Joseph E. Zeszotarski

Partner

Areas of Experience

Services
Appellate
General Litigation
White Collar Criminal Defense

Education

Wake Forest University, JD, 1994, cum laude

Wake Forest Law Review

Muhlenberg College, BA, 1991, summa cum laude

Phi Beta Kappa

Professional and Community 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

Notable Accomplishments

Jurisdictions Licensed

301 Fayetteville Street, Suite 1900, Raleigh, NC 27601	t: 919.783.1005	\|	email
P.O. Box 1801, Raleigh, NC 27602-1801	f: 919.783.1075	\|	vcard

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.

Representative Experience

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 since 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.

A large portion of Joe’s practice involves assisting individuals and businesses who are under investigation in avoiding the return of criminal charges altogether. Joe has extensive experience in representing businesses and their employees in federal grand jury investigations, and assisting those clients in avoiding the return of criminal charges. 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 was terminated with no charges being brought against client.
Represented owner of closely held corporation investigated by federal authorities for export law violations. Investigation was terminated with no charges being brought against owner.
Represented construction business in federal antitrust investigation relating to alleged price-fixing. Investigation was terminated with no charges being brought against business or its employees.
Represented woman indicted for money laundering charges in federal court relating to financial activity she had engaged in with her husband, who convicted of narcotics violations. Case against client was terminated by entry into pretrial diversion agreement wherein charges against client were dismissed.

Joe also often advises other lawyers in responding to subpoenas, lawsuits, and other inquiries. Joe has represented judges in disciplinary actions brought by the Judicial Standards Commission of North Carolina. Joe represented a lawyer in a landmark attorney-client privilege dispute in North Carolina that ultimately reached the North Carolina Supreme Court, wherein a prosecutor sought to require that lawyer to disclose the confidence’s of the lawyer’s deceased client.

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, tax 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.

read all representative experience

Prior Legal Experience

Prior to joining Poyner Spruill, Joe served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable William L. Osteen of the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina from 1994 to 1995.