Congratulations to Four Merkel & Cocke Attorneys on Their 2026 Best Lawyers in America® Honors!
We’re proud to announce that four Merkel & Cocke, P.A. attorneys earned a spot in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®! This distinguished recognition reflects the depth of experience, trial skill, and client-focused advocacy that define our firm.
Please join us in congratulating:
Each of these attorneys continues to make an impact in the courtroom and in their communities—and we are honored to see their hard work acknowledged once again by their peers in the legal profession.
John Hartwell Cocke
Recognized in Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
This marks another milestone in a legal career defined by excellence, integrity, and relentless advocacy on behalf of injured clients. John has been recognized by Best Lawyers® every year since 2007, and in 2024 was named “Lawyer of the Year” in Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs for the Memphis region—a title he’s held multiple times over the past decade.
John is a founding member of Merkel & Cocke and has dedicated his entire practice to representing plaintiffs in complex medical negligence and catastrophic injury cases. He earned widespread respect for his experience handling high-stakes claims, especially those involving birth trauma, brain injury, wrongful death, and emergency room negligence.
Charles M. Merkel, Jr.
Recognized in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
With over four decades of trial experience, Mr. Merkel has tried more than 400 jury cases involving complex medical and technical issues. He co-founded Merkel & Cocke in 1982 with a mission to take on the most challenging catastrophic injury cases, including medical malpractice, product liability, toxic torts, and other related claims.
A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law and a former DOJ trial attorney, Mr. Merkel has earned countless multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America every year since 1989.
Edward P. Connell, Jr.
Recognized in Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Agriculture Law
Ted Connell’s legal practice spans a wide range of personal injury, workers’ compensation, and general litigation matters. A cum laude graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law, Ted has served as Chair of the Mississippi Bar Litigation Executive Committee and has been repeatedly recognized by Super Lawyers and other leading legal publications.
In addition to his legal work, Ted is recognized throughout Clarksdale and the Mississippi Delta for his civic involvement, which includes serving on nonprofit boards and volunteering as general counsel for Habitat for Humanity.
Charles M. Merkel, III
Recognized in Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
A proud Clarksdale native and second-generation trial attorney, Charles M. Merkel, III has earned a reputation for exceptional representation in medical malpractice, negligence, and product liability cases. A Taylor Medal recipient and Chancellor’s Scholar at Ole Miss, Charles joined the firm in 2002 and brings an academic rigor and compassionate approach to every case he handles.
Charles has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2012 and was named “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs in the Memphis region in 2020. He is also a longtime advocate for access to justice, having served on the board of North Mississippi Rural Legal Services.
About Best Lawyers in America®
Best Lawyers® is one of the most respected peer-reviewed legal honors in the profession. First published in 1983, the guide relies solely on confidential evaluations by fellow attorneys and cannot be bought or self-nominated into. For the 2026 (32nd) edition, millions of votes were analyzed. Each listing demonstrates the strong reputation we’ve earned through decades of hard work and the trust we’ve built with clients, colleagues, and courts.
We are proud to have such a formidable team representing injury victims across Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
Please join us in celebrating Charles Jr., Charles III, John, and Ted on their 2026 Best Lawyers in America® recognition!
Need help after a serious injury or medical malpractice incident?
Call Merkel & Cocke, P.A. today or reach out online to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve clients throughout the Mid-South.
After graduating from the University of Virginia Law School in 1975, Mr. Cocke and Mr. Merkel established Merkel & Cocke, P.A. in 1982. Since that time the emphasis of Mr. Cocke’s practice has progressed 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 direct contact by the client or on referral from other attorneys who are not familiar with the handling of medical negligence cases. Mr. Cocke was selected Best Lawyer of the year for 2012 and 2014 in The Memphis area in the field of Medical Malpractice and has been selected a Best Lawyer and Super Lawyer every year since 2006. Learn more about John Hartwell Cocke here.