Former federal prosecutor Jim May joins Wyche, P.A. as a member of the firm

Veteran federal prosecutor to join the firm’s litigation practice group and lead governmental investigations and white-collar defense practice

Wyche, a leading full-service law firm with three offices across South Carolina, announces that Jim May, a former federal prosecutor has joined the firm as a member in its litigation practice. May will be based in the Columbia and Greenville offices of Wyche and will focus his practice on complex litigation.

“Jim is a renowned attorney who has worked on some of the highest-profile financial investigations in the state and nation,” says Tally Parham Casey, CEO and Chair of Wyche’s executive committee. “His extensive experience and successful legal work will provide our clients with exceptional counsel and representation in governmental investigations and litigation.”

As a member of the litigation practice, May will concentrate on white-collar criminal defense, government and internal investigations, securities litigation, false claim actions, and other complex civil litigation. He will also help to establish and grow a governmental investigations and white-collar defense team for the firm.

“The chance to join a firm that combines 100 years of legal excellence with a focus on serving the community is an incredible opportunity,” May says. “Wyche has a national reputation and a deep roster of talent that provides a strong platform upon which to build a world-class white-collar defense and litigation practice.”

Before joining Wyche, May served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina from 2012 to 2021. He was named Senior Litigation Counsel in 2018 and held that position until his departure.

While with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, May handled complex criminal prosecutions of bank, health care, and securities fraud, along with public corruption matters. May coordinated the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s examination of fraudulent Securities and Regulatory filings, made by executives of SCANA and other companies related to the abandonment of construction of a nuclear power plant in South Carolina. This investigation resulted in guilty pleas by the CEO and COO of SCANA and a Vice President of Westinghouse, also he lead negotiations of obtaining more than $4 billion of ratepayer relief. Wyche attorneys represented the state regulatory agency in concurrent civil and ratemaking proceedings regarding costs of the abandonment of the nuclear power plant project.

May also served as the lead and coordinating attorney for prosecutions across 20 federal districts for Operation Brace Yourself, an international health care fraud investigation. May teamed with the Department of Justice’s Healthcare Fraud Taskforce and the FBI to investigate and prosecute the transnational kickback scheme. Operation Brace Yourself was the largest single health care fraud investigation in FBI history, producing more than 150 convictions and over $1 billion in restitution.

Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s office, May was an assistant public defender for the Richland County (SC) Public Defender’s Office from 2007 to 2012, during which time he represented more than 1,800 clients. May obtained not guilty verdicts on numerous trials ranging from murder to drug trafficking to firearms charges.

May earned his J.D. from University of South Carolina School of Law. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human and Organizational Development and a Master’s degree in Human, Organizational, and Community Development from Vanderbilt University, where he was a four-year starter for the Commodores football team and named to numerous All-SEC teams.

About Wyche, P.A. Wyche is a full-service law firm that has practiced law and served the community for 100 years. In that time, Wyche has participated in landmark litigation, served as counsel on cutting-edge transactions, and provided community leadership that has helped shape and drive the region’s growth and success. With offices in Greenville, Spartanburg and Columbia, Wyche is the South Carolina member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms.