About Our Staff

Trish Billotte

Co-Owner/Corrections Specialist

Trish is the co-owner of Cockle Law Brief Printing Co., and she personally oversees the corrections department. Possessing an undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska, Trish worked side-by-side with Merna Smith as they helped perfect thousands upon thousands of filings to the United States Supreme Court over a 35-year span. Trish has a well-established rapport with the Supreme Court's Clerks, and she ensures the quality of every "Cockle" brief.

Mary Anne Shepard

Document Analyst/Corrections Specialist

Mary Anne possesses a B.A. in English and a Juris Doctorate from Creighton University. Before joining the Cockle family, Mary Anne practiced corporate law and was an assistant prosecutor. Mary Anne then spent 15 years teaching paralegals, inter alia, the art of legal research and writing at Iowa Western Community College and other institutions of higher learning. Every Cockle client benefits from Mary Anne's wealth of experience because she is both a lead proofreader and the primary contact for corrections.

Shari Lockenour

Assistant Office Manager/Document Analyst

Shari is the most experienced Cockle Legal Brief Specialist, serving under the tutelage of Merna Smith for over 12 years. Shari has a long working relationship with the Court's Clerks and she assists attorneys from the initial stage of the process until printing. She is particularly adept at implementing Supreme Court Rule 14, which governs the inclusion and order of documents that must be contained in an appendix at the petition stage. Also, Shari is a lead proofreader and head trainer of new staff at Cockle.

Kate Collister

Document Analyst

Kate possesses a B.A. from Kings College of London and a post-graduate paralegal certificate from College of St. Mary. Prior to her employment at Cockle, Kate worked in environmental and family law as a paralegal. Kate is an integral part of the Cockle marketing, scheduling, and corrections team. And Kate tracks the Supreme Court's docket in order to keep Cockle clients abreast of Court developments.

Tiffany Ludwig

Document Analyst

Tiffany worked extensively with attorneys on arguably the two biggest cases of the October 2008 term. She assisted in finalizing the Joint Appendix and Merits Briefs for Ricci v. DeStefano, Nos. 07-1428, 08-328, and Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District v. Holder, No. 08-322. In addition to compiling intricate Joint Appendices, Tiffany also specializes in Federal Circuit Court briefs. Due to 10 years of prior accounting experience, Tiffany is also a member of the Cockle invoicing team.

Shon Hopwood

Document Analyst/Web blogger

Shon possesses a paralegal degree from Kaplan College, and has written and prepared over 20 certiorari petitions. Two of those petitions were granted review by the United States Supreme Court. Shon has written appellate briefs filed in nine out of the 13 Federal Circuit Courts, and his experience writing briefs is an invaluable tool for Cockle clients. Shon is also a published author; has nine years of experience working with attorneys across the country; and as a student of the Supreme Court, is knowledgeable on substantive Court matters.