James Knicely has practiced law in Williamsburg since 1984, primarily in business and real estate law, and estate administration, with extensive experience in civil litigation in state and federal court.

Mr. Knicely is in the general practice of law, with specialized practice in the areas of business law and contracts, real estate, and civil litigation, with an emphasis on constitutional and eminent domain litigation.

From 1999 to 2023, Mr. Knicely was appointed by the then serving Attorneys General of Virginia to conduct extensive eminent domain litigation on behalf of the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Mr. Knicely also practiced municipal bond law at Kutak Rock Huie, Omaha, Nebraska, and Hunton & Williams, Richmond, Virginia, from 1974-1983. Mr. Knicely received his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School and after law school, served as a law clerk to U.S. Circuit Judge Roger Robb of the U. S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, and to Justice Harry A. Blackmun of the U.S. Supreme Court.

He later served three years in the U.S. Navy JAG Corps and is admitted to the Virginia Bar, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Mr. Knicely has served as counsel in several notable cases and has also authored numerous articles on the First Amendment Free Speech, Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses.

Mr. Knicely was born and raised in Western Nebraska. After living in New Zealand as an exchange student, he went on to George Washington University where he received his B. A., with distinction (International Affairs), after serving as Student Body President and election to Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa.

Mr. Knicely is active in his church and has served as an officer and/or director of Foundations Church, The Rutherford Institute, International Nepal Fellowship (North America), Housing Partnerships, Inc., Housing Partnerships Funding Group, Inc., the Virginia Peninsula Swimming Union, and the James City Rotary Club.

Mr. Knicely was also a certified USA Swimming Referee, Starter, and Stroke and Turn Judge, and served on the Officials Committee of Virginia Swimming, Inc. Mr. Knicely and his wife, Leslie, have four married children and ten grandchildren.