Sophia R. Holley

Sophia Holley is a partner in the firm’s Litigation and Real Estate Groups, practicing in Ohio and Northern Kentucky. She represents clients in areas of zoning, land use and development, eminent domain, and real estate value reductions. Sophia started her career as a commercial litigator, and has successful first chair trial and judgment victories before the jury, bench, and American Arbitration Association. She has been recognized as a PLEDGE Emerging Leader with the John W. Peck Cincinnati-NKY Chapter of the Federal Bar Association based upon this trial work. Sophia’s unique skillset permits her to advocate for clients before local government and administrative bodies, and to seek review of their decisions in state and federal courts when needed.

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.

Litigation & Trial Practice
Sophia has extensive courtroom experience, 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 practice includes handling complex litigation involving state, county, township and municipal legislative and administrative regulations, including zoning litigation.

Sophia is active with the Cincinnati Federal Bar Association and is co-chair 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. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband and twin sons.

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?

My favorite childhood memory 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 advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I ever received was a message from my dad when I was a teenager: “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.