Our Criminal Defense Attorney
James “Buddy” Allard Jr.
Meet “Buddy” Allard Jr.
James “Buddy” Allard Jr. is a Wilmington criminal defense attorney and the lead attorney carrying forward the legacy of Hewlett, Collins & Allard, PLLC. A Wilmington native, Mr. Allard earned his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and his law degree from Campbell University. Since being admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 1986, he has focused his career on criminal defense, DWI defense, traffic matters, felonies, misdemeanors, drug charges, sex offenses, violent crimes, domestic violence cases, and trials in state and federal courts.
Over the years, Mr. Allard has represented clients in a wide range of serious and high-profile criminal matters throughout New Hanover County and Southeastern North Carolina. His experience includes cases involving public officials, complex felony allegations, impaired driving, drug offenses, violent crimes, and other matters that require careful preparation and strong courtroom advocacy. Known for his strategic approach, Mr. Allard works to evaluate the evidence, anticipate the prosecution’s next move, and help clients understand their options when their freedom, reputation, and future are at stake.
Outside Of The Courtroom
Mr. Allard has spent much of his life around horses and competitive western horseback riding. Growing up with horses and owning a stable taught him lessons that carry into his work as a defense attorney: patience, timing, trust, awareness, and the importance of staying calm under pressure. Just as working with horses requires reading subtle cues and knowing when to move, when to wait, and when to adjust, criminal defense requires the ability to understand people, study the details, and build a strategy for what comes next.
Strategy. Protection. The Next Move.
The Meaning Behind the Knight
The knight is more than a symbol. It represents the way Hewlett, Collins & Allard approaches criminal defense. In chess, the knight does not move like every other piece on the board. It sees different paths. It creates unexpected angles. It can move around obstacles. Most importantly, it rewards strategy over reaction.
That same idea is central to strong criminal defense. When someone is charged with a crime, every decision matters. What is said to law enforcement matters. How the evidence is reviewed matters. Timing matters. Preparation matters. The next move matters.
HCA Law uses the knight as a reminder of the firm’s mission: to think strategically, protect clients, and help them move forward with confidence when the stakes are high.
