MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: Granger Benson Named 2025 Top Litigator
Cape Fear Family Law | by Janet L. Gemmell
SITREP: Associate Attorney Granger Benson Awarded Firm’s Highest Litigation Honor
Some attorneys practice law. Granger Benson executes it with the precision, discipline, and relentless drive of a Marine Corps Major—which is exactly what he is.
We are proud to announce that Granger K. Benson is the co-recipient of Cape Fear Family Law’s 2025 Top Litigator Attorney Award, sharing this distinction with fellow courtroom warrior Waneta Ellis. Together, they set the standard for litigation excellence at our firm.
This recognition wasn’t handed to Granger. He earned it. Through powerful courtroom results, high trial preparedness, consistent litigation wins, strong billable performance, and eight five-star client reviews throughout 2025, Granger proved what those who know him already understood: when the stakes are highest, this is the attorney you want in your corner.
As Waneta herself put it when congratulating him: “For being my co-award winning Top Litigator! Congrats!” This is some high praise indeed from someone that knows what excellence looks like.
OORAH.
SERVICE RECORD: From Annapolis to the Courtroom
Granger’s path to family law is anything but ordinary.
It begins at the United States Naval Academy—an institution so selective that only 8.5% of applicants gain admission. After earning his undergraduate degree, Granger spent seven years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, rising through the ranks to Major. He continues to serve in the Marine Corps Reserves because once a Marine, always a Marine.
It was during his military service that Granger discovered his calling. “I ran into a lot of legal problems when managing and assisting the Marines under my command,” he explains. “I saw how important attorneys were in trying to dispose of those matters in the right way—the way that helps versus hurts.”
When it came time to transition out of active duty, Granger earned his Juris Doctorate from Villanova University School of Law in Philadelphia. He wanted to solve “people problems”—not push paper for corporations.
Family law found him. Or perhaps more accurately: families in crisis found the advocate they needed. Okay honestly, CEO Janet Gemmell may have heard about him, suited up and headed out to actively recruit him away from his prior law firm, but who’s telling this story anyway?
AREA OF OPERATIONS: From Jacksonville to Wherever the Mission Takes Him
Granger serves families across Onslow, Jones, Sampson, Duplin, and Carteret counties in North Carolina—traveling up and down the East Coast to appear in courtrooms wherever his clients need him.
This is not a desk job. When trial prep is required, Granger is Oscar Mike (On the Move), driving the distance, putting in the hours, and showing up ready to fight. Colleague Paige O’Bryan recognized him for “reviewing a ton of last minute documents the night before trial.” That’s the Marine Corps work ethic in action.
When he’s not in court? Granger works from home—where he can be close to Katie, his beloved rescue pit bull. In the Marine Corps, you learn to appreciate the comforts of home base when you’re not deployed. Katie is part of that home base.
THE MISSION: Father’s Rights and Military Families
Granger brings something unique to family law: a deep understanding of what military families face.
Military relocation cases. Father’s rights. International custody disputes. These aren’t abstract legal concepts to Granger—they’re the battles he was born to fight.
CEO Janet Gemmell recognized one of his signature wins: “For trying an #internationalcustody case and getting a positive outcome!” That case involved Japan—a notoriously complex jurisdiction for custody matters. Granger navigated it and won.
Jessica Arthur celebrated another victory: “For fighting for what’s right—keeping children safe with their grandparents, to make sure they can stay with their grandparents through a difficult surgery. Absolute hero move!”
Another recognition from Janet highlighted the breadth of his impact: “From keeping child support low and payable, handling mom guilt, keeping someone’s wedding on track with a prenup, dealing with an abuser in a DV case, and getting a free flight paid by DSS for a parent to see their kid!” Um hello! Does Granger even sleep?
Jessica Arthur also noted: “For getting primary custody for his client and trusting his gut on how to handle the trial.”
Trusting his gut. Executing the mission. Delivering results.
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE: Peer Recognition in 2025
Granger’s colleagues don’t mince words. Here’s what the team says about their Top Litigator:
- Adrian Davis (Chief of Operations): “I love how you care about clients, GKB. It’s one of your superpowers!” #superhero
- Janet Gemmell (CEO): “When the court gave you lemons—you made freaking LEMONADE and got it continued out from under opposing counsel. #excellence”
- Janet Gemmell: “For your POD recognizing that you accomplished agreement on the Date of Separation in a case—driving it closer to resolution AND massive value to a client!”
- Jessica Arthur: “For rocking out a tough deposition about STDs and keeping his game face on!” #gettingitdone #clientfocused
- Sarah Winkler: “For always being accessible by Gchat and not getting mad at me if they are busy!” #knowledgeable #clientfocused #teamwork
- Ashley Owens: “For helping out and getting a solid outcome for our client on my behalf!” #teamwork
- Jessica Arthur: “Teal team is the dream team! Let’s roll into the new year like the bosses we are!” [Guess which CEO is also on Teal POD currently!]
And from the Blue Pod days: “To the Greatest Team, The Blue Pod—Odin’s Royalty.”
HOME BASE: The Love of His Life
Behind every great Marine is… well, in Granger’s case, another great Marine Corps-adjacent legal professional.
Erica Benson—also an attorney at Cape Fear Family Law—is the love of Granger’s life, and anyone who has watched them work together knows it. They are a team in every sense of the word. When Erica needed to cover calendar call, Granger recognized her “for handling my matters so that I can take care of a sick pup.” When Granger needed to take Katie to the vet, Erica stepped in without hesitation, despite her own extensive case list and active court calendar.
The evidence is everywhere. On any given day, you’ll find them coordinating cases, supporting each other’s caseloads, and—according to multiple Bonusly recognitions—dealing with puppy needs/desires/emergencies as a united front. When he’s away from home traveling the coast for trials, you get the sense he counts the miles back to her.
He describes her as “the love of his life,” and colleagues confirm what’s obvious: Granger wants Erica by his side as often as she can be. They share a home, a profession, a rescue pit bull named Katie, and a commitment to serving families that makes them a force multiplier at Cape Fear Family Law.
Semper Fidelis isn’t just a motto for Granger—it’s how he lives.
THE GRANGER APPROACH: Calm, Cool, and Ready to Fight
“I always bring positivity and energy to the cases because I think it can help folks work towards a resolution rather than confrontation,” Granger says. “Now… I can certainly be aggressive and confrontational if the situation calls for that, but I like to keep that in my back pocket until it’s absolutely necessary.”
This is the Marine Corps philosophy in legal form: controlled aggression, strategic patience, and overwhelming force when the situation demands it.
Granger brings a judgment-free attitude to his clients’ problems. He understands that people come to family law attorneys during their lowest moments—unusual situations, tricky circumstances, sometimes embarrassing positions. His job is not to judge. His job is to help them navigate the complexities of the court system and find a way out.
“Folks who are going through these tough times need an advocate to help them navigate the complexities of the court and the legal system,” he explains. “When having an advocate in your corner is what you need—look no further.”
DOWNTIME: Beach, Mountains, and Katie
When court isn’t in session and the briefs are filed, Granger can be found doing something active with Erica—whether that’s hitting the beach in coastal North Carolina or snowboarding in the mountains, depending on the season.
And then there’s Katie—the rescue pit bull who has become an unofficial member of the Cape Fear Family Law family. Janet Gemmell commented on a recognition about caring for pups: “I got the vet tomorrow… we gots to take care of our pups!”
Marines take care of their own. That includes four-legged family members.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Granger K. Benson is our 2025 Top Litigator Attorney Award co-recipient—nominated by Azalea Pinter and Adrian Davis through the firm’s rigorous Case Status Review process, where KPIs are tracked and performance is measured against our highest standards.
He delivers powerful courtroom results. He maintains high trial preparedness. He racks up consistent litigation wins. He produces strong billable performance. And he earned eight five-star client reviews from families whose lives he’s changed.
He travels the East Coast to fight for his clients. He works from home to be near his dog. He shares his life with the woman he loves. And he brings the discipline, precision, and honor of a Marine Corps Major to every case he touches.
For families facing custody battles, military relocations, father’s rights disputes, and the complex legal challenges that come with life’s hardest moments: this is your advocate.
This is your Top Litigator.
Semper Fi, Granger. Mission accomplished.
If I can get my clients to focus on their professional lives, knowing that their personal and family lives are being taken care of, it is, as they say in the Marines, “mission accomplished.”
— Granger Benson
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