James F. Wyatt III

James F. Wyatt,III is recognized as one of North Carolina's leading trial lawyers. After graduating from Duke Law School, he clerked for United States District Court Judge Harold L. Murphy in the Northern District of Georgia. He then worked for two years with Bobby Lee Cook, Sr. of Summerville, Georgia. Mr. Cook is the real life lawyer that the television show "Matlock" is loosely patterned after. When working with Mr. Cook, James tried over 20 cases to verdict, ranging from a RICO trial to diverse federal and state cases, both civil and criminal.¹ James opened his law practice in Charlotte in 1986, and has engaged in the trial of criminal and civil cases since then.

In 1991, at the age of 33, James was asked to present the topic of closing arguments at the North Carolina Criminal Defense "All Star" Seminar. In 1991, he also received an "AV" Martindale Hubbell rating and was listed in Martindale Hubbell's Register of Pre-Eminent Civil and Criminal Trial Lawyers. In 1992, he was named one of the six top young attorneys in Charlotte. In 1994, he was listed in Best Lawyers in America. In 2005, James was selected by his peers as the best criminal defense lawyer in North Carolina. In 2006, James was named one of the Top 100 Super Lawyers in North Carolina. In 2007, James spoke at an "All Star Trial Advocacy" program sponsored by the federal court system. Currently, James is listed in Best Lawyers in America in four separate categories: Bet-The-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Non-White Collar Criminal Defense and White Collar Criminal Defense.

Background

James attended Vanderbilt University, graduating in 1978 with summa cum laude honors. He graduated from Duke Law School in 1982, after having been elected as the Executive Editor of the Duke Law Journal and a member of the Moot Court Board.

James clerked for United States District Court Judge Harold L. Murphy for two years (1982-1984) in Rome, Georgia. He then worked for Cook & Palmour, a law firm located in Summerville, Georgia until 1986, when he opened his law practice in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Honors and Awards

2006 - North Carolina Super Lawyers - named one of the Top 100 Super Lawyers in North Carolina.
2005 - Business North Carolina - Listed as North Carolina's Best Criminal Defense Lawyer in article entitled "Legal Elite - Up On The Law." [read article]
2004 - Business North Carolina - Listed as one of North Carolina's best lawyers in article entitled "Legal Elite."
1999 - Charlotte Magazine - Listed as one of Charlotte's best lawyers in article entitled "These Are The City's Best Lawyers."
1994 - Present: Listed in The Best Lawyers in America.
1991 - Present: Listed in Martindale-Hubbell's Bar Register of Preeminent Civil and Criminal Trial Attorneys.
1992 - One of six lawyers profiled in an article published by The Business Journal in Charlotte, NC entitled "The Verdict Is In: Charlotte's Top Young Attorneys" (May 1991).
1991 - Selected as Speaker for North Carolina State Bar "All-Star Criminal Defense Lawyers" Seminar. Topic: Closing Arguments.

Legal/Community Activities

Committee Member of the Fourth Circuit CJA Appellate Panel Committee, appointed by the Fourth Circuit Court Judges (2007 to present)
Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of the Federal Defenders of Western District of North Carolina, Inc., the federal defender organization for the Western District of North Carolina (2004-present).
Member of Committees to Nominate Magistrate Judges for the Western District of North Carolina.
1996-2001: Chairman and Member, Federal Bar Advisory Council.
March 1995: Testimony given to the United States Sentencing Commission concerning the money laundering laws.
President (1994-1995), Criminal Law Section of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (Chairman, Lawyer's Assistance Committee (1991-1992); Secretary (1992-1993); Vice-President (1993-1994)).
Board of Governors, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (1997 to 2000).
Listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American Lawyers.
Trustee - McKnight Education Trust Foundation.
1991: Organized the Mecklenburg County Bar's Habitat for Humanity Project (first Habitat House built solely by a bar association in the nation).
1991-1995: Board of Directors, Davidson Habitat for Humanity.
Speakers Counsel, Charlotte Habitat for Humanity.

¹ In Summerville, criminal court was held only twice a year, and the prosecutors always selected their strongest cases to try first. During one term of court, James tried the first three cases and all resulted in not guilty verdicts.