What We Do

CONSTRUCTION

At the law office of Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLC, we offer the full range of legal services for our construction clients, including legal opinion letters and pre-suit assistance. And when conflicts occur - whether due to unfulfilled contracts, construction site accidents, design defects, time delays or environmental problems - we use sophisticated negotiation skills and sharp courtroom acumen to protect our clients' professional reputations and company assets.

CIVIL MATTERS

At Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLC our attorneys represent individuals and businesses in all types of complex civil litigation. Our experience as trial and appellate lawyers means that we are able to represent your interests, no matter how complex or lengthy the matter. No matter what your need, our lawyers will provide you with the best possible legal representation. Contact us to schedule a confidential consultation and to learn how we can help resolve your legal problems.

We are known for our discretion and ability to represent clients effectively without attracting public attention. We ensure that our clients are treated fairly in the court of public opinion as well as in the justice system.

We handle all types of civil litigation, including:

• Professional responsibility claims
• Partnership dissolutions
• Business conflicts
• Contract drafting, review and negotiations
• Environmental issues
• Real estate conflicts
• Personal injury actions
• Unfair business competition
• Collections issues
• Contracts with vendors, suppliers and customers
• Employment law issues

We also act as general counsel for ongoing daily operations.

CONTRACTS

Attorneys at Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLC also custom-draft contracts to meet your business needs. These include employment contracts, noncompete agreements, nondisclosure agreements and contracts between contractors and subcontractors.

It is always wise to have a proposed contract reviewed by your lawyer before you sign it. The attorneys at Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLC can help you identify potential pitfalls to agreements. We can show you unfavorable terms you may be agreeing to, as well as necessary protections that may be left out of the contract.

BUSINESS FORMATION

When you are starting a business, choosing the right business entity can be critical to your success. At Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLC, we work closely with our clients to make sure that the entity you choose fits your needs. In business formation, our focus is not just on maximizing profits, but limiting your personal financial liability in the event of debts or business litigation.

We serve a wide range of business formation needs, helping our clients create several different types of business entities:

LLCs

Partnerships and LLPs

CRIMINAL

Walter A. Schmidlin is a skilled, experienced and aggressive trial lawyer who represents people in all areas of criminal law including:

• Federal crimes
• Drug offenses
• Homicides
• Firearm offenses
• Theft
• Burglary
• Robbery
• DWI/DUI
• White collar crimes
• Drunk driving
• Traffic violations
• Juvenile offenses

Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor, felony, complicated conspiracy case or a first time traffic offense, Walter A. Schmidlin and his staff will take the time to guide you through the legal process. Passage through the criminal justice system can be an intimidating, confusing and frightening process. Mr. Schmidlin will patiently and matter of factly explain the procedures, possible consequences, and available legal options in your case.

DRUGS

State and federal law enforcement have undertaken a number of initiatives in their "war on drugs." As a result, sentences and fines for drug and narcotics related-crimes have increased. Additionally, criminal forfeitures are now initiated in most drug cases involving possession and suspected smuggling. Under state and federal law, the government can seize any assets or property it believes were acquired with proceeds from illegal drug activity. At Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLC, our criminal defense lawyers work with our own investigators to gather evidence that contradicts the prosecutor's version of events. Even if drugs were found in your possession, how they got there and how they were discovered by the police can make all the difference between guilt and innocence.

Don't assume there are no options available to you — contact our office today and schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your case.

Fighting Drug Crimes Charges
The law office of Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLC counsels and defends clients charged with the following drug and narcotics-related crimes:

• Drug possession
• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Ecstasy
• Narcotics smuggling
• Manufacturing illegal drugs
• Methamphetamine
• Crack
• Distributing/selling drugs
• Illegal use of prescription medications
• War on Drugs = War on Rights

The strength of the case against you will depend on the actions of police officers and the manner in which drugs were discovered in your possession. If your car was searched after being stopped, prosecutors must prove the stop and ensuing search were constitutional. Without a search warrant, police must have probable cause to enter a residence. If police or investigators knock on a suspect's door to "look for probable cause" after the door is opened, any evidence seized afterwards may be excluded at trial.

Likewise, shady informants who have cut a deal with prosecutors to provide testimony in exchange for a reduced sentence cannot be trusted. Our attorneys investigate the background of informants to expose ulterior motives they may have for providing distorted or false testimony against our clients.

Contact Drug Crimes Defense Attorneys Today
It's important to begin the process of building your defense as soon as you are arrested or targeted for investigation. Depending on the situation, it may be possible to convince prosecutors to focus their investigation elsewhere or reduce the charges against you.

To schedule a confidential consultation protected by the client-attorney privilege, contact Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLC today.

TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS

DWI/DUI

The last thing a person living and working needs is a drunk driving (DUI/DWI) or traffic offense citation, charge or arrest. DWI and traffic offense penalties can include license revocation, jail time or worse, including a damaged reputation. It is essential that you understand how to minimize the negative impact of a DUI arrest or conviction if you want to avoid license suspension and jail time. At Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLCA our attorneys explore alternatives to jail and the loss of our clients' drivers' licenses. In some cases, agreeing to community service and enrollment in an alcohol counseling program may convince the court to reduce the charges or sentence against you. Our lawyers work with the court to explore these and other alternatives.

If you are facing charges for a traffic offense contact an attorney at Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLC can help. Contact us to schedule a confidential consultation.

FEDERAL

Federal Criminal Defense
For most people, a looming federal court case can be a calamity. A federal investigation or indictment can play havoc on one's career, family life, finances, and reputation. At Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLC, we provide criminal defense representation in federal court matters in the state of North Carolina.

Our attorneys have seen the toll federal investigations or indictments can take, and we have helped many clients avoid such devastation. If you are facing the possibility of federal criminal charges, don't wait to ask us for help. There are Major differences between State and Federal Courts and knowing those differences can be the key to successfully representing those charged in Federal court. The federal system is much more complicated and complex than the cases and issues that arise in State court. Contact an experienced federal criminal defense lawyer at Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLC, to schedule a confidential consultation.

Our attorneys have experience defending clients in scores of federal criminal cases, including federal robbery, federal drug cases, and gun charges.

We provide criminal defense representation for white-collar crimes and other federal offenses, including charges of:

• Racketeering (RICO violations)
• Federal drug charges
• Fraud (mail fraud, wire fraud, mortgage fraud, bank fraud)
• Corruption
• Securities fraud (SEC violations)
• Embezzlement
• Bribery
• Extortion
• Federal gun charges
• Computer crimes
• Tax crimes
• Kidnapping

Contact Us
If you have been notified that you are under investigation and/or have been charged with a federal crime, you cannot afford to wait. You need to contact a federal criminal defense lawyer at Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLC, to schedule a confidential consultation. We will closely assess your case and provide the guidance you need to navigate the federal court system and the zealous representation you need to protect your legal rights. . Each lawyer at Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLC participates in many hours of training on a yearly basis to keep each of them up to date on issues involving federal criminal defense. As a result, the lawyers of Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLC are very familiar with the United States Federal Sentencing Guidelines and how they apply on a case-by-case basis.

Federal Criminal Appeals
If you have been convicted of a federal crime, whether a white collar offense such as extortion or a federal drug charge, you may have been convicted in error. There may have been irregularities at your trial. Evidence that should have been suppressed may have been presented to the jury. The system allows you to appeal a federal criminal conviction.

Contact Us
If you find yourself in the position of needing to appeal a federal criminal conviction, our lawyers at Stewart & Schmidlin, PLLC will help. We commit to providing you with a thorough understanding of your rights, your options, and the federal criminal appeals process. Contact us to discuss your case in a confidential consultation.