Gilbert C. "Gib" Laite III

Ellis Family Law was built to help people navigate some of life’s most personal and high-stakes moments with clarity, strategy, and genuine care. Gray Ellis is the Founder and Managing Partner of the firm, and for more than 20 years, he has helped shape the standards, culture, and approach that guide the team’s work every day. Gray is a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Family Law—a distinction held by fewer than 2% of family law practitioners statewide—and ...

A native of Maryland and a former wrestler and wrestling coach, and now an avid rock climber, Jonathan Blumberg graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with an undergraduate degree in philosophy in 1982 and a law degree, with honors, in 1986. He served two years as a law clerk for Judge Eugene Gordon in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina before joining Tharrington Smith in 1988. Mr. Blumberg works in education law, employment law ...

Lori Allen focuses her practice on workers’ compensation defense, representing employers and insurers across North Carolina. She advises clients in the manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, hospitality, and retail industries and defends claims through all stages of litigation before the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Lori handles complex claims and develops practical strategies to resolve disputes efficiently—whether through negotiated settlements or contested hearings...

Michael leads the Health Care practice. He counsels physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers on regulatory, compliance, and transactional matters. He represents all types of closely-held businesses and their owners on such issues as the formation of business entities, financing transactions, and the merger, acquisition, and sale of businesses. Additionally, Michael advises banks, automobile and tractor finance companies, shopping center owners, homeowners' associations, and suppl...

3 Things to Know About Tom Wilmoth: He leads the firm’s litigation team handling mass torts, multidistrict litigation, and consumer class actions. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers on the Consumer Protection Law list (2025–2026).* He brings prior experience in complex corporate defense litigation, including product liability matters. Tom Wilmoth is a Partner at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin , where he focuses on complex litigation , including mass torts, federal multi...

Theodore C. Edwards, II is a commercial litigator with more than 30 years of experience representing clients in complex disputes throughout North Carolina. Based in Durham, North Carolina, Mr. Edwards serves clients through Cornerstone Legal in matters involving commercial litigation, construction litigation, business disputes, affordable housing matters, and environmental litigation . He also serves as a certified mediator, helping parties work toward practical and efficient dispute resoluti...

Chad McCullen concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, asset protection, business law, and commercial real estate matters. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. In his estate practice, Chad advises clients on planning strategies and prepares a wide variety of documents ranging from basic wills to complex trusts to achieve each client’s individual planning goals in the most tax efficient manner. Chad also represents fi...

As a partner at the firm, Ben Whitley joins his father to provide comprehensive legal representation for their clients. The motivation for the Whitley family’s commitment to law stems from a desire to assist injured individuals, particularly when they face challenges against larger corporations. "Every case proceeds from a position of strength or we don’t proceed at all," says Ben, who has been involved in personal injury law since the beginning of his career for over two decades....

John D. Elvers is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. John D. practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized John D. Elvers since 2012. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which John D. Elvers is held by other lawyers.

Charles is one of the firm's Managing Directors. His practice experience encompasses federal and state court litigation in various areas, including claims for wrongful death and serious personal injury. He has also litigated numerous cases involving complex insurance coverage issues, products liability, and professional malpractice. Charles is a frequent lecturer and has written extensively on a wide range of litigation topics, including "The Nuts and Bolts of Coverage Under the Homeowner Pol...