Vicki R. Leggett

Jim Pettis is a member of the Firm’s Trust, Estates & Personal Planning Service Team. He concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, probate, Elder Law, ERISA and employee benefits, state and federal taxation, business law including contracts, general corporate merger, reorganizations and acquisitions.

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...

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.

Kristina Johnson is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. She provides sophisticated counsel in complex and what are often cross-jurisdictional bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, workouts, receiverships, commercial litigation, and collection matters. Described as "an expert bankruptcy litigator" in Chambers USA 2020, Kristina has represented secured and unsecured creditors, buyers of assets in bankruptcy sales, contract parties, trustees, and unsecured creditors' committees and deb...

Caroline K. Ivanov is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Caroline K., 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 Caroline K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Donald Moore is an experienced litigator with a strong record of advocating for his clients in workers’ compensation and liability matters. He has extensive experience representing Longshore clients and handles both federal and state workers’ compensation claims. A leader in his field, Donald has served on the Executive Committee of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Mississippi Bar, is a Fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Attorneys, and is an approve...

John Wheeler serves as president and litigation chair for the firm. He practices exclusively in litigation focusing on the defense of medical and professional liability claims, railroad liability claims, pharmaceutical and product liability litigation and other personal injury and general litigation matters. John has defended liability claims and litigation for health care providers, railroad entities, and major pharmaceutical companies in federal and state jurisdictions throughout the United...

William Lucien Smith, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice. William Lucien, who practices law in Jackson, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William Lucien is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jason L. Poulson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Finance Law, Economic Development Law, Real Estate Law and Securitization and Structured Finance Law. Jason L., who practices law in Jackson, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jason L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Pope S. Mallette is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Municipal Law. Pope S., who practices law in Oxford, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Pope S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.