Sodoma Law Union Principal Penelope Hefner Named One of 30 Recipients State-wide of 2018 Leaders in the Law Award

Family law attorney recognized for leadership in profession and community

MONROE, NC — August 17, 2018: Sodoma Law Union Principal and Family Law Attorney Penelope Hefner has been selected as one of just 30 honorees for the 2018 Leaders in the Law awards hosted by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly. Honorees of the eighth annual Leaders in the Law award are described as “the most influential individuals within our state’s legal community” and are recognized for going “above and beyond in their profession and community.”

“I would describe Penelope Hefner as determined, candid and fearless in her field and beyond – a true leader in the law,” said Nicole Sodoma, Managing Principal, Sodoma Law. “While every role Penelope has taken on over the years has shaped her as a leader, becoming the Lead Attorney of Sodoma Law Union in 2015 has had the biggest impact. When she took on the role of opening our new office, she inherently accepted the responsibilities of not just the day-to-day operational needs of running an office, and managing its team, but also maintaining her client’s successes in and out of the courtroom. Penelope is a valued member of the Sodoma Law leadership team. I am proud to see her recognized by the profession she serves so well.”

Outside of her law practice, Penelope’s commitment to community has been significant. Under her leadership, Sodoma Law Union reported 285 pro bono hours in 2017, directly supporting multiple families who were affected by domestic violence and other custody related issues. Penelope serves as Vice Chair for the Union County Community Shelter Board in addition to Sodoma Law Union’s commitment to the organization’s building fund. Penelope recognizes that being a leader and achieving her aspirations is founded in giving back and helping others achieve their goals as well.

North Carolina Lawyers Weekly assembles a panel of independent legal professionals to serve as judges for the Leaders in the Law awards. The honoree with the highest overall score from the judges will be recognized as Lawyer of the Year at the eighth annual awards banquet on Thursday, September 20, 2018 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

About Sodoma Law

Sodoma Law is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, with four additional locations in Charlotte; in Monroe, Union County; and in Rock Hill, York County, South Carolina. The firm’s areas of practice include Family Law, Adoption, Surrogacy, Employment Law, Mediation, Business Litigation, Estate Planning, and Business Law. Like Sodoma Law on Facebook, follow them on Twitter (@SodomaLaw), and follow Managing Principal Nicole Sodoma (@NSodoma).

About North Carolina Lawyers Weekly

North Carolina Lawyers Weekly has been providing legal news, opinions, and court decisions to its readers since 1988 and is a top source of legal information for practicing attorneys in the state. The publication’s legal news coverage highlights developments in case law, changes to court rules, verdict and settlement reports and all other news vital to North Carolina lawyers. For more information, visit www.nclawyersweekly.com.

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Written by

Nicole Sodoma

Founder and Managing Principal

The nicest compliment I’ve ever received about Sodoma Law was from a judge who described us as “smart, tenacious, and compassionate.” When clients come to us in the middle of a divorce or a custody battle, they deserve that blend of qualities from each of our family law attorneys. They need family law attorneys who will fight for them in the courtroom and empower them to achieve their goals at a difficult time in their lives. When I opened the doors to Sodoma Law in 2008, I wanted to build a team who would help every client navigate the hurdles of separation and divorce with empathy and determination – in and out of court. I wanted to surround myself with people who live and breathe family law like I do. This practice is my passion; it’s not my job, but rather, who I am. In hindsight, I have to believe that the events of my childhood led me on this path. I often joke with my family that my experience as a child of parents with “irreconcilable differences” predestined my career. As a family law attorney, I feel the advantage of understanding the experience of separation and divorce through the eyes of an adult and as a young girl. That experience was fraught with anxiety, especially at the beginning. I believe it’s our job, as family law attorneys, to educate our clients on their various legal options so as to reduce that anxiety and allow them to feel more in control of their cases. At our firm, each attorney and staff member believes not only in their ability to make a difference in a client’s life but also their ability to be supportive of a client’s emotional, spiritual and physical well being. After more than two decades of practicing as a family law attorney, I know that when our clients contact us, they are typically making one of the biggest decisions of their lives. They each have somehow empowered themselves enough to make the journey to change what he or she has known… whether it was for one year or twenty years. I understand it is not always hard for everyone, but change affects us all. I see it with my clients. I saw it with my own parents. Working with someone you trust is critical. From the moment we discuss your case, you will know that I will always do my absolute best to handle your concerns as if they are my own.

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Practice Areas

Family Law 18 services

Divorce Alimony Adoption

Estate Planning 9 services

Wills & Trusts Estate Administration Powers of Attorney

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