James Thomas Amburgey

Asheville Criminal Defense Attorney

Thomas Amburgey is a board-certified specialist in state criminal law. As a former prosecutor with the Office of the District Attorney for Buncombe County, he handled thousands of cases, ranging from minor offenses like speeding tickets to capital offenses like first-degree murder. That experience gives him an immeasurable advantage in the courtroom.

Because pleas are often made and charges can be dismissed, many criminal law attorneys only experience a handful of trials in their entire careers. Thomas has successfully completed hundreds of bench trials and dozens of jury trials from both sides of the aisle. Regardless of your charge, Thomas Amburgey has the experience necessary to provide you with the best defense possible.

Thomas is an AV Preeminent Peer Rated Lawyer at Martindale Hubbell, America’s oldest and most respected peer-review entity, since 2017. He has been continuously recognized by North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars since 2018 and in the Business North Carolina Legal Elite since 2019.

Criminal Law
Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
DUI & DWI
White Collar Crime

North Carolina
Since 2007
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Languages

  • English

Attorney
Amburgey Law P.A.
2015 –

Current

Assistant District Attorney
State of North Carolina
2007 –

2014

Intern
Bearfield & Associates
2006 –

2006

Intern
District Attorney’s Office Sevier County
2005 –

2006

Appalachian School of Law
J.D. (2007)

2007

Honors: Deans List spring 2005, finished in top 25% of class for first year.
Activities: Student Bar Association, Student Ambassador, Phi Delta Phi, 5k Memorial Race Committee, Domestic Abuse Counselor, Member of ASL Softball Team
Appalachian School of Law Logo
East Tennessee State University
B.A. (2004) | Corporate Finance, Minor, Political Science

2004

Activities: Sigma Phi Epsilon (President, Vice President, Treasurer, and national delegate), Member of the Student Athletic Advisory Board, and Intramurals
East Tennessee State University Logo
Business NC Legal Elite Criminal Defense Law Section
Business North Carolina Magazine
2023
North Carolina Super Lawyer
North Carolina Super Lawyers
2023
Business NC Legal Elite Criminal Defense Law Section
Business North Carolina Magazine
2022
AV Preeminent Rated
Martindale-Hubble
2022
North Carolina Super Lawyer
North Carolina Super Lawyers
2022

AV Preeminent Rated
Martindale-Hubble
2021
North Carolina Super Lawyer
North Carolina Super Lawyers
2021
Business NC Legal Elite Criminal Defense Law Section
Business North Carolina Magazine
2021
AV Preeminent Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
2020
Super Lawyers Rising Stars
North Carolina Super Lawyers
2020
Business NC Legal Elite, Criminal Defense Section
Business NC Magazine
2020
AV Preeminent Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
2019
Super Lawyers Rising Stars
North Carolina Super Lawyers
2019
Business NC Legal Elite, Criminal Defense Section
Business NC Magazine
2019
AV Preeminent Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
2018
Super Lawyers Rising Stars
North Carolina Super Lawyers
2018
Client’s Choice, Criminal Defense
Avvo
2017
AV Preeminent Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
2017
Top 40 Under 40
The National Trial Lawyers

North Carolina State Bar

Admitted
2007 –
Current
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Buncombe County Bar Association

Executive Committee Member
2013 –
2016
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Websites & Blogs

Website


Amburgey Law
22 South Pack Square Suite #1200
Asheville, NC 28801
US
Telephone: (828) 989-3210