Areas of Practice

White Collar Criminal Defense, Forfeiture, Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation

Education

J.D., Wake Forest University (Cum Laude), 1994

• Wake Forest Law Review

B.A., Muhlenberg College (Summa Cum Laude), 1991

• Phi Beta Kappa

Prior Legal Experience

Law Clerk to the Honorable William L. Osteen, United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, 1994-95

Profile

Joe’s practice focuses on representing individuals and businesses in criminal matters in both federal and state court.  Since 1995, Joe has represented people from all walks of life who have had trouble come into their lives, from sophisticated professionals to public officials to the indigent.

Joe has defended criminal cases involving allegations of fraud, tax crimes, antitrust violations, customs violations, environmental crimes, banking crimes, computer crimes, money laundering, and drug crimes.  He regularly represents indigent persons in murder cases involving the death penalty across North Carolina.

Joe has defended clients in scores of trials in federal and state court, with a high number of successful outcomes.  Joe’s expertise in the area of criminal defense is recognized by his “AV” rating by Martindale Hubbell, as well as his being selected by his peers for inclusion in “The Best Lawyers in America” since 2003, as a “North Carolina Super Lawyer” since 2006, and is also ranked among Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite in 2008.  Joe also represents clients on appeal, and has argued appeals in the federal courts of appeal, the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and the North Carolina Supreme Court.

In addition to his work at trial, Joe has been successful in preventing charges from being brought against clients being investigated by federal and state authorities, and in having charges dismissed without the necessity of a trial.  The following results are representative of some of his experience in this area:

• Represented multi-state corporation investigated by federal authorities for trade secret law violations.  Investigation of client was terminated with no charges being brought.

• Represented paralegal investigated by federal authorities for fraud and perjury relating to supervising attorney’s alleged fraud in real estate practice.  Investigation of client was terminated with no charges being brought.

• Represented woman indicted for money laundering charges in federal court relating to financial activity she had engaged in with her husband, who was a convicted drug dealer.  Case against client was terminated by entry into pretrial diversion agreement wherein charges against client were dismissed.

• Represented woman charged with first degree murder in stabbing death of her boyfriend.  At probable cause stage, State agreed to dismiss all charges against the client on the grounds of self-defense.

• Represented individual indicted in federal court for counterfeiting charges.  Case against client was terminated by entry into pretrial diversion agreement wherein charges against client were dismissed.

• Represented day care worker charged with felony child abuse based upon allegations of “shaken baby syndrome.”  Charges against client were dismissed when grand jury declined to indict client in light of evidence presented by defense to prosecutor.

Joe also often represents other lawyers in responding to subpoenas, lawsuits, or other professional matters.  Joe has represented judges in disciplinary actions brought by the Judicial Standards Commission of North Carolina.  In 2003-2005, Joe represented an attorney in a landmark attorney-client privilege dispute in North Carolina wherein a prosecutor sought to require that attorney to disclose the confidences of the attorney’s deceased client, which the prosecution contended were relevant to a pending murder investigation.  Joe argued the case before the North Carolina Supreme Court and obtained a partial reversal of the trial court’s order requiring disclosure.

In addition to his criminal practice, Joe regularly represents individuals and businesses in forfeiture proceedings in federal court.  Joe has handled numerous forfeiture matters and has successfully obtained the return of property to numerous individuals and businesses.  Joe has also successfully handled debarment and government administrative proceedings, and has represented clients in civil litigation related to or pending with criminal cases.  Joe has represented clients in civil matters in the areas of antitrust, banking litigation, and fraud litigation, including class actions.

Joe is a member of the bar of all state and federal courts in North Carolina, and is admitted to the bar of the First, Fourth, and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal. 

Professional Activities

Past Chair, Criminal Law Section, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers

Past Chair, Criminal Justice Section, North Carolina Bar Association

Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers