Learn more about each of our attorneys, their story, background and credentials as well as meet our awesome support staff.
Sean McIlveen – Partner Attorney
When Sean McIlveen is not in the courtroom, he spends his time building custom furniture. He’s now building a built-in dresser/bookcase for the master bedroom as his current project.Sean grew up in Gastonia, N.C. and graduated from UNC-Charlotte with a degree in B.A. He attended Wake Forest University School of Law and graduated from the University of Houston with his J.D.
Sean has practiced in Gastonia, North Carolina since he graduated from law school. He has focused his practice exclusively on issues that affect families and all family law issues including child support, custody, alimony, grandparents’ rights, division of property, same-sex couples, estates, wills and adoption. The furniture he builds and his way of representing clients are evidence of his certain passion for doing things the right way.
It’s rare to find an attorney with calluses on his hands, and Sean is a rarity.
When Sean McIlveen handles your case, you’ll be informed of the exact status of your case and where it’s possibly leading to. He also respects your right to hear the truth about your case.
When Sean is not battling in the courtroom or isn’t up to his elbows in saw dust, he spends quality time with his children and his wife, Angela.
Angela McIlveen – Partner Attorney
Angela McIlveen grew up in Taylorsville, N. C. and graduated from Lenoir Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C. with a B.A. degree. Angela attended Case Law School and graduated with her J.D. The way Angela aggressively argues in court is an evidence of her drive and determination which propelled her through life and law school.
Since Angela graduated from law school, she has focused her practice exclusively on litigation-related issues. With her years of experience in all areas of litigation including discovery, court motion hearings, deposition, trial, mediation and appeals, she has handled many cases in state and federal court.
Angela lives in Gastonia, N.C. and handles cases in Gastonia, Charlotte, and surrounding cities and counties. As a partner at the McIlveen Law Firm, she handles cases in family law including child custody and support, divorce, alimony, adoption, separation, domestic violence and equitable distribution.
While Angela feels comfortable going to trial, she understands that her clients don’t. For this reason, she always tries to resolve cases without going to trial provided that they’re resolved favorably for her clients. Like Sean, Angela always informs each of her clients what’s going on with the case. When she is not full speed ahead in the courtroom, Angela spends her time with her children and her husband, Sean.
Theresa Viera – Associate Attorney
Theresa enjoys ballroom dancing, traveling, and college basketball. As a ballet dancer at the age of 4 and a college basketball enthusiast by the age of 12, she enjoys staying active and watching performances or games. She also enjoys learning about different cultures, listening to new types of music, and discovering new forms of dance through reading and traveling.
Theresa moved to North Carolina at the age of 12. She went to middle school and high school in Cary, N.C. She graduated from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., with a B.A. degree. She attended the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill, N.C., and graduated with her J.D.
Theresa lives in Charlotte, N.C., enjoying the city life. She is an Associate Attorney at the McIlveen Family Law Firm. Although new to the practice of law, she is an enthusiastic, dedicated, and hard-working attorney committed to helping people from across Gastonia, Charlotte, and the surrounding areas.
As a child of divorce and domestic violence, she understands the emotional toll that accompanies complex family legal proceedings and the everyday fear of the unknown. From this background, she became dedicated to pursuing a legal career with the hopes of helping families and protecting children. She is thorough in her understanding and application of the law, and she is devoted to learning the story, situation, and legal needs of each and every client.
When Theresa is not in the courtroom or in her office, you will find her on the dance floor, roaming museums and art events, or planning her next trip abroad.
Tara Sain – Associate Attorney
Tara is a lifelong resident of North Carolina, having spent her childhood in Henderson, North Carolina before moving to Rocky Mount, North Carolina at the age of sixteen. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received her Juris Doctorate from Campbell University’s Norman A. Wiggins School of Law. After graduating from law school, Tara and her husband, Chris, moved to Hickory, North Carolina and they continue to enjoy living there.
Having handled numerous family law cases since entering the legal profession, Tara has developed a natural interest in family law and is thrilled to be associated with a firm that focuses exclusively on family law issues. Prior to joining the McIlveen Family Law Firm, Tara was a child support enforcement attorney for the Gaston County Department of Social Services as well as the Burke County Department of Social Services. She has also served as a Department Attorney for Catawba County, representing the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office and the Catawba County Board of Adjustment. Tara was also engaged in the private practice of law for a number of years in Gaston County, focusing primarily upon family law. She has completed her training in mediation and will soon become a certified mediator.
Tara prides herself on being an attentive and approachable resource for her clients during what is typically a very stressful time in their lives. She understands that every case is unique and strives to meet the individual needs of each client by providing competent and compassionate legal representation.
Tara is happily married to her college sweetheart and is the proud mother of two children as well as two rescue dogs. She enjoys traveling with her family, attending her children’s sporting events and cheering on her beloved Tar Heels.
Anna Gray Carpenter – Associate Attorney
Anna Gray Carpenter is a local girl. She was born and raised in Lincolnton, North Carolina where her father’s roots go back hundreds of years. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is one of four children, who is fortunate enough to have been raised by long married parents in a home full of books, art, and music.
Anna Gray graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology and is greatly interested in travel and other cultures. In 2012, Anna Gray graduated from The Charlotte School of Law with her Juris Doctorate, and was thereafter, licensed to practice law in North Carolina. She understands the importance of stability in the home, and is dedicated to helping families smoothly navigate the turbulence of divorce. Anna Gray is extremely excited and honored to be joining the McIlveen Family Law Firm as an Associate Attorney.
She might be epitome of a girly-girl, but don’t let that fool you, because she is also an All-Conference tennis player and all around athlete. Brought up on a small farm, Anna Gray loves animals of all kinds and is keenly interested in the culinary arts. When Anna Gray isn’t practicing law, you might find her volunteering at the soup kitchen in Lincolnton which was started by her grandparents or helping out in other areas of the community where there is need.
Whitney Bullins – Lead Paralegal
Whitney grew up in a small-town in Stokes County, North Carolina. After graduating high-school in 2007, she was awarded an academic scholarship to attend George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, where she was a pitcher for the NCAA Patriots’ softball team. Whitney graduated from George Mason in May, 2011, with a Bachelor of Science degree in the Administration of Justice concentrating in law and society. In May, 2012, Whitney earned her national Paralegal certification from the National Federation of Paralegals Association. She has previously experience working in family law; criminal defense, involving major violent crimes; educational law; mental-health law; and juvenile law. Currently, she is attending her first year of law school as a part-time law evening student at the Charlotte School of Law located in Uptown, Charlotte.
Whitney prides herself on being available to our clients. As a child of divorce she understands the intimate complexities of family law cases, and wants our clients to feel like they know what is going on in their cases at all times. She works diligently on educating our clients regarding the road their case will travel through the judicial system, and keeping a line of communication open between the client and opposing counsel.
When she is not doing homework, most often, Whitney can be found spending time with her family, coaching softball, or playing with her pup. She is passionate about culinary and traveling. One day she hopes to combine her two passions with baseball, and enjoy a hotdog from every major league ball park in the United States.
Kimberlee Gibbs – Paralegal
Kimberlee has a passion for books and blogging. She enjoys spending her free time in used bookstores hunting for the perfect novel and enjoys reviewing all types of books on her blog. She loves to spend time with her family, her dog Avery, and friends. She hopes to visit England and Russia sometime in the near future and enjoys learning about European history. Kimberlee has an in depth appreciation of the arts and enjoys catching Broadway shows and visiting museums. She has a passion for life and loves learning new things.
Kimberlee grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina and graduated from high school in 2004, where she was editor of the school yearbook and served as a reporter for the school newspaper. She soon learned that she had a passion for research and writing and felt that becoming a paralegal was the right career for her. She graduated from King’s College in December 2007 and immediately began working in a family law firm. She loves family law because it is so diverse and she enjoys helping people who are experiencing a difficult time in their lives.
As a child of divorce, she feels that she can use her experiences to help others through a time of transition. She is versatile and devoted to making sure clients feel that they have someone who can help guide them and to answer their questions at every step of the process. Kimberlee understands that every case is unique and is committed to making every client feel that she is devoted to their case.
When Kimberlee is not at work, she enjoys dancing, Zumba, relaxing with a good book and watching British television. She is also committed to living a gluten-free and dairy-free lifestyle and loves to explore new ways to cook and prepare foods.
Taylor Wheeler – Administrative Assistant
Taylor, a small town southern girl, was born and raised in Gastonia, North Carolina. She has lived in various parts of North Carolina, but her family finally settled back in Gastonia to be closer to relatives. Upon graduating Forestview High School a semester early in 2010, she began her college career at Gaston College in Dallas, North Carolina. It was there she studied Paralegal Technologies in pursuit of her Associates of Applied Science degree and made the Dean’s List. During her last semester, she became a Notary Public.
After graduating from college in December 2012, she joined the McIlveen Family Law Firm, where she is currently our Administrative Assistant. If you are calling to schedule a consultation, it is likely that the friendly voice you will hear is Taylor’s. Taylor wanted to work in family law because she cares very much about her family. She believes family is very important. She is a caring, passionate person and likes to help people through the rough time they may be going through. Taylor is hoping to work her way up to being one of our firm’s paralegals within the next few years. She also hopes to go back to school and earn her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, and she would love to own her own business at some point in the future.
When Taylor is not in the office taking care of our clients, she enjoys spending time with her family and spoiling her nephew. She also loves taking walks with her husband and their two dogs, Ava and Bane, and decorating the house they purchased last year. Taylor is an avid DIYer, and scrapbook queen. She has big hopes and dreams, and she is eager to accomplish them all.
Ana Gonzalez – Office Manager
Ana was born in Guatemala City, in Central America and came to the United States very young at the age of seven. She grew up in Long Island, New York and relocated to California after high school. She recently moved North Carolina.
She is Bilingual fluent in English and Spanish. Ana’s experience includes working in private practice and courthouses. Ana also has experience in all aspects of legal office administration including assisting attorney’s in preparing for trials, depositions, preparing and serving discovery and heavy translating with attorney/client meetings and highly confidential documents.
Soon after graduating Brentwood High School in New York, Ana traveled to Guatemala City where she took advantage of being there for the summer and attended the summer semester and took the legal courses that were offered in The University of San Carlos in Guatemala City. Since then she graduated and received certifications in Legal Occupations, Microsoft Office Applications and recently received another certification in Veterinary Science from Southern California Regional Occupation Center. Ana is also a Notary Public and she is currently studying for her Human Resources Certificate.
Ana is a big animal lover and has volunteered with Whiskers and Tails where she fostered homeless dogs and helped them find forever homes. She has also volunteered in animal shelters and hopes to continue giving back to the animal community. Ana is a big foodie and enjoys cooking and trying new recipes. She looks forward one day to having her own vegetable and herb garden. When she is not in the office giving her all to our clients, she is out hiking or attending Zumba classes. She looks forward to getting back to painting, which is one of her passions and also kickboxing as well. Ana is a true adventurer. Ana used her move from California to North Carolina into a special road trip and stopped at two of the seven wonders of the United States including the Grand Canyon in Arizona and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. She brings all that energy and enthusiasm to our office when she deals with our clients and opposing counsel. Ana’s diverse experience in the legal field makes her a great addition to the McIlveen Family Law Firm.
