Harkey Litigation in North Carolina is managed by W. Scott Harkey, who previously served as a special prosecutor for the Financial Crimes Unit from March 2013 until May 2021. Prior to that, he worked at a law firm in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he defended civil cases.
Scott has an impressive track record of successfully trying jury cases in both state and federal courts in North Carolina, and has secured favorable verdicts in multi-million-dollar disputes. He even obtained his first multi-million-dollar judgment at the young age of 28. Since 2013, Scott has tried more complex white-collar cases in North Carolina than any other lawyer.
Scott specializes in high-stakes litigation, representing businesses and individuals in state and federal courts. In recent years, he has achieved favorable verdicts in some of the most notorious fraud cases in modern North Carolina history, including a $269.9 million contract fraud case, the UNC athlete agent scandal, and a multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme. He is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in state criminal law.
As a former prosecutor and board-certified specialist, Scott has extensive experience handling cases in over 60 North Carolina counties. He frequently lectures and advises on issues related to economic malfeasances, such as fraud, financial privacy, public corruption, and other white-collar matters. A large portion of his practice focuses on high-profile criminal cases, which have been featured in national publications like USA Today, Associated Press, ESPN, Seattle Times, Washington Post, Washington Times, Newsweek, CNN, and Adweek magazine.
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- White Collar Crime
- Stockbroker & Investment Fraud
- DUI & DWI
- Arbitration & Mediation
- Business - Arbitration/Mediation, Consumer - Arbitration/Mediation
- Business Law
- Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
- Free Consultation
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Contingent Fees
- North Carolina
- North Carolina State Bar
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- United States District Court, Middle District North Carolina
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- United States District Court, Western District North Carolina
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- English
- Attorney & Managing Partner
- Harkey Litigation
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- Senior Financial Crimes Prosecutor
- State of North Carolina
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- White Collar Prosecutor
- State of North Carolina
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- Associate Attorney
- Broughton, Wilkins, Sugg, & Thompson
- Temporary Law Clerk
- North Carolina Court of Appeals
- Research Assistant
- Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law
- Law Clerk
- United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of North Carolina
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- Campbell Law School
- J.D. (2012)
- Honors: Honors, Advanced Trial & Appellate Advocacy
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- North Carolina State University
- B.A. (2007)
- Honors: cum laude
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- AV Preeminent Rating
- Martindale-Hubbell
- Client Champion - Silver
- Martindale Hubbell
- 10.0 Superb Rating
- Avvo
- Mentor of the Year
- Communities In Schools of North Carolina, Charles England Elementary School
- Task Force of the Year Member
- International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators
- North Carolina State Bar # 44433
- Member
- Current
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- North Carolina Bar Association
- Member
- Current
- Activities: Criminal Justice Section, Chair, 2023-present, Vice-Chair, 2022-2023; Executive Committee, 2020-present; Criminal Justice Section, Council Member, 2017-2021; White-Collar Task Force, Past Chair
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- American Bar Association
- Member
- Current
- Activities: Criminal Justice Section
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- Forsyth County Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- Davidson County Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- Chief Justice Joseph Branch Inn of Court
- Member
- Current
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- North Carolina Bar Foundation
- Member
- Current
- Activities: Civic Education & Engagement Committee, 2020-present
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- Forsyth County Business Lawyers Association
- Member
- Current
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- 18th Judicial District Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- 21st Judicial District Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- Embezzlement in North Carolina
- Harkey Litigation
- The Admissibility and Presentation of Business Records
- Now Comes the State
- Restitution: A Prosecutor’s Guide
- Now Comes the State
- Necessity of Live Testimony for Business Records Evidence
- The White-Collar, Issue 5
- Embezzlement by Insurance Agents
- The White-Collar, Issue 3
- Charging Decisions in Financial Crimes Cases, Money Matters Conference
- Financial Crime in North Carolina, Summer Association Meeting
- Charge It – Financial Crimes, Money Matters Conference
- Financial Crimes in North Carolina, NICB/SCINS Insurance Fraud Summit
- Asset Seizure in Elder Exploitation Cases, Money Matters Conference
- Certified Superior Court Mediator
- North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission
- Board Certified Specialist - North Carolina Criminal Law
- North Carolina State Bar
- Q. Do dismissed cases show up on your criminal record?
- A: In North Carolina, even if your charges are dismissed, your criminal record will indicate that you were charged with the offense. Your record will also show that the charge was dismissed. An experienced attorney can assist you with having it expunged from your record so it will not show up at all.
- Q. im out on bond on house arrest does it count as jail time?
- A: No. You do not get credit toward confinement while on Electronic House Arrest. The applicable statute can be found at N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15-196.1. As always, consult your attorney regarding the specifics of your case.
https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_15/GS_15-196.1.pdf
- Q. What is the penalty for a conviction of having a weapon of mass destruction
- A: Possession of a weapon of mass destruction is a class F felony in North Carolina. Depending on the defendant’s prior record, the offense is punishable by 10 months minimum and 59 months maximum.
