Bryan R. Cokeley

Biography

Clients and colleagues appreciate that Bryan Cokeley takes what he does very seriously. They also appreciate that, in the process of being a serious and well-respected lawyer, Bryan also does not take himself too seriously. An avid student of people and relationships, Bryan is able to quickly connect with a wide audience and develop a heightened level of authentic trust. With a career spanning three decades, Bryan has amassed an arsenal of knowledge, both anecdotal and legal, that he uses to develop solutions for his clients in labor and employment matters. Bryan believes in the importance of uncovering the “why” behind workplace issues and learning the story behind the story. Clients appreciate this insight because it helps them differentiate between bright spots and toxicities in their places of work, all in an effort to improve the day-to-day work environment.

Always with the law as a guide, Bryan is a solver of people’s problems, and he regularly counsels clients on best practices regarding current and relevant issues, including diversity, religious intolerance, sexual harassment, and pay inequity. In the event that a client has a situation that requires litigation, Bryan draws upon his experience and vigorously defends employers, as he has in more than 40 jury trials in state and federal courts and in more than 20 arbitrations across several states. In preparing narratives for juries, Bryan is inspired by his farmer father who had the folksy wit of Will Rogers and the wisdom of the ages.

At the heart of Bryan’s legal practice is his desire to help his clients recruit and retain the right people in the right positions in their respective workplaces. Within the firm, Bryan strives to do the same and is active in firm management by serving as the  Managing Member of the Charleston office. Bryan is one of the firm’s representatives to the Employment Law Alliance which is a global network of highly skilled and accomplished labor and employment attorneys and law firms throughout the world.