Biography

Sophia Holley is a partner in the firm’s Litigation and Real Estate Groups, practicing in Ohio and Kentucky. Sophia has considerable first-chair trial experience, including a complete defense victory obtained in a preliminary injunction hearing against an international company with over $23 billion in global revenue. Sophia has also successfully represented the world’s largest fast-food restaurant chain as lead trial attorney for Ohio real estate litigation matters. She has been recognized as a PLEDGE Emerging Leader with the John W. Peck Cincinnati-NKY Chapter of the Federal Bar Association based upon her trial work. She represents clients in areas of land use and zoning, lease disputes, commercial and residential property sale disputes, boundary lines and easements, eminent domain, and real estate value reductions. Sophia’s unique skillset permits her to advocate for clients both inside and outside the courtroom.

Litigation & Trial Practice
Sophia is a seasoned litigator with successful first chair trial and judgment victories before the jury, bench, and the American Arbitration Association. This includes complete plaintiff’s victories and the award of attorney’s fees. Sophia also has broad experience in defending and prosecuting temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, with first-chair successes on both sides. Her litigation practice includes handling complex litigation involving state, county, township and municipal legislative and administrative regulations, land use and zoning, lease disputes, and boundary lines and easements.

Land Use & Zoning, Real Property Tax & Eminent Domain
As a land use and zoning attorney, Sophia helps clients get the green light for zoning approvals and other entitlements necessary for their land development needs, including residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use developments. Sophia has extensive experience in administrative processes related to plans, zoning applications, conditional use permits, and variances, and she regularly assists clients in asserting vested and non-conforming rights. Sophia has obtained significant real property reductions for commercial property owners, as well as compensation for the taking of property in eminent domain matters well beyond the condemning authorities’ initial offers of compensation.

Sophia is active with the Cincinnati Federal Bar Association and is a member of the firm’s Women’s Initiative Committee. Prior to the practice of law, she supported veterans in the housing sector as a founding member of the inaugural Executive Committee of Louisville’s first Stand Down/Homeless Connect. Sophia is the former president of the University of Kentucky Taekwondo Club, and fenced left-handed foil with the University of Kentucky Fencing Club.

Representative Work

Litigation & Trial Practice Success

Fern Exposition Services, LLC v. Transplant Life Foundation, Case No. CV-17-883170 (Cuyahoga Cty.)

  • Plaintiff’s first-chair victory in a 3-day jury trial relating to commercial dispute
  • Jury award exceeded what was requested by Plaintiff and permitted under law, requiring a remittitur

Enterprise Fleet Management, Inc. v. Mike Albert Leasing, Inc., et al., Case No. A1806024 (Hamilton Cty.)

  • Defense first-chair victory in 3-day bench trial on motion for preliminary injunction

Johnnie D. Cook v. Woodard et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-532 (S.D. Ohio)

  • First-chair argument and success with numerous motions in limine

Security Systems Equipment Corp. v. Alarm Services Network, Inc., AAA Case No. 01-17-0002-0340

  • First-chair representation of plaintiff in AAA matter relating to contract dispute
  • Plaintiff’s victory, including award of attorneys’ fees

DXP Enterprises, Inc. v. Blackwelder, Case No. A1801995 (Hamilton Cty.)

  • First-chair success in drafting, arguing, and obtaining temporary restraining order

Union Home Mortgage Corp. v. Filjones, Case No. A1702799 (Hamilton Cty.)

  • Defense victory in defending motion for preliminary injunction before the bench

Keller Williams Advisors v. Sinclair Building Group, LLC, et al., Case No. A1603830 (Hamilton Cty.)

  • Successfully argued motion to dismiss, motion granted from the bench

Kenton County Airport Board v. Bell, et al., Case No. 17-CI-00020 (Boone Cty.)

  • Successfully drafted and argued motion to reconsider partial summary judgment

Neyer/Columbia Square, LLC v. Sidekix Saucy Asian Grill, Case No. A1704879 (Hamilton Cty.)

  • Successfully argued and obtained default judgment against Defendant, despite opposition, obtaining $95,672 judgment

Land Use & Zoning Success

  • Approval from Wyoming City Council to remove restrictive covenant on deed, permitting the subdivision of property.
  • Approval of variance before Ohio Township, notwithstanding inadvertent violation of existing zoning ordinance.
  • Approval from Wyoming Board of Zoning Appeals for sign variance.
  • Successful opposition to conditional use permit for parking lot in residentially zoned area before Sycamore Township Board of Zoning Appeals.
  • Approval of variances for additional parking, buffer, and fencing from City of Cincinnati Zoning Hearing Examiner for large commercial property.
  • Approval from City of Hamilton for conditional use application for operation of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Clinic & Facility dispensing methadone and/or buprenorphine (Suboxone) to help fight the growing opioid epidemic.

Professional and Community Involvement

Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), Membership Committee, 2022-Present

American Planning Association, Ohio Chapter, 2022-Present

KMK Women's Initiative Committee, Co-Chair, 2021-2022

Cincinnati Federal Bar Association, Gender Equity Committee, 2018-Present

Cincinnati Federal Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, 2018

The Potter Stewart American Inn of Court, 2018-19

United Way BOLD Leadership, 2017

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Cincy Next, Class 1

Cincinnati Bar Association

Kentucky Bar Association

Ohio State Bar Association

Kentucky Domestic Violence Association, Economic Empowerment Committee, 2010

AmeriCorps Disability Accessibility, Bluegrass Area Regional Development District, 2009

Awards & Recognition

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, 2022-2024

Named to Cincy Leading Lawyers, 2023

PLEDGE (Promoting Lawyer Excellence & Driving Gender Equality) Honoree, John W. Peck Cincinnati-NKY Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, 2019

YWCA Rising Star, 2018

  • Cincy Leading Lawyers
  • 2024 Best Lawyers Ones to Watch

News & Resources

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Spotlight

Spotlight

What do you enjoy about being an attorney?
Advocating for people. I have a unique position among many real estate attorneys in that I started as a traditional litigator, and have a number of first-chair victories under my belt before the American Arbitration Association, the bench, and the jury. I’ve been to trial before, I can zealously advocate for clients in trial, and I can work to avoid litigation where appropriate.

A favorite childhood memory?
A childhood memory I cherish is competing with my two older brothers, who I idolized as a child. They formed a club when we were kids called “Boyzee Inc.”—I was not permitted to join—and they utilized their collective additional 4 years of life experience to their advantage when we “played” (e.g., they convinced me to trade my dimes for pennies, because pennies were bigger). Growing up with them I had to learn to stand my ground and this grew into a love for litigation. I should add, my brothers have since grown up to be incredibly thoughtful, caring, and fair adults (though they should really pay back the many dimes they still owe me).

Best career advice you’ve ever received?
The most impactful career advice I ever received was a message from my dad when I was a teenager, shortly before we lost him: “Do what you enjoy the most. No one expects you to do any more than that. It all takes time so you might as well enjoy it as you go along.” It’s a good reminder to enjoy the ride.

Admissions

  • Ohio
  • Kentucky
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio

Education

J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law, 2013, Order of the Coif, Law Review Executive Board

B.A., University of Kentucky, 2008, magna cum laude

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