Jehl stands up for those unable to defend themselves

Law Talk profile for The Memphis Daily News

Oct. 24, 2013

Attorney Cameron Jehl has ventured out on his own, opening the Jehl Law Group PLLC at 60 S. Main St. in Downtown.

Jehl most recently worked for 13 years for the firm of Wilkes & McHugh PA, a Tampa-based national firm that handles cases of nursing home negligence. He worked in the firm’s Little Rock office for a year before moving back to Memphis to open an office here.

The firm’s rented space was in the office of another local defense firm. Over time business increased, requiring the hiring of staff and additional attorneys to handle the workload.

“We continued to grow the operations here and then I worked out a deal with Wilkes & McHugh to take over the practice here in Tennessee,” Jehl said.

In August, Jehl and Wilkes & McHugh amicably parted ways, with Jehl essentially buying out the Tennessee business. It’s been a win-win for both parties and, Jehl says, they “have a great working relationship” with each referring clients to the other.

As far as entrepreneurship goes, the switchover has been a “smooth transition,” he said, with the safety net of ongoing cases pulled taught below. This isn’t to say there haven’t been challenges, but those have mainly fallen within the parameters of the more typical hurdles any small-business owner knows. In addition to Jehl, two other attorneys – Carey Acerra and Deena Arnold – work with the firm.

Jehl was born and raised in Memphis, leaving for college with the ambition, not of a career in law, but of one in advertising.

“I had an interest in advertising just growing up because I liked the creative side of things,” he said.

Going away to the University of Mississippi, Jehl was one of only two to receive a Bachelor of Science offered in the relatively new academic field. He enjoyed it and appreciated the creative outlet, and even spent his first college summer in London as an intern in the industry. In the end, though, it would be law that grabbed his interest and held it.

His family’s business was the Jehl Cooperage Co., founded in 1898 by his great-grandfather. After issues with government and EPA regulations took its toll, it was closed by Jehl’s father Ila in 1992 . . . (read more)