ATTORNEY SPOTLIGHT
STANDING IN THE GAP
The Woman Who Chases Down Judges (Literally)
There’s a hashtag floating around in our internal recognition system: #Can’tRunFromWaneta.It exists because CEO Janet Gemmell once recognized Waneta Ellis for “running down a judge and keeping the courthouse open.”That’s not a metaphor. That’s not hyperbole. That’s Waneta.When something needs to be done for a client—when a child’s safety hangs in the balance, when a father needs his voice heard, when the courthouse is closing and your filing isn’t complete—Waneta Ellis stands in the gap. She doesn’t wait for someone else. She doesn’t make excuses. She runs – or maybe she just drives a bit over the limit to get there?Which is why we are proud to announce that Waneta E. Ellis, Partner at Cape Fear Family Law, is the co-recipient of our 2025 Top Litigator Attorney Award, sharing this distinction with fellow courtroom warrior Granger Benson.
First in Her Family
Here’s something you should know about Waneta Ellis: she is the first person in her family to graduate from college.
Not just college—she went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from Elon University School of Law, concentrating in trial advocacy because she loves being in the courtroom. She made it possible by working full-time while completing her studies through distance learning. No one handed her anything. She built it herself.
Studying Under a Chief Justice
During law school, Waneta’s studies took her to Ireland, where she concentrated on Constitutional Law and was privileged to study under United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.Waneta is deeply cognizant of the protections afforded to each person by the United States Constitution. She cares about how personal freedoms and rights are applied individually to each of her clients. She stands for her clients’ rights.Guardian Ad Litem: Where It All Began
Before law school, Waneta began her legal career as a volunteer Guardian Ad Litem in Wilmington for children who needed an advocate. She served abused, abandoned, and neglected children by advocating for their best interests inside and outside of the courtroom.Waneta holds the strong belief that children are the most integral part of the family unit. Children are often placed in the middle of parental conflict. Due to that middle status, shielding each child from harm—and educating parents on how to do so—is a key part of her practice.
The Courtrooms of Pender and New Hanover
Waneta loves practicing in the courtrooms of Pender and New Hanover counties. She also serves families in Brunswick County. Her reputation in these courts is built on something that cannot be bought or faked: integrity.Here’s what Waneta knows to be true: If a judge knows you will be honest no matter what, they are likely to trust you—and then they can better listen to the evidence.This is why Waneta has zero tolerance for clients who lie to her. Not because she’s rigid. Not because she lacks compassion. But because her reputation in court is the tool she uses to help as many families as possible. Any lie told to her by a client stands to undermines that tool. Every truth builds it stronger.2025: A Year of Excellence
The numbers behind Waneta’s 2025 Top Litigator Attorney Award tell the story: Powerful courtroom results. High trial preparedness. Consistent litigation wins. Strong billable performance.Janet noted that Waneta not only had her case list printed—she also had her overdue task list printed. #BeastMode. She was celebrated for having the best Case Status Review Meeting metrics in the office.This recognition came through the firm’s rigorous Case Status Review process, where Azalea Pinter and Adrian Davis track KPIs and measure performance against the highest standards. Waneta didn’t just meet those standards. She set them. She continues to be number one in following the systems and having her cases ready and in order.Home: Dixon, Jeremy, and Family Dinners
When Waneta isn’t in the courtroom, you’ll find her raising her son Dixon, being married to one of her best friends Jeremy, and spending time with her blended family.Family dinners together mean everything to her. Those dinners aren’t just about food—they’re about connection, about presence, about being there for the people who matter most. This gives her a unique perspective on family law. She understands that custody isn’t just about schedules and legal frameworks. It’s about who sits at the dinner table. It’s about finding the right fit for each family’s unique situation.She also helps provide care for her mother, who lives with her. Three generations under one roof. That’s not just family—that’s a way of life.When she’s not working or with family, you might find her at the beach (which is always calling), or spending time with her dog Lady Jane. Another pup Lucy and her beloved cat Finn recently crossed the rainbow bridge, a loss that reminds us that Waneta’s big heart extends to every member of her family—four-legged and otherwise.
Standing in the Gap
There’s a phrase that captures Waneta Ellis better than any title or award: standing in the gap.
It means being the one who shows up when there’s a void. The one who runs down the judge. The one who stays late on her own time to find a supervised visitation provider for a teammate’s client. The one who gives out her personal cell phone number to high school mock trial students because future lawyers need mentors.
Waneta E. Ellis is our 2025 Top Litigator Attorney Award co-recipient (and you can imagine who Granger Benson is really chasing & looking up to at times). But more than the numbers, more than the metrics, more than the wins and the hours—Waneta represents something this firm values as one of its core values: integrity.
She tells the truth even when it’s hard. She fights fair even when others don’t. She advocates for children because someone has to. And she stands in the gap—every single day—for the families who need her most.
Congratulations, Waneta. You’ve earned every bit of this.
“Waneta understands the interplay of family devotion and personal achievement when it comes to being a working, yet devoted parent and partner.”
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