Bill Pinna has been practicing law for over 50 years in North Carolina. His considerable expertise in tax, estate, corporate and business law has helped his clients navigate the complexities of business ownership and individual tax planning. Throughout his career, he has maintained the highest degree of professional knowledge to analyze, advise, and help clients plan for the future and resolve problems in the present. Teaching business law, taxation, and accounting at North Carolina State University and Corporate Planning and Tax at Duke University Law School added to this expertise, in addition to serving as Chairman of the North Carolina Property Commission for the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
Throughout his career, Bill has served as a managing partner and director of more than 35 real estate, financial partnerships, and limited liability companies. In addition, he has litigated cases before the United States Tax Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. With the wealth of knowledge he has gained over his career, he has been a frequent speaker at conferences and seminars for Wake Forest University, North Carolina State University, North Carolina CPA and the North Carolina Bar Association regarding retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning, and methods of income distribution in small and medium law firms.
Bill has always been known to go the “extra mile” for his clients. He takes a personal interest in learning as much as possible about his clients, their plans, concerns, and dreams for the future in guiding them to achieve success in these endeavors.
His personal interest in his clients has led to lifelong clients and 2nd and 3rd generation family of clients coming to him for continued advice in managing their businesses, corporations, and estates. One of his oldest clients wrote to encourage him with his newest endeavor -Envisage, saying, “Bill, I just want you to know that I consider you to be a great lawyer, a great business partner and a great friend.”
Married 55 years, 2 children, 5 grandchildren
Board of Directors, WakeMed Health and Hospitals, 1996-2001, 2003-2010
President – Crail Creek Homeowners Association, Big Sky, Montana
St. Andrew the Apostle, Finance Committee
Lions Club
Former Youth Soccer Coach for six years; 1994 Taco Bell and 1996 Wrangler Cup Champions
Former YMCA Guide/Indian Princess Program
Duke University, Juris Doctor (J.D.), 1968
DePaul University, B.S.C., magna cum laude, 1966
Wake County Bar Association
North Carolina Bar Association
American Bar Association
Member, Committees on: Accounting Problems, Agricultural Tax Laws, Section of Taxation (1969-2020)
Past Chairman (1968-1985), Committees on Accounts Receivable & Billing; Personal Computers; Money Management and Investments; Economics of Law Practice Section of the ABA, (1983-1985);
Subcommittee Chair Section 2032{A) Agricultural Tax Law – ABA Section of Taxation.
Chicago and Illinois State Bar Association (1969-1972)
Other Professional Memberships
National Association of Accountants
American Association of Accountants
Phi Eta Sigma, Beta Alpha Psi, Phi Alpha Delta Honor Societies
Outstanding Teacher Award, North Carolina State University, 1969-70, 1975-76
Marquis “Who’s Who in American Law” (Featured three times)
Legal Elite Award, Business North Carolina, 2005
Best Lawyers Award, 2001
Best Lawyers in America Award – Tax Law, 2022
Accountant -Arthur Anderson & Co, Borg-Warner Corp -1960’s
Tax Specialist, A.M. Pullen & Co., 1968-1969
Associate and Partner, Spears, Spears, Barnes & Baker, Boles & Pinna, 1969-1974
Managing Partner, Pinna, Johnston, and Burwell, 1975-2020
Managing Partner, Envisage Law, 2021 – 2024
Assistant Professor, North Carolina State University, 1968-1981
Adjunct Associate Professor, Corporate and Partnership Planning and Drafting and Business Planning, Duke University School of Law, 1978-1987
Chairman, North Carolina Property Tax Commission, 1988-1992