Eben T. Rawls III

I have worked for more than 30 years in State and Federal courts defending people accused of crimes. In that time I have handled a number of high-profile cases across the Southeast, New York, California and in one case, Norway. I am certified as a Specialist in both Federal and State criminal law by the North Carolina State Bar and have been selected by my peers to be included in The Best Lawyers in America in two practice areas, White Collar Criminal Defense and Non-White Collar Criminal Defense. I have also been named by Business North Carolina magazine as one of the state’s “Legal Elite” for multiple consecutive years and consistently named as one of North Carolina’s Super Lawyers. A native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, I graduated with honors from Duke University and from the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill. I established my own law practice in 1983. People have described me as a “lawyers’ lawyer,” having represented a number of attorneys over my career, including prosecutors and judges.

Mr. Rawls’ practice in State Court and Federal Court has resulted in numerous acquittals, dismissals, and favorable plea bargains for thousands of clients. Mr. Rawls has appeared in complex cases involving offshore accounts prosecuted by the Tax Division of the Department of Justice. Most cases were concluded with a 906 Closing Agreement with the IRS. No clients went to jail.Mr. Rawls has handled a number of securities cases involving insider trading. A number of these cases resulted in declination of prosecution.Mr. Rawls has successfully represented a number of professional athletes in both state and federal courts. None were convicted.Mr. Rawls has represented dozens of clients charged with First Degree Murder. Not one was convicted of First Degree Murder.Mr. Rawls has appeared in oral argument before the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, twice before the North Carolina Supreme Court, and a number of times before the North Carolina Court of Appeals.