Edelstein & Payne was started by partners Steven Edelstein and Travis Payne in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1982. Steven and Travis were working in Legal Services, but opened a private firm when the federal government imposed restrictions on the way in which Legal Services attorneys could represent their clients. Vanessa Lucas joined in 2005 and became partner in 2012, and Sean Cecil joined the firm in early 2015. In summer 2016, Attorney Lucas left the firm and became Judge Lucas when she accepted a job as administrative law judge for the Social Security Administration. Elizabeth Albiston joined the firm in 2018, adding her years of experience in civil litigation and post-conviction relief to the firm's arsenal.

Edelstein & Payne lawyers have been lead attorneys on numerous important cases establishing or vindicating rights, including those of dismissed employees, injured workers, whistleblowers, people who are disabled and unable to work, and people injured as a result of someone else's negligence. Our attorneys also have considerable experience in representing accused criminals in jury trials and motions practice. The firm has successfully represented numerous state, federal employees, and local govenerment employees through the grievance and appeals process. We also emphasize representation in personal injury cases, workers' compensation, and social security disability cases. 

Firm attorneys are active in community organizations and have consistently been listed in "Superlawyers" and "Best Law Firms" among other distinctions.