J. K. “Jay” Coward
Practice Focus: Real Estate & Transactions, Real Property Law, Construction Law, General Civil Litigation, Business & Corporate Law, Municipal & County Government Law (Zoning, Planning & Land Use, Eminent Domain & Condemnation, Annexation, Municipal Counsel), Estate Planning & Estate Settlements, Guardianships, Native Peoples & Indian Law, Minor Traffic Law
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: Sylva | Phone: 828-586-2147 | Facsimile: 828-586-2605 | Email: jkcoward@chspa.com
EDUCATION
Campbell University School of Law
- Juris Doctor, 1984
- Campbell Law Observer
Davidson College
- Bachelor of Arts, Honors in English, 1978
University of East Anglia, Norwich, England
- 1975 – 1976
LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Coward, Hicks & Siler, P.A.
- Partner, Sylva, North Carolina, 1984 – Present
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
North Carolina Bar Association
- Member, 1984 – Present
North Carolina Bar Association, Real Property Section
- Member, 1984 – Present
ADMISSIONS
- The State of North Carolina, 1984
- United States District Court, Western District of North Carolina, 1986
- United States Supreme Court, 1987
- The Cherokee Supreme Court, 2002
- United States Tax Court, 2007
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Western Carolina Community Chorus
- Member, 1970 – Present
Jackson County Rescue Squad
- Member, 1978 – 1981
Southwestern Community College Foundation
- Member, 1984 – 1986
Jackson County Arts Council
- Member, 1986 – 1988
Jackson County Board of Commissioners
- Member, 1994 – 1998
Harris Regional Hospital Board of Directors
- Board Member, 1995 – 1997
North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching Foundation
- Board Member, 1998 – 2010
Jackson County Economic Development Commission
- Member, 2000 – 2009
Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina
- Member, 2004 – 2012
Sylva First Baptist Church Board of Deacons/Trustees
- Board Member, 1990 – Present
Jackson County Board of Elections
- Chairman, 1990 – 1994
Pinnacle Park Foundation
- Chairman, 1992 – Present
Webster Enterprises (Sheltered Workshop)
- Chairman, 1998 – 2000
Sylva Rotary Club
- Chairman, 2001
Jackson County Chamber of Commerce
- Chairman, 2002
Sylva First Baptist Church Board of Deacons
- Chairman, 1992, 1995, 1996
Friends of the Mountain to Sea Trail Foundation
- Member, 2012-Present