Practices in this Group
- Business & Financial Crimes
- Environmental
- Federal Criminal Defense
- Fraud
- Government Investigations
- Health Care
- Internal Investigations
- Securities
- State Criminal Defense
- Tax
White-Collar Criminal
The Brooks Pierce white-collar criminal group combines extensive experience in federal and white-collar criminal matters with the full breadth and depth of the firm's business practice. Thus, whether the issues in a case involve corporate, securities, health-care, environmental, real estate, tax, or other complex matters, our attorneys have the substantive knowledge and direct criminal experience to handle them.
The firm's white-collar criminal group has been recognized and honored by publications such as Super Lawyers: Corporate Counsel Edition (2010) and Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2009 & 2010). Including former federal prosecutors and law clerks from multiple courts and districts, the group represents businesses, executives, and others in responding to indictments and grand jury investigations across North Carolina and around the country.
Partner Kearns Davis, a former federal prosecutor, has tried jury cases at all levels of North Carolina's state and federal trial courts, and has been primary counsel in scores of criminal and civil appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Fourth, and Ninth Circuits. His experience includes a broad spectrum of white-collar matters including bank fraud, mortgage fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, Medicare and health-care investigations, environmental offenses, Social Security fraud, money laundering, false statements, tax crimes, embezzlement, obtaining property by false pretenses, identity theft, and conspiracy. He and partner Jennifer Harrod also regularly handle internal investigations for corporations, banks, and other businesses.
Our best results are those we cannot talk about: when criminal charges are never filed. Our team works hard not only to avoid the bringing of charges, but to protect our clients by avoiding or limiting unfavorable publicity. When charges are unavoidable, though, we bring our extensive trial and courtroom experience to bear to seek the best possible outcomes.