James F. Wyatt III

James F. Wyatt III


Wyatt & Blake, L.L.P.

Recognized since 1995

Charlotte, North Carolina

Practice Areas

Bet-the-Company Litigation

Criminal Defense: General Practice

Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Litigation - Antitrust

Litigation - Banking and Finance

Litigation - Securities

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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Litigation - Securities Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Criminal Defense: General Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Litigation - Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Criminal Defense: General Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2011 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar
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James F. Wyatt, III is recognized as one of North Carolina’s leading trial lawyers. He is a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American College of Trial Lawyers, the Best Lawyers in America, has a Band 1 Ranking with Chambers and Partners, and has been named on numerous occasions as the best white collar defense and civil trial lawyer in both Charlotte and the State of North Carolina.

In 2022, for the third straight year, James was selected by Super Lawyers as the Number One Lawyer in North Carolina, regardless of specialty or field. This ranking was obtained based on peer nominations, research by Super Lawyers and a Blue Ribbon review process. In 2021, Super Lawyers published a feature cover story on James and he was again named the top lawyer in North Carolina regardless of specialty or field.

James was also recently featured in an article that focused on the James “Slim” Bouler federal criminal trial involving NBA star Michael Jordan, as mentioned in The Last Dance (ESPN television series).

James was recently named to Business North Carolina’s Power List 2021. This article lists the most powerful individuals in the state, and focuses mainly on those chosen for leadership positions by their peers.

James attended Vanderbilt University, graduating in 1978 with a degree in Economics with highest honors. He graduated in 3 ½ years, was the Salutatorian of his graduating class, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and many other honorary societies. James obtained his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certificate after graduating from college. James graduated from Duke Law School in 1982, after being selected by his peers as the Executive Editor of the Duke Law Journal and as the Chairman of the Moot Court Board.

After graduating from Duke Law School, James clerked for United States District Court Judge Harold L. Murphy in the Northern District of Georgia. Judge Murphy was one of Georgia’s leading trial lawyers and legislators before he ascended to the federal bench. James then worked for three years with Bobby Lee Cook, Sr. of Summerville, Georgia. The television show “Matlock” is patterned after Mr. Cook. When working with Mr. Cook, James tried over 30 cases to verdict, ranging from criminal RICO and murder trials to diverse federal and state cases, both civil and criminal. James opened his own law practice in Charlotte in 1986, and has engaged in the trial of criminal and civil cases since then, now specializing in white collar defense, whistleblower cases and class action cases.

In 1991, at the age of 33, James received an “AV” Martindale Hubbell rating and was listed in Martindale Hubbell’s Register of Pre-Eminent Civil and Criminal Trial Lawyers. The same year, he was selected to speak on the topic of closing arguments at the North Carolina Criminal Defense “All Star” Seminar. In 1992, he was named one of six top young attorneys in Charlotte by the Business Journal. In 1994, he was selected to be a member of the Best Lawyers in America. In 1999, he was selected as one of Charlotte’s Best Lawyers by Charlotte Magazine. In 2004, James was selected by Business North Carolina as the best criminal defense lawyer in North Carolina. James was selected by Best Lawyers as the White Collar Lawyer of the Year (2011); Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year (2014); Criminal Defense: Non-White Collar Lawyer of the Year (2013-14); and Charlotte Criminal Defense White Collar Lawyer of the Year (2019). In 2020, James was selected by Super Lawyers as the best lawyer in North Carolina, regardless of specialty or field.

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. He is also a Member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an organization consisting of outstanding civil and criminal trial lawyers (with fewer than 1% of the lawyers in the United States and Canada becoming members of this organization after a thorough vetting process). Additionally, James was inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, whose membership is limited to 500 fellows from the United States “who have achieved a career of excellence through demonstrated skill and ability in jury trials.”

In addition to his representation of individuals and businesses in white collar and criminal defense matters, James has represented numerous parties in both class action litigation and qui tam lawsuits over the past 20 years. In qui tam litigation, James has represented physicians, medical billing and coding personnel and other employees of medical practices in qui tam whistleblower lawsuits filed under the federal False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, the federal Physician Self-Referral Statute (or Stark Law), and the North Carolina False Claims Act. These cases have included issues of false and fraudulent billing, upcoding, improper referrals and illegal kickbacks. He has been co-counsel for the whistleblowers in two recent settlements of over $100,000,000 each, and a recent class action settlement exceeding $1 billion.

James recently presented a seminar to counsel throughout the State of North Carolina concerning the North Carolina False Claims Act. In addition, James recently co-authored two publications concerning the North Carolina False Claims Act, including a comparison of this statute with the federal False Claims Act.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 402 West Trade Street, Suite 101
    Charlotte, NC 28202
Education
  • Duke University, JD, graduated 1982
  • Vanderbilt University, graduated 1978
  • Vanderbilt University, BA, graduated 1978
Affiliations
  • American College of Trial Lawyers - Member
  • Federal Defenders of Western North Carolina, Inc. - Chairman of the Board of Directors/Present (2004-2008)
  • Federal Directors of Western North Carolina, Inc. - Board of Directors
  • Fourth Circuit CJA Appellate Panel Committee - Member (2007-2012)
  • McKnight Education Trust Foundation - Trustee
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - Member
  • North Carolina Advocates for Justice - Member
  • North Carolina State Bar - Member
Federal Clerkships
  • United States District Court

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Litigation - Securities Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Criminal Defense: General Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Litigation - Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Criminal Defense: General Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2011 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Securities, Charlotte (2020)
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Charlotte (2019)
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, Charlotte (2015)
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance, Charlotte (2014)
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, Charlotte (2013)
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Charlotte (2011)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Litigation - Antitrust
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Securities
Special Focus:
  • Civil Litigation
  • Class Actions
  • Complex Litigation
  • Covenants Not to Compete
  • Criminal Investigations
  • Federal
  • Government Investigations
  • Grand Jury
  • Internal Investigations
  • Plaintiffs
  • Plaintiffs' Class Action
  • SEC Enforcement
  • Securities
  • Securities Fraud
  • State
  • State and Federal
  • Tax
  • Tax-Evasion Defense
  • White-Collar Criminal Defense
Awards:
  • The Best Lawyers in America: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Criminal Defense: Non-White Collar, Criminal Defense: White Collar, Litigation-Antitrust, Litigation-Banking and Finance, and Litigation-Securities (1994-present)
  • Best Lawyers Criminal Defense: White-Collar "Lawyer of the Year" (2011)
  • American College of Trial Lawyers (2008-present)
  • Listed by Corporate Counsel as one of the Top Lawyers in Bet the Company Litigation (2008-present)
  • Bar Register of Preeminent Civil and Criminal Trial Attorneys, Martindale Hubbell (1991-present)
  • Listed as one of North Carolina's "Superlawyers" in Charlotte Magazine (2005-present)
  • North Carolina's Best Criminal Defense Lawyer, Business North Carolina (2005)
  • Listed as one of North Carolina's Best Lawyers "Legal Elite", Business North Carolina (2004-present)
  • "These Are The City's Best Lawyers", Charlotte Magazine (1999)
  • Board of Governors, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (1997-2000)
  • Chairman and Member, Federal Bar Advisory Council (1996-2001)
  • "The Verdict Is In: Charlotte's Top Young Attorneys", The Business Journal (1992)
  • Criminal Law Section of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (Chairman-Lawyer Assistance Committee, Secretary, Vice President, and President) (1991-1995)
  • Selected as Speaker for North Carolina State Bar "All-Star Criminal Defense Lawyers' Seminar - Closing Arguments" (1991)
  • The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers (2016)
  • Best Lawyers: Banking and Finance "Lawyer of the Year" (2014)
  • Top 10 Lawyers in North Carolina by Super Lawyers (2017)
  • Band 1 Ranking with Chambers and Partners: Litigation – White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations (North Carolina) (2016-present)
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers (2017-present)
  • No. 2 Ranking in Top 10 Lawyers in North Carolina by Super Lawyers (2018)
  • Best Lawyers Charlotte Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year (2019) [awarded to the sole lawyers in a region and practice area who receives the highest feedback from their peers]
  • The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers (2013-present)
  • Best Lawyers Charlotte Criminal Defense: Non-White Collar "Lawyer of the Year" (2013-15)
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Commercial Litigation

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Publications

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