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 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 from 1991 – 1992 and Notes and Comments Editor from 1992 – 1993. Ms. Whitley was also a member of the Order of the Coif. Following law school she was a law clerk to The Honorable Judge Clyde H. Hamilton, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. In 2009, Ms. Whitley was appointed by the Catawba County Commissioners to serve on the Aging Leadership Planning Team which works to enhance Catawba County as a liveable senior friendly community. In 2023, Ms. Whitley was appointed to the Specialization Board for Estate Planning & Probate Law for the NC State Bar. She was also appointed to the Elder Law Section Council for the NC Bar Association. Ms. Whitley and her husband, David, live in Hickory with their son, Colson.

Education
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – B.A. – 1990 – With Honors and Distinction
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – J.D. – 1993 – With High Honors

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

  • John M. Morehead Scholar
  • National Merit Scholar
  • Member of Phi Beta Kappa
  • Staff Member of the North Carolina Law Review 1991 – 1992 and Notes and Comments Editor 1992 – 1993
  • Member of the Order of the Coif
  • Law Clerk to the Honorable Judge Clyde H. Hamilton, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Admissions/Memberships

ADMISSIONS

  • North Carolina

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law
  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
  • Catawba County Bar Association
  • North Carolina Bar Association – Member of Estate Planning Section and Elder Law Section
  • Thirty-Sixth Judicial District Bar Association
  • Senior Information Resources, Inc.
Recognition/Community

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

  • Recipient of the Lawyer’s Weekly 2014 Women of Justice Business Practitioner Award
  • Young Lawyers’ Division Judicial District Representative of the Year 2001 – 2002

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

  • Member of NC State Bar Specialization Committee for Estate Planning and Probate Law
  • Adult Children of Aging Parents (ACAP) Board of Directors
  • Catawba County United Way Board of Directors
  • Past Treasurer of the local chapter of the American Field Service
  • Of Counsel for the Catawba Medical Foundation
  • Past Member of Board of Directors, Hickory Museum of Art
  • Appointed by the Catawba County Commissioners to serve on the Aging Leadership Planning Team – 2009
  • North Carolina Bar Association – Served as Co-chair and Former member of Elder Law Section Council
  • Past Secretary-Treasurer of the 25th Judicial District Bar Association
  • Served on Board of the Catawba Valley Community Foundation
  • Served on Board of Trustees of the Catawba County Historical Association
  • Served on Board of Directors of the YMCA of Catawba County
  • Served as Vice-president of Adult Life Programs
  • Served on Board of Directors of Partners Behavioral Health Management
  • Served on Planned Giving Council of Lenoir-Rhyne University
Opinions
  • Godfrey v. Res-Care, Inc. N.C.App. | July 06, 2004 | 165 N.C.App. 68
  • Godfrey v. Res-Care, Inc. N.C. | October 06, 2004 | 359 N.C. 67
Publications