Peter Byron Gee Jr.

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...

Ben’s wide-ranging litigation experience includes a focus on health-related matters and representation of pharmaceutical manufacturers in consolidated proceedings and individual cases in state and federal courts across the country. He has worked extensively with experts and company witnesses in complex cases, and his trial experience includes first-chair work as well as playing a trial support role for lead counsel. Ben has experience representing clients in MDL and mass torts, class ac...

Blake W. Bourland concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate law, business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, commercial leasing, and qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs). Mr. Bourland started practicing law with Evans Petree PC upon his graduation from law school and is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Arkansas. His broad and diverse practice allows him to represent several types of clients. In his corporate practice, he advises family-owned and other privately-...

Ms. Bennett, a shareholder in the Memphis office, focuses her practice primarily in the areas of medical malpractice defense and insurance defense. Before attending law school, Ms. Bennett spent several years working as a medical malpractice paralegal and held a position as an adjunct professor in The University of Memphis Department of Political Science. A 2012 magna cum laude graduate of The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Ms. Bennett earned numerous writing, academi...

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...

Elizabeth S. Alrutz is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants. Elizabeth S. practices law in Memphis, Tennessee Best Lawyers has recognized Elizabeth S. Alrutz since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Elizabeth S. Alrutz is held by other lawyers.

Anne focuses her divorce practice on high asset, high conflict cases. She believes that divorce should be handled with professionalism and discretion, and works to diffuse destructive, expensive tactics from overly aggressive opposing counsel, always aiming to maintain the clients’ privacy while preserving assets for settlement. Anne draws from her extensive litigation experience, as well as her work as a trained mediator, to obtain results her clients can not only live with but live we...

Edd is an Of Counsel attorney with Spicer Rudstrom in the Memphis office. He focuses on litigation throughout Tennessee and Mississippi. Edd primarily practices in the areas of employment law, healthcare liability, insurance defense litigation, and products liability. He is also a Tennessee Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He received all league honors three years as a tight end on t...

William A. Jones is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Law and Tax Law. William A. practices law in Memphis, Tennessee Best Lawyers has recognized William A. Jones since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which William A. Jones is held by other lawyers.

Charles F. Newman is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law, First Amendment Law, Litigation - Environmental and Litigation - First Amendment. Charles F. practices law in Memphis, Tennessee Best Lawyers has recognized Charles F. Newman since 1991. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recogn...