About James R. Tate

Jim has established himself as one of the premier attorneys in Northern Virginia, having over 40 years of experience practicing law. His practice focuses on white collar crime, civil litigation, and personal injury. Jim served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division. He has also served as an Assistant United States Attorney and a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. In 2015 Jim co-wrote the book, I Am Charged With a Crime, which includes experiences from his legal career and life, and also offers advice for those facing a wide range of criminal charges.

Jim has a peer review rating of “AV” from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating an attorney can obtain. He has also been awarded a 10 out of 10 rating by AVVO, reflecting his exceptional reputation and experience as a legal professional. In 2018, Jim was recognized by Attorney and Practice Magazine’s Top 10 Attorney List.

Beyond the law, Jim actively volunteers of his time for his faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for which in 2007 he served full-time as the President of the Alabama Birmingham Mission for three years. He is married to Sharon Spieks of Avondale, Georgia, and they have two daughters and five grandchildren.

Notable Case

United States v Dr. Mark Capener, United States District Court, Nevada (Reno Division Case 3:05-cr-114 RCJ (RAM)). After a jury trial lasting over a month Dr. Capener was acquitted of all 52 counts brought against him. After the trial, the trial judge, in a rare ruling, required the Government to pay part of Dr. Capener’s attorneys’ fees and expenses. See Order) The ruling against the Government is now before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

Associations and Memberships

Mr. Tate has served on the Fairfax Red Cross Board, the 4-H Board, and the Symphony Advisory Board.

 

Awards

Reviews for James R. Tate

Have you consulted or hired this lawyer?

Leave a review about your experience with this lawyer.

Write a Review

Overall Rating
Showing 1-1 of 1 client reviews from Lawyers.com
Lawyers.com Rating Snapshot
5 stars
0%
4 stars
0%
3 stars
0%
2 stars
0%
1 star
100%
What do people say on Lawyers.com?
Communication
1.0
Quality of Service
1.0
Responsiveness
1.0
Value for Money
1.0
Civil Litigation
Posted by Daniel
July 16, 2025
Hired Attorney

Horrible lawyer, will take your money and buy his 70 foot yacht, get a retainer for his PI Michelle, then proceed to do nothing at all. Worthless as a lawyer and worthless as a human being. Be prepared to get thrown on the bus so he can set sail.

Services

Areas of Law

  • Litigation 1
    • Civil Litigation
  • Personal Injury
  • White Collar Crime
  • Other 1
    • Criminal Defense

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    1968, Virginia
    1998, Maryland
    United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
    United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
    United States Supreme Court
  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    George Washington University
    Class of 1968
    J.D.
    Other Education
    Georgia Tech University
    Class of 1965
    B.S.
    Chemical Engineering
  • Military Service
    1st Lt., 101st Airborne Division, Vietnam, U.S. Army, 1969-1970

Contact James R. Tate

Founding Partner at Tate, Bywater, Fuller, Mickelsen & Tull, PLC.
4.3
4 reviews

2740 Chain Bridge RoadVienna, VA 22181U.S.A.

Show on map
Office Hours:
  • Monday 08:30 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Tuesday 08:30 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Wednesday 08:30 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Thursday 08:30 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Friday 08:30 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Saturday By appointment

Activity

Case type is required.
I am is required.
First name is required.
Last name is required.
A valid zip code is required.
Country is required.
State is required.
A valid city is required.
A valid email address is required.
A valid phone number is required.
Message is required.
0/1000 characters

By clicking the Submit button, you agree to the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms and Privacy Policy. You also consent to be contacted at the phone number you provided, including by autodials, text messages and/or pre-recorded calls, from Lawyers.com and its affiliates and from or on behalf of attorneys you request or contact through this site. Consent is not a condition of purchase.

You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Emails sent through this site do not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent though this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. See Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Thank you! Your message has been successfully sent.

For your records, a copy of this email has been sent to test@test.com.

Summary of Your Message
Case Type:
I am a/an:
First Name:
Last Name:
City:
Zip Code or Postal Code:
State:
Country:
Phone Number:
Message:

Attorneys FAQs

  • Is this attorney admitted to the bar in more than one state?
    Yes, James R. Tate is admitted to practice in Maryland and Virginia.
  • Does this attorney offer any legal services for a flat fee?
    Yes, James R. Tate offers fixed fees for certain legal services.
  • What law school did this attorney attend?
    James R. Tate attended George Washington University.
  • What year was this attorney's law firm established?
    Tate, Bywater, Fuller, Mickelsen & Tull, PLC. was established in 1972.