Rena Lara Lawyers

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.

Mr. Lewis was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi on June 15, 1953. He was admitted to the bar in 1980. Mr. Lewis received a B.A. from Delta State University in 1976 and a J.D. in 1980 from the University of Mississippi. Mr. Lewis joined Chapman Lewis & Swan and became a partner of the firm in 1990. Mr. Lewis is a member of the Coahoma County Bar Association, the Mississippi State Bar, the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, National Association of Defense Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, Mississippi Association of Justice Lawyers. Mr. Lewis has been selected by The Best...

Charles M. Merkel, III was born and raised in Clarksdale, MS. He attended the University of Mississippi for his undergraduate and law degrees, graduating with honors both times. While at Ole’ Miss as an undergraduate, he was awarded the Taylor Medal for English; this is the University’s highest academic honor, awarded to less than 1% of the student body. Upon graduation, he received the coveted position as a judicial law clerk for US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division.

Richard B. Lewis, Jr. was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi on June 8, 1978. Richard attended Mississippi State University and received a B.B.A. in 2000 and a M.B.A. in 2001. Richard attended Mississippi College School of Law where he received his J.D. in 2006. Richard is a member of the following states bar: Tennessee, 2006; Mississippi, 2006. Richard joined Chapman, Lewis & Swan as an associate in 2006. His primary areas of practice are General Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Family Law and Criminal Law. Richard is admitted to practice before all State Courts in Mississippi, the U.S. Court...

For more than 40 years, Mr. Merkel has personally delivered more than 400 jury presentations in the representation of personal injury victims whose cases involved complex medical and technical injury mechanisms and causation problems.

Edward (Ted) P. Connell, Jr., is a partner with the law firm of Merkel & Cocke, P.A. Mr. Connell received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Mississippi in 1994, graduating cum laude. This was followed by receipt of his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1997. While attending the University of Mississippi School of Law, Mr. Connell authored “Mississippi Casinos and the Detention of a Patron: What are the Parameters of a Casino’s Powers in Detaining a Patron and the Subsequent Liability Which Can Follow?” which was published in the National Gaming Law...

I was born in Crosby, North Dakota. Prior to the study of law, I served in the United States Coast Guard from 1990-1995. I was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 2002 following my graduation from the University of Mississippi School of Law. I am a member of the Coahoma County Bar Association, the Mississippi Bar and the Mississippi Association for Justice.