Congratulations to John Hartwell Cocke on His 2026 Best Lawyers in America® Recognition!
We’re proud to share that John Hartwell Cocke, managing partner at Merkel & Cocke, P.A., has once again been named to The Best Lawyers in America®, earning recognition in the areas of Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs for the 2026 edition.
This marks another milestone in a legal career defined by excellence, integrity, and relentless advocacy for 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.
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 a real vote of confidence—one earned through decades of hard work and trust built with clients, colleagues, and courts alike.
About John Hartwell Cocke
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 is widely respected for his experience handling high-stakes claims, especially those involving birth trauma, brain injury, wrongful death, and emergency room negligence.
John is AV Preeminent® rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, a Mid-South Super Lawyer (2006–present), and has been named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers® five times. He’s also a pilot, blues tourism advocate, and proud Clarksdale business owner—bringing the same attention to detail and passion to the courtroom that he brings to all areas of his life.
At Merkel & Cocke, we’ve built our reputation on hard work, team collaboration, and a deep commitment to our clients—and John embodies all of that and more.
Please join us in congratulating John on this well-deserved honor!
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 across Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
Since 1982, Merkel & Cocke, P.A. has offered thorough, aggressive legal representation on behalf of clients throughout Mississippi. As one of the largest plaintiffs’ personal injury law firms in the state, we consider it our duty and our honor to serve the people of our communities, and to uphold their rights in court. Our reputation is such that other law firms turn to us when they need legal counsel, and our business has grown through the years because of the referrals of these attorneys, who trust us with their needs and the needs of their clients. We are the firm you can trust when there are challenges ahead. To schedule a free consultation, please complete our contact form.