James DeMaybegan his law career in 2007 with Ferguson, Scarbrough & Hayes, PLLC. After years of partnering with Dan Bryson, Scott Harris, and Hunter Bryson, Mr. DeMay made the decision to join the Milberg team in 2021, focusing his practice on municipal law and land-use litigation.
With a specific interest in the area of development impact fees, Mr. DeMay is successful in defending the rights of private land owners against unauthorized or unfair impact fee charges. His experience includes representing both municipalities and private land owners in complex civil matters involving statutory and municipal ordinance violations, as well as other matters.
Mr. DeMay has stepped into numerous leadership roles, having been appointed as class counsel in class action lawsuits involving illegal fees paid by homebuilders and recovering over $30 million for his clients. In collaboration with the North Carolina Home Builders Association, he oversees various land-use legislative matters and has even argued cases before the North Carolina Supreme Court and the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Outside the office, Mr. Demay enjoys spending time with his wife, Laura, and running ultra-marathons and trail races. One of his highlight races includes competing in the Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim race across the Grand Canyon. His running goals include successfully completing a 100-mile race in the near future.
