mediation ethics courses
- Maintains active trial practice alongside mediation expertise
Associations and certifications
- National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Tennessee Commission on CLE & Specialization
- American Arbitration Association
- Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Listed Mediator
What people say
Deep legal expertise
Effective mediation approach
Protects client interests
Preserves relationships
Trusted advisor
Services
Business Mediation
Business mediation resolves commercial disputes while maintaining professional relationships. This service offers structured negotiations for companies and individuals with ongoing partnerships. Clients benefit from customized solutions that avoid costly litigation while preserving business continuity through private, controlled dispute resolution processes.
Divorce Mediation
Divorce mediation provides forward-looking solutions for ending marriages while addressing child custody and property division. This process empowers couples to create personalized parenting plans rather than having decisions imposed by courts. It focuses on maintaining family relationships through non-adversarial conflict resolution techniques.
Arbitration Services
Arbitration services deliver binding resolutions for complex legal conflicts across employment, construction, and commercial matters. With 50+ cases handled since 1992, this service combines formal decision-making with specialized expertise in areas like insurance disputes and executive compensation agreements.
Legal Consultation
Legal consultation covers business formation, estate planning, and dispute prevention strategies. Services include will preparation, business entity selection, and contract guidance tailored to Tennessee's legal requirements while addressing long-term asset protection and operational needs.
Small Business Law
Small business law services address entity formation, contract disputes, and employment issues for local entrepreneurs. This includes advising on liability protection structures and insurance requirements while providing ongoing legal support for operational challenges and growth strategies.
People
Joe Manuel
Certified Civil Trial Specialist
With 38+ years of legal experience, Joe Manuel is a National Board of Trial Advocacy-certified civil trial specialist and pioneer in Tennessee's alternative dispute resolution field since 1991.
Questions
What dispute resolution methods do you offer?
We provide mediation, arbitration, and traditional litigation services, helping clients choose the most appropriate method based on their specific situation and relationship needs.
How does mediation differ from arbitration?
Mediation facilitates negotiated settlements with client control over outcomes, while arbitration involves a neutral third party making binding decisions after reviewing evidence from both sides.
Do you handle out-of-state cases?
Our primary focus is Tennessee and Georgia cases, with court admissions in multiple districts across both states and experience handling interstate business disputes.
What small business services do you provide?
We assist with business formation, contract disputes, employment issues, and liability protection strategies tailored to Tennessee's legal requirements for local entrepreneurs.
How are legal fees structured?
Most estate planning services use flat fees, while dispute resolution services charge hourly rates. We provide detailed cost estimates before beginning any representation.
Can mediation really preserve relationships?
Yes - our mediation process maintains business and family relationships through collaborative problem-solving, avoiding the adversarial nature of traditional litigation that often damages ongoing connections.
Reviews (2)
Ed McNair
Apr 20, 2021
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Joe Manuel has served my family over the past three years beginning as the personal attorney of my brother-in-law, then as Estate Attorney following my brother-in-laws death and our personal attorney during resolution of property issues also resulting from my brother-in-laws death. I have consulted with two other attorneys in the past and neither worked as closely with me nor been as available as Joe. His principal strengths are his understanding of complex family issues as well as his ability to sort out complex business relationships. Once he understands the issues, he uses this understanding
Todd A. Couvillon
Dec 02, 2018
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Excellent mediator. We have used him in numerous cases, and it has always been a great experience for us and our client. Most cases he has mediated were successfully resolved.
