James K Coward Jr. - Sylva, NC
Attorney at Coward, Hicks & Siler, P.A.
Lawyers in Sylva, NC
705 West Main Street Sylva, NC 28779
Updated: 02/16/2026
Attorney Information
Overview
James Kent (“Jay”) Coward, Jr. was born and raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and has been practicing law in Sylva since 1984. He attended the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, received his B.A.with honors in English from Davidson College in 1977, and earned his law degree from Campbell University in 1984, where he was a member of the Campbell Law Observer.
Mr. Coward was admitted to the North Carolina Bar Association in 1984 and is licensed to practice in United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (1986), United States Supreme Court (1986, The Cherokee Supreme Court (2002), and United States Tax Court (2007). His areas of practice include Real Estate, Business, Government, Eminent Domain, and Civil Litigation. He has represented clients such as Smoky Mountain Area Mental Health, Duke Energy, Village of Forest Hills (1999-2006), County of Jackson (2010–), and the Town of Highlands (2013–).
Mr. Coward focuses part of his practice on Native American Indian Law and works to successfully represent both enrolled members and non-Indians in matters occurring on the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians lands. He studied the Cherokee language at Kituwah Language Academy.
Mr. Coward has been active in civic affairs his entire career and has served on the boards of Southwestern Community College Foundation, Jackson County Arts Council, the Economic Development Commission, the Westcare Regional Hospital, the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Baptist Childrens’ Home of North Carolina. He has chaired the boards of Webster Enterprises, Jackson County Board of Elections, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, The Pinnacle Park Foundation and the Sylva First Baptist Church Board of Deacons. In 1994, he was elected to the Jackson County Board of Commissioners and served until 1998.
Office: Franklin | Phone: 828-524-6475 | Facsimile: 828-524-9833 | Email: jkcoward@chspa.com
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Elected to the Jackson County Board of Commissioners , 1994 - 1998
Education
-
Legal Education
-
Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law,
Buies Creek,
North Carolina, 1984
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
Honors: Member of the Campbell Law Observer
-
Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law,
Buies Creek,
North Carolina, 1984
-
Non Legal Education
-
Davidson College,
Davidson,
North Carolina, 1977
B.A., Bachelor of Arts
Honors: Honors in English
Major: English - University of East Anglia, Norwich, England, 1976
-
Davidson College,
Davidson,
North Carolina, 1977
References
-
Great Smoky Mountain Railway
-
Jackson Insurance Agency
Pro Bono Activities
- North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Baptist Childrens’ Home of North Carolina
Representative Clients
Nantahola Tower & Light
Smoky Mountain Area Mental Health
Representative Cases
-
Millis Const. Co. v. Fairfield Sapphire Valley, Inc.
- Citation: 358 S.E.2d 566
- Court: N.C.App.
- Year: 1987
- Serial Number: 1987097452
Bar Admissions
- North Carolina, 1984
- U.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina, 1986
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1987
Other Affiliations
- Jaycees
- Boy Scouts of America
- Southwestern Community College Foundation (Board Chairman)
- Jackson County Board of Elections
- Economic Development Commission
- Westcare Regional Hospital
- Webster Enterprises (Chair)
- Jackson County Chamber of Commerce
- The Pinnacle Park Foundation
- Sylva First Baptist Church Board of Deacons
Contact
705 West Main Street
Sylva, NC 28779
Phone: 828-743-2401
Fax: (828) 524-9833
Email: Send a message
Website: https://cowardhicksandsiler.com/
Disclaimer
Your Profile? Update Now
When viewing a listing, consider the state advertising restrictions to which lawyers and law firms must adhere, as well as our FindLaw.com Legal Directory disclaimer. Some lawyers publish comparative information regarding the services that they provide which may be subject to specific comparative communications restrictions.