James W. Lea III has more than 30 years of experience, 15 of which has been exclusively in family law. Mr. Lea also has an extensive background in criminal defense and complex civil litigation.

As founder of The Lea Law Firm in Wilmington, North Carolina, attorney Lea leads a talented team of legal professionals, including paralegals with 20-plus years of experience in family law. They work as a team to offer personal service, sound advice and skilled representation to clients with a variety of domestic and family law issues, including high asset and complex divorces, child custody and support, and equitable distribution.

Rated as an AV-Preeminent* attorney, Mr. Lea has served on the North Carolina State Bar's Family Council, a select group of family lawyers who set policy and recommend changes on behalf of the bar. He also was selected for the North Carolina State Bar's Committee on Mediation and Arbitration in family law cases. In 2010, attorney Lea's firm was named one of the U.S. News & World Report's Best Law Firms.

_{*AV Preeminent and BV Distinguished are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.}