John Howell III

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...

Margaret Oertling Cupples writes briefs and motions, and manages other lawyers who write them, in civil appeals and commercial litigation. As litigators and their clients know, a vanishingly small percentage of cases actually get to trial; for the rest, a great brief is the way to win. As national legal writing counsel in major litigation for 3M Company, Margaret’s individual contributions and her strong collaboration with colleagues have brought significant value to 3M for two decades....

Spencer J. Flatgard is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law and Government Relations Practice. Spencer J., who practices law in Jackson, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Spencer J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Clint Vanderver is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Clint, who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Clint is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tommy Shepherd is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He advises businesses, Native American tribes, and financial institutions on a wide range of commercial and transactional matters. Tommy represents a broad spectrum of clients in all types of commercial and regulated matters. He has extensive experience in acquisitions, public-private leases, financings, land-use approvals, statutory and regulatory interpretation and compliance, operations, and administrative hearings. An accomplish...

Peyton Prospere has been engaged in the area of public law and finance for thirty-eight years. That experience includes the discharge of responsibilities at the highest levels in state government as State Treasurer, Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Ronnie Musgrove, and as General Counsel to the Mississippi Development Authority. As State Treasurer, Peyton supervised the issuance in 2003 of $363 million of State bonds representing the State incentive package for the Nissan manufacturing facilit...

Robert B. Ireland, III, was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 2002 and is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Mississippi and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Robert has handled and assisted with all aspects of litigated matters, through trial and appeal, in both state and federal courts and also in arbitration proceedings. He has also appeared before municipal and county authorities on numerous zoning related matters. Robert has extensive lit...

Keith Parsons is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He focuses on public finance. Keith has more than 35 years of experience and knowledge of the legal needs of public and private sector clients in the areas of public finance, federal and state securities law, and business transactions. Keith works primarily on tax analysis under Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code. He has worked on traditional bond issues for cities and counties, private activity bonds, school bond issues, 501(c...

John has been recognized by Chambers USA for his work in environmental law and by Super Lawyers as a "Mid-South Rising Star".

Tara P. Ellis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Gaming Law. Tara P., who practices law in Jackson, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tara P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.