Bio

John Cocklereece concentrates his practice on property tax appeals, general business law, tax controversy law, and estate planning and administration law. John has practiced law in Winston-Salem for more than 35 years. John began his legal career with Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice and has been with Bell Davis Pitt since 1998. John’s principal areas of practice are: [1] handling appeals of real and personal property tax values with County tax offices and the North Carolina Property Tax Commission; [2] general business representation, including the formation and dissolution of business entities, the sale, purchase, and financing of businesses, and the drafting and review of all types of business agreements; [3] tax controversy matters, including resolving return and payment disputes with the IRS and North Carolina Department of Revenue; and [4] estate planning and estate administration. John co-authors The NC Property Tax Law Monitor with Justin Hardy, and authors the Estate Planning Law Blog.. John is active as a community volunteer. He currently serves as a member of the board of trustees of the Forsyth Tech Community College and the Forsyth Technical Community College Foundation. He previously served on the boards of the Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind, the Winston-Salem Public Assembly Facilities Commission, the North Carolina Eye Bank, and the Forsyth County Industrial Development and Pollution Control Financing Authority. Born and raised in Greensboro, John received both his undergraduate and law degrees from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he played football and was named an Academic All-American. His wife, Gina, is a lifelong banker in Winston-Salem.