Pinna, Johnston & Burwell, P.A.

What Pinna, Johnston & Burwell, P.A. does

Pinna, Johnston & Burwell, P.A. is a privately held professional services law firm headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, founded in 1970 by William P. Pinna. The firm operates from a single office in Raleigh's Five Points neighborhood and serves individuals, closely held businesses, family enterprises, professional practices, and commercial real estate investors throughout North Carolina. The firm reconstituted in 2025 after operating under the Envisage Law brand from approximately 2021 to 2025.

The firm delivers six integrated practice areas: Corporate and Business Law (transactions, M&A, entity formations), Commercial Real Estate (acquisitions, development, leasing, 1031 exchanges), Administration of Trusts/Estates/Probate, Estate and Wealth Transfer Planning, Tax Audits/Workouts/Tax Controversy (including IRS and North Carolina Department of Revenue representation and U.S. Tax Court admission), and Tax Preparation. A distinctive feature is the integration of attorneys and CPAs within one firm, enabling combined legal-tax counsel on entity structuring, succession planning, and tax controversy matters.

Revenue is generated through professional services billings — hourly rates, flat fees for specific matters, and project-based engagements — with fee estimates provided upfront. The firm employs approximately 16–17 people across five equity partners, additional attorneys, CPAs/accountants, paralegals, and legal assistants. Client acquisition is relationship-driven, relying on referrals from CPAs, financial advisors, and peer attorneys, professional recognition (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Business NC Legal Elite), and content marketing via blog and SEO. There is no proprietary technology platform, no public API, and no disclosed AI capabilities.

Name

Pinna, Johnston & Burwell, P.A.

Legal name

Pinna, Johnston & Burwell, P.A.

Website

https://pjb-law.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pinna, Johnston & Burwell, P.A. is a Raleigh-based law and tax firm serving North Carolina individuals, closely held businesses, and family enterprises across corporate, commercial real estate, estate planning, and tax controversy matters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Trust, Fiduciary, and Custody Activities (523991)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trust & Estate Tax Planning & Compliance (FSAEAKAE), Trust Administration & Fiduciary Accounting Services (FSAAANAF)

Keywords

• Corporate business law
• Commercial real estate law
• Estate planning services
• Trusts and probate administration
• Tax controversy representation

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services: Professional legal services billed through hourly rates, flat fees for specific services, or project-based arrangements. Services include corporate law, commercial real estate, estate planning, tax preparation, and tax controversy representation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pinna, Johnston & Burwell, P.A. is a boutique law firm providing integrated legal and tax services across corporate and business law, commercial real estate, trust and estate administration, estate and wealth transfer planning, tax controversy and audit representation, and tax preparation. The firm delivers these services through attorneys (several of whom are also CPAs) and legal/accounting support staff from its Raleigh office to individuals, closely held and family businesses, professional practices, and real estate investors throughout North Carolina.

Product overview

Pinna, Johnston & Burwell, P.A. is a law firm offering legal services, not a technology product company. The firm provides six core legal service offerings: Corporate and Business Law (transactions, M&A, contracts), Commercial Real Estate (acquisitions, development, leasing, 1031 exchanges), Administration of Trusts, Estates & Probate (estate administration, probate proceedings), Estate and Wealth Transfer Planning (wealth preservation, asset protection, succession planning), Tax Audits, Workouts and Tax Controversy (IRS/state representation, tax court), and Tax Preparation (individual, corporate, partnership, estate, trust returns). The services are delivered by attorneys and CPAs, combining legal expertise with accounting knowledge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate and Business Law Legal counsel for corporate matters, commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, business formations, and contract drafting and negotiation for closely held businesses, family businesses, and professional practices.
• Commercial Real Estate Legal representation for commercial real estate transactions including acquisitions, development, leasing, and tax-deferred (like-kind) exchanges for real estate investors, developers, and property owners.
• Administration of Trusts, Estates and Probate Legal assistance with estate administration, probate proceedings, trust management, and compliance with applicable laws, delivered in coordination with the firm's attorneys, paralegals, and accountants.
• Estate and Wealth Transfer Planning Strategic planning for wealth preservation, asset protection, tax minimization, and intergenerational wealth transfer for individuals and families, coordinated with the client's other trusted advisors.
• Tax Audits, Workouts and Tax Controversy IRS and state tax authority representation for audits, appeals, Tax Court litigation, offers in compromise, and tax debt resolution, including federal income, payroll, and sales tax matters.
• Tax Preparation Federal and state tax return preparation for individuals, corporations, partnerships, estates, and trusts, performed by the firm's attorneys and CPAs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,000+ clients served over firm's history
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP: Multi-state business and estate planning law firm with a significant North Carolina presence, providing corporate, tax, and wealth transfer services to closely held businesses and families.
• Maynard Nexsen PC: Southeast-based full-service law firm with strong North Carolina offices serving closely held businesses, real estate investors, and HNW families on corporate, tax, and estate planning matters.
• Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP: Regional business law firm with offices in Raleigh and Charlotte serving closely held companies, commercial real estate investors, and HNW individuals across the Carolinas on corporate, tax, and estate matters.
• Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP: Raleigh-based full-service business law firm with strong corporate, M&A, estate planning, and commercial real estate practices serving closely held businesses and HNW families in North Carolina.
• Ward and Smith, P.A. North Carolina-based business law firm (New Bern, Raleigh, Greenville) with similar closely held business, commercial real estate, and estate planning practice mix serving mid-market clients.
• Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard LLP: North Carolina-based business law firm with comparable corporate, tax, real estate, and estate planning practices serving mid-market closely held companies and HNW individuals.
• Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P. Largest Raleigh-based business law firm serving closely held companies, HNW individuals, and commercial real estate clients across North Carolina. Directly comparable to PJB on practice mix (corporate, real estate, estate planning, tax) but at substantially larger scale.
• Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP: Transatlantic law firm with strong North Carolina presence (Charlotte and Raleigh) handling closely held business law, commercial real estate, and trust/estate matters for a similar client base.

Broad incumbents

• McGuireWoods LLP: National law firm with a significant North Carolina presence handling closely held business, M&A, tax, and private client services for larger enterprises and HNW families—a broader-scope competitor to PJB.
• K&L Gates LLP: Global law firm with a Raleigh office providing corporate, tax, real estate, and private client services—competing with PJB for the upper end of the closely held business and HNW estate market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pinna, Johnston & Burwell, P.A.