After practicing briefly with a small Raleigh law firm, James Vann began his own law practice as a sole practitioner in 1993. The firm concentrates in the areas of commercial creditors’ rights and commercial collections, business disputes and negotiations. The firm also represents clients in the areas of construction law, business law and planning, and civil litigation.

A majority of the firm’s practice is in the area of commercial collections. Vann Attorneys represents a number of commercial suppliers of building products within the construction industry. “When our clients need our help collecting money from general contractors for supplies delivered, we work with our client and the debtor in determining how the money can be repaid and what options and alternatives are available. Our clients know that and appreciate the extra effort,” says James Vann. 

When speaking at seminars conducted by professional trade associations throughout the United States, Vann Attorneys has been able to educate their membership, and in turn, many clients in the complex nature of commercial collections, construction law, contract law and general business law. For the employees of several of the firm’s larger clients with national distribution, the attorneys teach seminars on, among other issues, collections, creditors’ rights, e-commerce purchase and contract law, payment bond claims and lien law. The North Carolina Bar Association and other groups have called upon the firm to lead sessions of the Continuing Legal Education in general construction law, commercial collections, creditors rights and bankruptcy law within the construction industry as well.

“We help our clients understand that if they protect themselves from the beginning, it makes it much easier to collect money later on,” adds James Vann. “We review contracts and try to be very proactive in addressing our clients’ collection problems.”

Several of the attorneys at Vann Attorneys are certified mediators. “Through our mediation experience, we’ve learned to be better advocates for our clients,” Vann says. “The mediation process is invaluable.”

The attorneys of Vann Attorneys use their business sense and economic know-how to help clients on general business issues such as contract formation, asset purchases and employment matters. It is all part of the umbrella of services that the firm offers their various clients which include individuals, privately held family businesses and corporations with national and international distribution.

“Helping our clients meet their personal and business goals is the focus of our firm as a whole, and of each individual attorney and staff member,” Vann says. “We get to know our clients on a personal level and strive to build long-term relationships in order to provide quick, sound legal advice and representation for long-term planning.”

“We build a partnership with our clients,” adds Vann. “They’ve come to know what to expect from us. We value the relationships we have built with them.”