Bruce M. Smith

Jeff Weintraub is the managing partner of the Memphis office. He is a trial attorney who has represented employers in more than 59 jury and bench trials in the private and public sectors in employment-harassment/discrimination and retaliatory discharge lawsuits alleging violations of public policies and statutes, such as the False Claims Act. Jeff also handles Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charges, wage and hour cases, labor cases, and enforcing non-competes in all federal an...

Joe is an AV-Rated attorney in our Tax and Business Services Groups. With extensive background in estate and trust planning and tax, he was named (1 of 3 Tennessee Lawyers) in J.K. Lasser’s book, Estate Planning for Baby Boomers and Retirees.

Joshua B. Lawhead is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice and Real Estate Law. Joshua B., who practices law in Memphis, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joshua B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David J. Harris is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance and Litigation - Bankruptcy. David J., who practices law in Memphis, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David J. is held by other top lawyers i...

Michael G. McLaren is a partner at Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee, P.C. He practices in the areas of federal and state litigation, commercial litigation, professional liability, insurance coverage, environmental law, and vaccine law. Mike has been admitted to the Tennessee Bar, U.S. Claims Court, U.S. District Court for the Western and Middle Districts of Tennessee, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, and the U.S. Supre...

Doug is a member of Butler Snow’s Business Services Group. He is a trusted advisor to financial institutions and corporate clients, with a practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, securities law and regulatory compliance. Doug counsels banks, holding companies and other businesses on complex transactions and compliance matters involving federal and state regulatory agencies. He also provides strategic guidance to boards of directors and senior executives navigating critical busines...

Harley Steffens’ practice, though focused in real estate, has included general corporate transactions, health care, and securities matters. Harley represents commercial real estate developers, public and private corporations, investment companies, family offices, and lending institutions including state and national banks and insurance companies. Development clients include local, regional, and national developers, as well as landlord and tenants in retail, industrial, and office leases...

Jay Ebelhar guides company leadership through lawsuits and administrative proceedings to resolve complex employment disputes. He acts as a go-to resource for the full spectrum of employment matters, from harassment and discrimination claims to wage and hour challenges. Utilizing this varied experience, Jay partners with employers to explore options and develop sound strategies that manage risk in line with their organizational goals. Whether this means taking a case through trial or resolving...

Drew Raines is exclusively dedicated to the representation of taxpayers through the property tax appeal process. His background in the fine arts allows him to approach the law from a unique perspective and mine previously unexplored possibilities in the seemingly limited world of property tax rules. Mr. Raines received a B.F.A. from Memphis College of Art in 2007 with dual emphases in photography and printmaking, and a minor in art history. In 2008, he graduated from the University of Memphis...

After graduating from the University of Virginia Law School in 1975, Mr. Cocke moved to Clarksdale, MS to begin practicing in a general litigation firm. In 1982, Mr. Cocke and Mr. Merkel left that firm and established Merkel & Cocke, P.A., and since that time the emphasis of Mr. Cocke's practice has progressed more and more toward medical malpractice. At the present time his practice is exclusively devoted to handling medical negligence cases for the plaintiff, either as a result of direc...