John Cocklereece was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina and educated at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. He has been practicing law in Winston Salem, North Carolina for more than 30 years. John’s principal areas of practice are: [1] general business representation, including the formation and dissolution of business entities, the sale and purchase of businesses and the drafting and review of all types of business agreements; [2] tax controversy matters, including resolving return and payment disputes with the IRS and North Carolina Department of Revenue; [3] handling appeals of real and personal property tax values with County tax offices and the North Carolina Property Tax Commission; and [4] estate planning and estate administration. John served previously as Chairman of the North Carolina Property Tax Commission. John serves currently as Chairman of the Forsyth County Industrial Development and Pollution Control Financing Authority and on several not for profit boards. Along with Justin Hardy, John authors The North Carolina Property Tax Law Monitor, a blog dedicated to discussing issues related to North Carolina property tax law.

Washington and Lee University (B.A., summa cum laude, 1976), Phi Beta Kappa
Washington and Lee University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1979), Order of the Coif; Virginia Trial Lawyers Award

1979, North Carolina
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States District Courts for the Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina
United States Tax Court
United States Court of Claims

Business and Corporate Law, Business Formation and Compliance, Contracts, Corporate Disputes, Corporate Tax, Estate Administration, Estate and Gift Tax, Estate Planning, Federal and State Tax, Individual Tax, Mergers and Acquisitions, Non-Competition Agreements, Probate, Property Tax, Real Estate Acquisitions and Sales, Tax Appeals and Litigation, Tax Exemption, Tax Law, Wills and Trusts

Forsyth County Bar Association
North Carolina Bar Association (Tax Section Council, 1993-1996, 2000- , Chair, 1995-1996)
North Carolina Property Tax Commission (Member, 1990-1993; Chair 1991-1993)
National Association of Property Tax Attorneys (Member, 2009- )
Winston-Salem Estate Planning Council

Washington & Lee University School of Law, Law Council [Law Alumni Board], (2010- )
Board member, Winston-Salem Chapter, Washington & Lee University Alumni
Winston-Salem Public Assembly Facilities Commission (Board of Directors, 2002-2009; Vice Chair. 2007-2009)
North Carolina Eye Bank, Inc. (Board of Directors, 1994-2004; Vice Chair, 1998-2002; Chair, 2002-2004)
Westwood Club (Board of Directors, 2002-2004; Chair, 2003)
Winston-Salem Coliseum and Convention Center Commission (Board of Directors, 1998-2002; Vice Chair, 2000-2001; Chair, 2001-2002)
Forsyth County Industrial Development & Pollution Control Financing Authority (Member, 2005-  ; Chairman, 2007- )
Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind, Inc. (Board of Directors, 1998-2003; Vice Chairman, 2001; Chairman, 2002)
Triad Elite Soccer Club (Board member and President, May 2010-present)

The Best Lawyers in America® in Tax and Corporate Law (2011 - )
Business North Carolina magazine Legal Elite (2010, 2013)
Matindale-Hubbell AV Rating

"Know Your Property Tax Appeal Rights" (3/15/2013) Triad Business Journal
"IRS Has Relaxed its Offer-in-Compromise Criteria" (5/29/2012)
“Recent IBM Case Gives Taxpayers a Fighting Chance in Property Tax, Appeals: (2/19/2010)
“Recent Case Makes Appealing Tax Values Harder for Industrial Properties”  (7/31/2009)
“Property Tax Corner” (11/1/2008)
“Beware Of Personal Liability For Business Taxes”  (7/25/2008)
“A Primer on Property Taxes for the Businessman” (6/1/2007)
“Protect Your Practice With Noncompete Agreements” (9/1/2004)

Mailing:
PO Box 21029
Winston-Salem, NC
27120-1029