Charles E. "Chuck" James, Jr.

Charles E. “Chuck” James, Jr. is a distinguished attorney and trusted advisor who has decades of experience adeptly handling crisis management, white-collar defense, internal investigations, enforcement actions, and high-stakes civil litigation. With a career spanning government service, private practice, and government relations, Chuck brings deep insight into government operations, regulatory compliance, and strategic risk management. His multifaceted experience allows him to provide clients with practical, results-driven legal counsel, ensuring they can navigate complex legal and business challenges with confidence.

As a partner at Williams Mullen, Chuck co-chairs both the Crisis Management, Internal Investigations and White-Collar Defense and the Firearms Industry Groups, where he combines responsiveness, creativity, and strategic thinking to craft tailored legal solutions. He is also a key member of the firm’s Government Relations practice, advising businesses and organizations on policy, legislative strategy, executive branch engagement and regulatory compliance. His collaborative approach leverages the firm’s multidisciplinary experience – including corporate law, economic development, tax, environmental, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and real estate – to provide clients with comprehensive, business-focused legal solutions.

Chuck’s extensive government experience, including his tenure as a federal prosecutor and later as Chief Deputy Attorney General of Virginia, gives him a unique perspective on regulatory enforcement trends and risk mitigation. In the role of Chief Deputy, he oversaw consumer protection enforcement, civil fraud investigations, and environmental compliance matters, while also shaping public safety and regulatory policies. His background as a former federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division further enhances his ability to counsel clients facing government investigations, regulatory scrutiny, grand jury investigations and enforcement actions. He has successfully guided clients through insider threat cases, fraud investigations, crisis response, and high-stakes disputes, developing proactive legal strategies to mitigate risk and protect their interests.

In his capacity as co-chair of the Firearms Industry Group, Chuck represents members of the firearms industry, including manufacturers, retailers and government contractors, on state and federal firearms laws and regulations. He assists clients in navigating the industry’s complex laws and regulations, ranging from matters involving restoration of rights, expungements and ATF compliance and revocations. Chuck also serves as outside general counsel to industry members seeking legal advice on matters and varied as intellectual property, employment, antitrust as well as working with both prosecutors and clients on subpoenas compliance, including narrowing the scope of subpoenas.

Beyond his legal practice, Chuck is a leader in both professional and civic spheres. He serves on Williams Mullen’s Board of Directors and is a member of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee.  His commitment to public service is evident through his roles on the boards of the Virginia Public Access Project and the Salvation Army Central Virginia Area Command. He formerly served on the board of the Virginia Bar Association. Additionally, he played a key role in Attorney General Jason Miyares’ Transition Team and Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Public Safety & Homeland Security, Commerce & Trade Teams, further solidifying his role as a trusted advisor.

Chuck’s unique combination of legal acumen, strategic thinking, and practical business insight makes him an invaluable advocate for clients facing regulatory enforcement, compliance challenges, and litigation risks. Whether advising on state attorney general inquiries, environmental regulations, consumer protection matters, or corporate crisis response, he delivers business-focused solutions that help clients stay ahead in an increasingly complex and evolving legal landscape.

Chuck has been recognized by Chambers USA for White-Collar & Government Investigations (2021-present), named among the “Legal Elite” by Virginia Business magazine (2009, 2013, 2015-present), and he is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White Collar and Criminal Defense: General Practice Law (2015-present). He was named the Best Lawyers® Richmond "Lawyer of the Year" for Criminal Defense: General Practice in the 2019 edition. Chuck has also been named a "Local Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation (2013-present) and he was listed in Virginia Super Lawyers magazine’s “Rising Stars” (2009, 2013, 2014). He is a sought-after speaker and commentator on a variety of policy, legal and political topics.

Chuck earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia and received his Juris Doctor degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law.