Woodfin Lawyers

Jason is a 1993 graduate of Oak Ridge Military Academy. From there, he attended The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in business administration in 1997. Jason attended Cumberland School of Law, at Samford University, in Birmingham, Alabama where he received his Juris Doctorate in 2000. He has been a member of the North Carolina State Bar since 2001. Jason has practiced law full time in the Iredell County and surrounding areas since 2001 and joined the firm of Gottholm, Ralston and Benton, PLLC in 2014. Jason practices primarily in...

Paul J. Ditz has been practicing law in Cleveland County, NC and surrounding counties for nearly 20 years. He has extensive experience in both criminal and civil courts having tried dozens of cases during that time. As a former prosecutor, he possesses the insight necessary to prepare and present your case successfully and to help you get the best result under the law.

Attorney Brandon Jaynes is the managing partner and owner of Archonix Law, primarily working in the areas of estate planning (wills, trusts, probate, etc.) and business law . Brandon received a Bachelors of Computer Science and a Bachelors of Mathematics from Gardner-Webb University in 2003 where he graduated magna cum laude. While at Gardner-Webb, Brandon was President of both the SIGMA Math Association and the Association for Computing Machinery, Gardner-Webb chapters. In 2006, he was awarded a full scholarship to attend Campbell University’s Norman A. Wiggins School of Law, graduating cum laude with his Juris Doctor degree in 2009. While in...

Born in Shelby, NC July 18, 1978. I grew up in Kings Mountain, NC. Appalachian State University, 2002; University of South Carolina School of Law, 2008. Member: North Carolina Bar Association; Iredell County Bar Association Bio: I taught US History for three years at Hunter Huss High School in Gastonia North Carolina. During my time as a teacher, I also coached the boys and girls soccer teams and participated in other school activities. I am an avid Appalachian State football fan and enjoy traveling to Boone, NC for the games. ...

I am Larry J. Ford, an attorney with 49 years of experience, providing legal services to business owners, families, individuals, and retired persons. My areas of practice include Asset Protection Planning, Business Planning, Corporations, Charitable Trusts, Estate Planning, Federal Tax Planning, Family Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies, Living Trusts, Medicaid Planning, Real Estate, and Wills and Estates. I began my legal career in the Asheville/Hendersonville area, then transitioned to the corporate business and legal sectors in Charlotte, NC, before moving back to Hayesville in 1991. While in Charlotte, I held positions as Vice-President/Legal Counsel at two different title insurance companies and...

Real Estate closings, For-Sale-By-Owner Closings

I have an extensive background in both litigation and in transactional law. Because of my experience I can see the results of a poorly drafted document and its consequences. I have a strong belief that in order to know your product, you have to produce your product. I am a hands-on attorney and I only depend on me to serve the clients needs.

Matthew attended North Carolina State University and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2006 with a Juris Doctorate. He is a partner at Gottholm, Ralston and Benton, PLLC since the firm’s inception in 2014, and was a partner at The Law Offices of Benton & Welborn, PLLC from 2006 until 2011, and The Law Offices of Gottholm, Welborn and Benton, PLLC from 2012-2013. Matthew’s practice primarily focuses on family law, criminal law and civil litigation. Matthew is an experienced litigator, and tries...

Michael J. Barnett is a partner with the Firm. He represents corporations and individuals, plaintiffs and defendants, in a wide variety of litigation matters in the areas of Business/Commercial Litigation, Estate and Trust Proceedings, Will Caveats, Incompetency and Guardianship Proceedings, Family Law, Real Estate and Construction Litigation, Collections, Plaintiff’s Personal Injury, and Bankruptcy-Creditors’ Rights. Mike has represented clients throughout the state in more than 20 trials, at arbitration proceedings and at the North Carolina Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Business Court. He was named one of North Carolina’s Rising Stars for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 in...

Kimberly H. Whitley, Managing Partner of the Firm, concentrates her practice in Business and Corporate Law, Estate Planning and Administration, and Elder and Special Needs Law. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. She received her undergraduate degree (B.A., 1990) with Honors and Distinction and a law degree (J.D., 1993) with High Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As an undergraduate, Kim was a John M. Morehead Scholar, National Merit Scholar, and a Phi Beta Kappa member. During law school, she was a Staff Member of the North Carolina Law Review...

Kevin's practice consists of transactional law involving corporations, partnerships, and secured transactions, as well as real estate transactions, contract law, and elder law. He joined the firm in 1993. Since then, Kevin has helped hundreds of businesses and individuals throughout Catawba County and western North Carolina form corporate entities that are right for their needs and to successfully navigate through various legal and business issues. Kevin has extensive experience with drafting corporate and business agreements for small businesses and expansive corporate entities. Kevin also has extensive experience in representing healthcare entities including nursing homes and medical...

Mr. Walker has been practicing primarily in the Unifour Area (Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties) and provides competent and practical legal representation at a fair and reasonable cost. He has earned an excellent reputation for providing a reasonable, cost effective and common sense approach to planning, advising or resolving your legal matter.

One of a few North Carolina Bar-certified appellate law specialists in Charlotte, Leslie Rawls has handled exclusively appeals since 1995. Rawls handles both criminal and civil appeals. She has argued hundreds of cases in the federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and the North Carolina Supreme Court. She has petitioned the United States Supreme Court for discretionary review. Rawls has taught appellate writing principles under the Rules of Appellate Procedure in seminars for lawyers and for paralegals. She also assists other attorneys by helping ensure compliance with the appellate rules, and by ghost-writing or...

I’ve been working in Iredell and surrounding counites since 2019 and I’ve come to realize how much of a need there is for good, honest probate attorneys. Honestly, I think that statement applies to the greater Piedmont Triad area, generally. Because of this, I have made it my sole aim to provide clients with two critical things: first, a better understanding of the probate process, which can be quite complex and overwhelming, and second: friendly, responsive, and competent representation as we tackle the probate issues together. I got my start working with a well-known and well-respected attorney in Iredell County but...

I specialize in employment litigation, representing employees and small companies across North Carolina during every stage of employment. I have widespread experience representing clients at unemployment appeal hearings and before courts and administrative agencies with cases concerning all facets of discrimination, workplace harassment, wrongful termination and retaliation, The Family and Medical Leave Act, and wage and hour disputes, among others. I also serve as counsel for local unions, advising and representing the union and its members in contract interpretation, the grievance process and a variety of employment issues. My secondary practice area is focused on civil litigation and...

Prior to joining Ralston, Benton, Byerley & Moore in 2021, Catherine worked as an insurance adjuster for two large national insurance companies, where she gained valuable insight and experience on the innerworkings of claim handling. Thereafter, Catherine became an insurance defense attorney, where she represented a variety of insurance companies and employers against claims filed against them. In 2016, Catherine switched sides and began representing individuals in personal injury and workers’ compensation claims. Using her experience and insider knowledge, she now works vigorously to ensure each client is receiving all the benefits they are entitled to. Catherine’s practice primarily focuses...