James joined the Asheville office in September of 2002 and was promoted to a new principal in 2008. He graduated with honors from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2000 and clerked with the Honorable James R. Barber through August of 2001. While attending law school, James was admitted to the Order of the Wig & Robe and was a published member of the South Carolina Law Review. In 2001 James joined the firm of McCutchen, Blanton, Johnson & Barnette in Columbia, South Carolina, where he handled a variety of civil matters including class action litigation.

James heads up the Construction Law Group at Van Winkle and focuses his practice on the representation of contractors, design professionals, owners and developers in construction matters, contract negotiations, business disputes and licensing and insurance matters. He is an active member of the Carolinas Associated General Contractors of America.

Practice Highlights

• James obtained a directed verdict for engineer of record in a professional malpractice case with claims exceeding $1 million in damages. The verdict was upheld on appeal to the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
• James obtained summary judgment for an engineer of record who was sued by an owner in a $900,000-plus claim.  

Professional Affiliations

• 28^th Judicial District Bar
• Carolinas AGC (Associated General Contractors of America)
• North Carolina Bar Association
• Construction Law Section
• Member, NC Council to the Construction Law Section
• Richland County Bar Association
• South Carolina Bar Association

Recognitions

• South Carolina Law Review
• Published Member