Billy J. Stokes is a founding shareholder of Stokes, Williams, Sharp & Davies, P.C., a litigation oriented Knoxville law firm. 

Following his graduation from the UT College of Law in 1979, Mr. Stokes served as a Captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, U.S. Army.  He began his civilian practice in 1982 with the Knoxville firm of Bond, Carpenter & O’Connor.  In 1989 he formed Stokes & Fansler, which was primarily an insurance defense firm.  Mr. Stokes worked as a Juvenile Counselor for the Knoxville Police Department before attending law school.  During law school, he was a Supervisor at the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center and later was an Intake Counselor for the Knox County Juvenile Court.

From 1995 – 1997 Stokes served in the Cabinet and on the Senior Staff of Governor Don Sundquist.  He was originally appointed Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Employment Security, and was later promoted to Special Assistant to the Governor.  He has served on the Board of several governmental agencies and non-profit corporations.  He presently serves as a member of the Board of the Knoxville/Knox County Public Building Authority and the Civil Service Merit Board of the City of Knoxville.

Stokes and his wife, Bay, live in the Rocky Hill area.  They have two grown daughters.