Atty. Edwin L. West III
Ed West's practice areas include white-collar defense and investigations, professional licensing board defense and complex business litigation. Ed has represented individuals, businesses, and organizations under investigation by a myriad of state and federal agencies including: U.S.
Profile Summary
About Edwin L. West III at a glance
Edwin L. West III is a criminal defense, business, tax litigation, white collar, and litigation attorney based in Wilmington, North Carolina, practicing at Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard LLP. Admitted to practice in North Carolina, United States. Educated at Wake Forest University (J.D., 1995) and Hampden-Sydney College (BA, 1992). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Litigation and Controversy - Tax (2026). Serands clients in Wilmington, NC and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Ed West's practice areas include white-collar defense and investigations, professional licensing board defense and complex business litigation
- Ed has represented individuals, businesses, and organizations under investigation by a myriad of state and federal agencies including: U.S
- Department of Health and Human Services, N.C
- Department of Health and Human Services, Securities & Exchange Commission, N.C
- Secretary of State Securities Division, N.C
- Banking Commission, Internal Revenue Service, N.C
- Department of Revenue, U.S
- Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, U.S
- Department of Labor, U.S
- Environmental Protection Agency, N.C Department of Treasurer Unclaimed Property Division, N.C
- State Bureau of Investigations-NC Division of Environmental Crimes, U.S
- Department of State-Directorate of Defense Trade Controls Compliance, U.S
- Department of Commerce-Office of Export Enforcement, U.S
- Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S
- Treasury, Department of Homeland Security-Secret Service, N.C
- Department of Justice Consumer Protection Division, N.C
- Department of Justice, U.S
- Department of Justice-Tax Division, U.S
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Aviation Administration
- He has been recognized by his peers for inclusion in Business North Carolina's "Legal Elite" in the area of Criminal Law (2015-2024), North Carolina Super Lawyers for Criminal Defense (2018-2024), and The Best Lawyers in America© for Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2019-2025)
- Ed has represented businesses and organizations both large and small, including publicly traded companies, health care providers, utilities, municipalities, school boards, closely-held and small businesses, as well as individuals in a wide variety of civil matters
- These have included qui tam/whistleblower litigation, business disputes of all kinds, eminent domain takings, shareholder actions, defamation, legal malpractice defense, personal injury and a multitude of insurance matters
- He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for Commercial Litigation (2018-2025)
- Ed routinely represents individuals and businesses with civil and criminal tax issues
- He has represented businesses and individuals with inquiries, investigations, audits, liens, and collections issues by both the Internal Revenue Service and the North Carolina Department of Revenue
- He has defended clients in criminal investigations involving tax evasion, failure to file, filing false returns, failure to collect, fraud and false statements, filing fraudulent returns, structuring, and embezzlement of entrusted funds
- Ed has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the area of Litigation and Controversy - Tax (2017-2025)
- Ed advises lawyers regarding professional responsibility and ethics
- He defends lawyers facing state bar grievances and routinely advises attorneys and law firms responding to subpoenas
- He is panel defense counsel for Lawyers Mutual of North Carolina
- Ed represents professionals before licensing boards
- He has advised and represented individuals with matters involving the North Carolina State Bar, North Carolina Medical Board, North Carolina Board of Certified Public Accountant Examiners, North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors, North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors, North Carolina Real Estate Commission, North Carolina Irrigation Contractors Licensing Board, North Carolina Nursing Board, and North Carolina Social Work Licensing Board
Practice Areas Explained
Edwin L. West III's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Edwin L. West III handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
A criminal defense attorney protects your rights from arrest through trial. Find experienced lawyers handling DUI, drug, federal, theft, and violent-crime charges.
Edwin L. West III is one of 214,270 criminal defense attorneys indexed nationally. Browse criminal defense attorneys in North Carolina →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Edwin L. West III is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in North Carolina →
Edwin L. West III is one of 3,110 tax litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse tax litigation attorneys in North Carolina →
Edwin L. West III is one of 20,025 white collar attorneys indexed nationally. Browse white collar attorneys in North Carolina →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Edwin L. West III is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in North Carolina →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in North Carolina
Practicing law in North Carolina. Legal matters in North Carolina are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Wilmington are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate North Carolina state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in North Carolina brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in North Carolina courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional North Carolina attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Wilmington or all attorneys in North Carolina.
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