Parker Poe traces its roots back to 1884, when it was founded by Heriot Clarkson, later a Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. By 1990, the firm (then known as Parker, Poe, Thompson, Bernstein, Gage & Preston) had grown to more than 65 lawyers, and had one of North Carolina's most sophisticated general corporate and business practices, as well as strong practices in the areas of litigation, the environment, tax law, real estate and lending.
In 1990, the firm merged with the 30-lawyer Raleigh firm of Adams, McCullough and Beard, which was founded in 1965 by Senator Terry Sanford and several other attorneys and which was recognized for its litigation, legislative and public finance practices.
In 1992, Parker Poe established an office in Spartanburg, South Carolina to serve existing business clients and to take advantage of the fast-growing upstate South Carolina business region. In 1996, the firm also opened an office in Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, where it now conducts a general business and governmental relations practice. Parker Poe opened its third South Carolina office, in historic Charleston in January 2004, which has more than doubled in size since its opening.
In 2005, the firm created Parker Poe Consulting, LLC through the acquisition of Governmental Consultants, a governmental relations firm in Columbia, South Carolina, as part of a continuing effort to create a network of superior governmental relations services in the Carolinas.
The firm opened a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina office in 2006 to meet the needs of our resort, hospitality and real estate development clients. The Myrtle Beach area is one of the fastest growing communities in America.
Today Parker Poe has grown to 225 attorneys and we continue to grow to meet the needs of our clients across the Carolinas, the United States and the world.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT US
- The National Law Journal 250 list, 2007, 2006, 2005 & 2004
- Corporate Board Member magazine's Legal Industry Research study has listed Parker Poe as one of the top five firms in Charlotte since the study's inception in 2001
- Irvin W. Hankins III is serving as President of the North Carolina State Bar
- Charles C. Meeker elected to his fourth two-year term as mayor of Raleigh in 2007
- Russell B. Killen elected as mayor of Knightdale in 2007
- Catharine B. Arrowood named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America
- 40 Attorneys named to Woodward/White's Best Lawyers in America 2008
- 21 Attorneys named to Business North Carolina magazine's "Legal Elite" for 2008
- 21 Attorneys named North Carolina Super Lawyers for 2008
- Five attorneys named South Carolina Super Lawyers for 2008
- One attorney in Charlotte named to the 2007 "Forty Under 40" list
- Two Attorneys in Raleigh, one in Charlotte and one in Charleston named to the 2006 "Forty Under 40" list
- Catharine B. Arrowood elected President 2007 for Wake County Bar Association and 10th Judicial District
- Steven D. Weber named to North Carolina Environmental Management Commission
- Catharine B. Arrowood and Robert W. Spearman appointed to North Carolina State Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers
AFFILIATIONS
Parker Poe is an active member of TerraLex, a global network of more than 155 independent law firms and 15,000 attorneys providing clients with worldwide access to local legal counsel. TerraLex member firms are located in nearly all 50 states and almost 100 countries.
As the exclusive TerraLex firm in North Carolina, Parker Poe has represented clients of foreign and domestic law firms in acquisitions to trademark infringements, contract negotiations and numerous other business, litigation and employment matters. TerraLex firms have counseled our clients on matters in business capitols and remote locations around the world.
Parker Poe is also a member of the Employment Law Alliance, a comprehensive network of law firms from 300 cities around the world with experienced employment and labor attorneys.