Overview
Joe Houchin is a litigator and Chair of Kaufman & Canoles’ White-Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Team where he represents clients under investigation or charged with criminal offenses in state and federal court. He also maintains a business litigation and regulatory compliance practice representing the needs of North Carolina employers and entrepreneurs.
Joe has achieved successful results for clients facing a variety of white-collar crimes including healthcare fraud, government/military procurement fraud, tax fraud, embezzlement, computer trespass, and other types of alleged corporate malfeasance. He has helped clients avoid criminal charges altogether by successfully navigating government and law enforcement investigations including with the FBI, HHS-OIG, IRS, Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, NC Medicaid Fraud Investigations Unit, and NC State Board of Elections. With extensive experience handling criminal cases including as a panel member accepting CJA federal appointed cases, Joe also represents professionals and executives with select sensitive matters.
Joe has represented both large and small businesses in state and federal courts across North Carolina and Virginia facing a variety of legal challenges. Joe has helped clients in heavily regulated industries facing enhanced risk, such as ABC permittees and companies in the hemp/CBD and sweepstakes/skill-based games, to ensure compliance and avoid agency enforcement action, civil liability, and criminal charges. Additionally, Joe regularly helps businesses that have received civil penalty assessments or criminal charges from the NC Industrial Commission for insurance noncompliance.
Joe has appeared before a variety of government agencies and professional licensing boards as part of his administrative and regulatory practice including the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, N.C. General Contractors Licensing Board, the N.C. Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors, the N.C. City and County Management Association, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, the North Carolina Department of Revenue, and the N.C. Code Qualifications Board. He gratefully serves by appointment on the N.C. State Bar Disciplinary Hearing Commission, the N.C. Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission, and the N.C. Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism.
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Representative Matters
Tried cases in state and federal courts representing clients charged with a variety of criminal offenses. Case results have included not guilty verdicts and dismissals based on constitutional defenses, insufficiency of government evidence, or law enforcement error
Represented military personnel under investigation for government contract and procurement fraud. Case resulted in termination of investigation without criminal charges
Represented tax professional facing criminal investigation by the IRS. Case was ultimately closed following completion of the investigation without criminal charges ever being filed
Represented numerous home health care businesses, executives, and employees under investigation or charged with Medicare/Medicaid fraud in both state and federal court
Representation of individuals under investigation by the NC Board of Elections for election fraud and campaign finance violations
Defended corporate executives charged by their employer with computer trespass and computer fraud
Discreet and sensitive representation of corporate professionals under investigation by law enforcement agencies. Past success includes representation of client falsely accused of serious sexual misconduct, resulting in termination of investigation without charges being filed
Representation of hemp/CBD which specific counsel on issues related permit applications, Controlled Substance Act compliance, FDA compliance and enforcement action, USDA rule updates, asset seizure, and prosecution efforts by regulatory agencies and law enforcement
Representation of businesses penalized or facing contempt action by the NC Industrial Commission for workers’ compensation noncompliance. Collectively saved clients in excess of one million dollars sought by the state in penalties
Represented government contractor under investigation by DCIS for procurement fraud. Case favorably resolved by corporate plea agreement without criminal charges against company owner individually
Recognition & Honors
Honors & Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America, 2025-2026
Business North Carolina; Legal Elite, 2022, 2024
North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars; 2018-2025
John J. Gibbons National Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition, runner-up
Daniel Coker Horton & Bell Appellate Advocacy Competition, winner
University of Mississippi Moot Court Board, Chairman
National Moot Court Team Member
Press & Publications
News
Speaking Engagements
Community & Professional
Associations
North Carolina State Bar Disciplinary Hearing Commission; Commissioner
North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission; Commissioner
North Carolina Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism; Member
Federalist Society, Triangle Lawyers Chapter
E.A. Morris Fellowship for Emerging Leaders, John Locke Foundation
Blackstone Fellow, Alliance Defending Freedom
Credentials
Education
George Mason University; B.A., 2008
University of Mississippi School of Law; J.D., 2011
Court Admissions
US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
US District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
Beyond the Law
Joe serves as a deacon at Providence Church in Raleigh and enjoys swimming, running, and handyman projects around the house.
