Helena Butolen

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...

Fred A. Ricks, Jr. has over twenty-five years of experience representing clients in all aspects of labor and employment matters throughout the United States. Fred’s employment law practice encompasses a full range of employment law matters including state and federal employment discrimination laws, wage and hour, wrongful discharge and employee benefit claims. His practice includes planning and consulting work designed to prevent labor and employment law claims against clients. Fred als...

Cullen Wojcik is a multifaceted, highly successful criminal defense lawyer. He joined Knox Defense in 2019 and focuses his practice on defense of state and federal court prosecutions. He is a 2011 graduate of the University of California Hastings College of Law in San Francisco and a UC Hastings Bridge Fellow where he served as a post-bar certified law clerk with the Knox County Public Defender’s office before opening his own practice. Cullen is a member of the Tennessee Supreme Court, ...

Leslie Diaz earned a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida, and a Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law in 2000. Leslie served as a Staff Attorney for the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, where she learned firsthand how the federal courts analyze and decide immigration issues. She has been practicing immigration law since 2005. Leslie practices immigration law exclusively, specializing in removal defense, family-based immigration, and federal and ap...

Jeff Shear is a member of the firm's Real Estate Practice Group, where he represents a wide variety of stakeholders, ranging from developers and lenders to institutional investors regarding real estate acquisitions, dispositions, financing and lending. For developer representation, Jeff handles all aspects of commercial and residential real estate projects, including acquisitions, zoning and permitting, financing, and disposition. He also represents buyers and sellers in commercial real estat...

Barry Landsberg is a health industry litigation partner, who has made landmark law for hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare providers and insurers. Barry has also won several first-impression cases for hospitals before the California Supreme Court and the California Court of Appeal. Barry handles cases and appeals of complex business and health regulatory litigation disputes arising under the Unfair Competition Law, the anti-kickback statutes, the False Claims Act, and RICO, as well...

Poonam G. Kumar is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Poonam G., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Poonam G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

LaVerne Woods is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Nonprofit / Charities Law and Tax Law. LaVerne, who practices law in Seattle, Washington, has been recognized since 2001. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which LaVerne is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michelle Floyd is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Michelle, who practices law in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michelle is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David M. Wildstein is a shareholder at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A., where he built a successful and respected Family Law practice. For over 40 years, he has represented clientele that ranges from stay-at-home mothers to high-net-worth individuals in connection with their matrimonial disputes, including custody, spousal support, equitable distribution of assets, and prenuptial agreements. Mr. Wildstein has been a member of several New Jersey Supreme Court Committees that shaped the Ru...