Passion-driven Representation.
Howard R. Peppel
A native of Murrysville, Pennsylvania, after being admitted to the practice of law Mr. Peppel served four years of active duty with the United States Air Force as a Judge Advocate (JAG). Upon release from active military duty he continued his association with the Air Force for the next twenty-five years as a Reserve Judge Advocate with assignments to Strategic Air Command and Air Force Material Command until his retirement from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel.
After being released from active military service Mr. Peppel moved to Memphis, where he began a general practice of law with the firm that is now known as Peppel & Palazzolo, P.C., handling both civil and criminal matters. However, he quickly limited the focus of his practice to cases of contract litigation and creditor’s rights, such being the only legal disciplines which he now practices.
In addition to the private practice of law and military service Mr. Peppel also served as an adjunct instructor in the Legal Studies Department at the University of Memphis from 1984 until 2018, where he taught several courses, among them being Introduction to Law, Torts, Family Law, Civil Procedure and Contracts and the Uniform Commercial Code.
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee 1973
- United States Court of Military Appeals 1974
- United States Federal District Court for the Western District of Tennessee 1978
- United States Supreme Court 1980
Memberships
- Memphis Bar Association
- Tennessee Bar Association
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of Tennessee 1970
- Doctor of Jurisprudence, University of Tennessee 1973
Mr. Peppel may be reached at hpeppel@pgpfirm.com.
Paola Palazzolo-West
Ms. Palazzolo-West's practice is focused on domestic and family law, including cases involving divorces, alimony, child custody disputes, child support, grandparents visitation, child relocation, prenuptial agreements and protective orders. In addition, she serves as a guardian ad litem, meaning that she is eligible to serve as a child's advocate in court. She has also maintained an active practice in the areas of landlord-tenant matters, collections, and creditor bankruptcy representation since 2005. Ms. Palazzolo-West is committed to providing her clients with the best professional representation and support possible throughout the legal process.
Before joining this firm, Ms. Palazzolo-West worked for Siskind Susser P.C., one of the largest immigration law firms in North America.
Ms. Palazzolo-West is a native of Haifa, Israel. Born to a diplomatic family, her father worked at the Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv while living in Haifa where she attended and graduated from Haifa University School of Law in 2000.
Growing up in Israel exposed Ms. Palazzolo-West to different cultures and helped her learn many languages. She is fluent in Hebrew, Arabic, Italian and English. She practiced law in Israel until she moved to Memphis, Tennessee in October 2003 to work for Siskind Susser and utilize her knowledge in law and languages.
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee 2005
- Israel 2001
Memberships
- Memphis Bar Association 2005
- Tennessee Bar Association 2005
- Israel Bar Association 2001-2005
Education
- University of Haifa Bachelor of Science in Economics 2000
- Haifa University, Israel Faculty of Law JD - Juris Doctor 2000
Ms. Palazzolo-West may be reached at pwest@pgpfirm.com.
Chad A. Cardwell, LL.M.
Mr. Cardwell believes in helping clients through processes that can be challenging by giving each matter personal attention, providing sound legal information and having open communication with every client. He has dedicated his career to practicing exclusively in the area of estate planning since 2008. Mr. Cardwell was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Tennessee in 2007 and the United States Tax Court in 2008, and holds the distinction of being an Accredited Estate Planner® designee by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils.
Mr. Cardwell advises clients in the following areas of the law:
- Estate Planning
- Business Succession
- Charitable Gifting
- Probate Administration
Client satisfaction is Mr. Cardwell's top priority. He is now welcoming new clients from Memphis, Midtown, Germantown, Cordova, Bartlett, Lakeland, Arlington and all of west Tennessee. Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm. Out of office appointments are available on a case-by-case basis.
Mr. Cardwell may be reached at ccardwell@memphisestateplanner.com.
Salih Placo
Mr. Placo joined the firm in 2022 as an associate where he represents clients in family law matters such as divorce, alimony, child custody, child support, adoptions and protective orders.
He is a 2022 graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. While in law school Mr. Placo served as a staff member of the University of Memphis Law Review and also as a Law School Ambassador.
Mr. Placo's family immigrated to Memphis in 1994 from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is a lifelong Memphian who attended high school at Harding Academy and completed his undergraduate studies at Christian Brothers University where he majored in Chemical Engineering.
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee 2022
Memberships
- Memphis Bar Association
- Tennessee Bar Association
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Christian Brothers University 2017
- Juris Doctor, University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law 2022
Mr. Placo may be reached at splaco@pgpfirm.com.
Jose F. Leon
Mr. León comes to our firm with many years of trial and negotiation experience. He was an assistant district attorney-prosecutor in Shelby County for 15 years. He conducted negotiations, hearings, and handled motions in both general sessions and criminal court. Over his career, he’s conducted almost 100 jury trials, in an array of violent and property offenses from misdemeanor theft, forgery, drug, gun possession, assault, rape, arson and murder. With an understanding of the law, he can advise clients as to the possible and likely outcomes, ensuring clients’ rights are always protected to secure a favorable outcome when possible.
Upon his arrival in Memphis years ago, he worked as a law clerk for the immigration law firm of Siskind Susser, PLC.
In addition to his duties with the Shelby County District Attorney's Office, Mr. León was an adjunct instructor in the Department of Criminology at the University of Memphis from 2009 until 2014, where he taught several courses, among them being Introduction to Courts and Criminal Justice System 2101. During this time he, along with another professor, taught the University's first bilingual course.
Mr. León graduated from Universidad Católica Andres Bello in Caracas, Venezuela, with a Juris Doctor Equivalent in 2002, where he ranked twenty fifth in his class.
Mr. León represents clients in criminal law matters and family law in Shelby and surrounding counties. He also represents clients in Juvenile Court matters, as well as Landor-Tenant disputes.
He is a fluent English and native Spanish speaker and serves in the board for the Mid-South Latino Chamber of Commerce and the Catholic Charities of West Tennessee. He also served as the Vice-president of the St. Thomas Moore Catholic Lawyers Guild and is graduate of the New Memphis Institute. He served as an advisor for the Memphis Police Department, as well as an instructor for the Shelby County Sherriff's office.
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee 2010
- Venezuela 2004
- United States Federal District Court for the Western District of Tennessee 2024
Memberships
- Memphis Bar Association
- Tennessee Bar Association
- Venezuelan Bar Association
Education
- Juris Doctor Equivalent, Universidad Católica Andres Bello, Caracas, Venezuela 2002
Mr. Leon may be reached at jleon@pgpfirm.com.
Español
El abogado León viene a nuestra firma con años de experiencia en litigios y negociaciones. Fue Fiscal del Ministerio Publico en el Condado Shelby durante 15 años. Realizó negociaciones, audiencias, juicios y medidas en la primera y segunda instancia. Durante su carrera como Fiscal, realizo casi 100 juicios de todo tipo de ofensas y acusaciones. Desde crímenes a la propiedad, narcóticos, posesión de armas, lesiones, violaciones y homicidios entre otros. Con el conocimiento del sistema y las leyes, puede aconsejar a sus clientes las posibles opciones siempre resguardando sus derechos y obteniendo el mejor resultado en base a los hechos y la ley.
El Sr. León trabajo para Siskind Susser, una prestigiosa firma de inmigración como asistente legal.
El Sr. León fue profesor de la Universidad de Memphis, departamento de Criminología, aproximadamente 6 años.
El Sr. León se graduó de la Universidad Católica Andrés Bello en Caracas, Venezuela. Trabajó para el gobierno venezolano, así como para otras firmas de gran prestigio en su país.
El Sr. León atiende casos de defensa criminal a nivel federal, estadal y juvenil; también atiende casos de derecho de familia: Divorcios, casos de custodia, manutención, y materia civil en general, cobranzas, disputas en contratos de alquiler/renta entre otros.
Puede contactar el Sr. León llamando a su oficina al 901-761-3140 y hacer una cita o a su correo electrónico: jleon@pgpfirm.com
