Poyner & Spruill LLP is one of North Carolina’s oldest and largest law firms, tracing its origin to 1883.  Our attorneys bring to their clients' needs a wide range of experience, talents and knowledge. They have extensive involvement in the State’s business, governmental, judicial, political and civic life and have provided and continue to provide leadership in professional and civic organizations across the state.

Poyner & Spruill has offices in Raleigh, Charlotte, Rocky Mount, and Southern Pines, North Carolina, giving it a statewide presence. The firm’s size enables it to foster individual attorney excellence in such diverse practice areas as bankruptcy, workouts, creditors’ rights, employment law, commercial real estate, employee benefits, banking law, venture capital, public utilities, health care law, governmental relations, environmental law, securities law, municipal law, construction law, white collar criminal defense, as well as trials and appeals in all state, federal and administrative courts and tribunals and alternative dispute resolution. The firm brings to bear the resources, talent and experience of all four offices to serve the needs of its clients. In addition, its reputation, size, and client base enable Poyner & Spruill to effectively represent the national and regional interests of its clients.

The firm is the only North Carolina law firm member of the State Capital Global Law Firm Group, an association of fifty independent law firms located in the fifty state capitals and several foreign countries. Poyner & Spruill clients have immediate access to legal representation in every state and in countries such as Mexico, Canada and Great Britain. Member firms of the State Capital Global Law Firm Group practice independently and not in a relationship for the joint practice of law.

The firm is also a member of the USLAW NETWORK, an affiliation of more than 60 independent firms and over 3,500 litigators across the United States.  USLAW NETWORK member firms provide high quality legal representation to major corporations, captive insurance companies, insurance carriers, and large and small businesses across the United States.

Poyner & Spruill's History

Poyner & Spruill was formed January 1, 1986 by the merger of two of North Carolina's oldest and most respected law firms: Poyner, Geraghty, Hartsfield & Townsend of Raleigh and Spruill & Spruill of Rocky Mount and Raleigh.

The Poyner firm was established in Raleigh in 1946 by James M. Poyner, Marshall B. Hartsfield and John J. Geraghty. Newman A. Townsend, Jr. later became associated with the firm. It steadily expanded its civil practice in Raleigh, becoming the city's largest and most established corporate practice and achieving a significant reputation for expertise in tax law.

Spruill & Spruill traced its beginning to l883 when it was established in Henderson by Frank S. Spruill. Spruill moved the firm to Rocky Mount in 1907.

In 1988, Mark B. Edwards and Richard E. Thigpen, Jr., then president of the North Carolina Bar Association, joined the firm and opened its office in Charlotte.