Member firms of the State Capital Law Firm Group practice independently and not in a relationship for the joint practice of law. The needs of the business community have changed dramatically in recent years as laws governing all aspects of business continue to grow. Many of the firm's attorneys have distinguished records of government service. Partners and past partners include the governor of North Carolina, a former justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, a former Superior Court judge, two former presidents of the North Carolina Bar Association, three former members of the North Carolina General Assembly and several former Assistant United States Attorneys. Several firm attorneys have served in state administrative agencies and several as research assistants for state and federal judges.
Firm attorneys are active in civic, charitable, cultural, and church activities.
They contribute to many publications in their areas of concentration. In addition, the firm has one of the most active pro bono programs of any law firm in the region. Each attorney in the firm is asked to donate 25 to 50 hours of free legal services to the poor each year. 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.