Sophia R. Holley

Sophia is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Group, focusing her practice in areas of civil litigation, zoning and planning law, and real estate litigation.  Sophia uses her trial practice skillset to advise clients in avoiding litigation where possible, and seeking resolution through the courts where needed. She 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, and success in early resolution of litigation through motion practice.

A majority of Sophia’s practice is focused in the real estate arena, representing clients in areas of land use and zoning issues, boundary lines and easement disputes, eminent domain, and real estate value reductions. She has obtained significant reductions for commercial property owners, as well as compensation for the taking of property well beyond the condemning authorities’ initial offers of compensation. She also regularly advises and represents clients in application processes through local agencies relating to variances and special use permits.

Sophia utilizes her trial experience to provide commercial litigation management services. She has assisted in the resolution of lawsuits as a retained “outside counsel” with litigation oversight, acting as an ally to in-house counsel to help resolve litigation in a cost-effective manner while appropriately assessing the risks of litigation.

Sophia is active with the Cincinnati Federal Bar Association and the firm’s Women’s Initiative Committee. She was formerly the 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.