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Valerie grew up in Alabama and obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  During her undergraduate studies, Valerie became interested in the study and practice of law.  She went on to attend the Charlotte School of Law, where she served as the president of the Trial Advocacy Board and had the opportunity to try cases in front of attorneys and judges across the country.  Valerie has furthered her experience in the practice of law through her work with the nationally recognized Cochran Firm; and she has gained perspective from the bench by clerking for a Mecklenburg County District Court judge.  Aside from her work at Hunter & Hein, Valerie volunteers as an attorney for Legal Aid of North Carolina, where she serves clients in areas ranging from contract related issues to landlord/tenant disputes.  She also serves as appointed counsel on the Mecklenburg County Indigent Defense List, and is a member of the NC State Bar and the Criminal Defense and Estate Planning sections of the Mecklenburg County Bar.  Valerie has spent extensive time in the courtroom honing her litigation skills and has developed a deep rooted passion for her work.  Valerie has also been selected by the National Trial Lawyers Association for membership as one of the 2014 Top 100 Trial Lawyers and as a member of the 2014 Global Directory of Who's Who Among Women Lawyers. Valerie enjoys running, gardening, painting, drawing, knitting/crocheting and cooking.  Valerie is the Co-Founder and Vice-President of the Highland Creek Business Association in Charlotte, NC.

I was born in Staten Island, New York. I attended Regis University, in Denver Colorado, where I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. During my undergraduate career, I volunteered at homeless shelters.. I graduated from Franklin Pierce Law Center in New Hampshire, which is now University of New Hampshire School of Law.  I was the first female to graduate from Franklin Pierce Law Center in the dual degree Juris Doctor and Master of Law program in Intellectual Property, Commerce and Technology.  I participated in the school's Criminal and Commercial Clinical Law Programs, which allowed me to provide legal representation to indigent clients.  I enjoyed being a part of The New England Innocence Project and editing The Germenhausen Magazine.. I am a private attorney for the Mecklenburg County Indigent Defense Services and I also work as a private attorney for the Mecklenburg County Special Proceedings Court handling competency issues. I volunteered for Council for Children’s Rights and the NCBA Wills for Heroes program. Additionally, I am an Adjunct Professor for Charlotte School of Law.  I am currently licensed to practice law in North Carolina and Massachusetts.  I am a member of the Mecklenburg County Bar where I served on the Lawyer Referral Service Committee as Chair in 2014. I am an active member of the North Carolina Bar Association.

Ms. Carter was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania until her relocation to North Carolina in 2011 to attend law school.  After graduating from law school and obtaining her J.D., Ms. Carter began practicing in the area of Family Law, focusing on divorce, child custody, child support, alimony and equitable distribution.

I am an attorney in Charlotte, North Carolina, and I have extensive experience in litigation, specifically family law, domestic cases, and criminal defense. At Soto Law, my focus is on family law matters such asAdoption, Guardianship, Legitimation, Child Custody, Child Support, Equitable Distribution, Post-Separation Support, and Alimony. However, at Soto Law, we also believe in the importance of educating our clients prior to marriage. Therefore, we offer our clients a pre-marital assessment so that they, and their significant other, can be well-versed in the decision they are making and the financial ramifications of the same. In addition to family law matters, I am also well-versed in estate planning and real estate. As such, I am uniquely qualified and able to tackle my clients' issues.. After my admission to the North Carolina Bar Association in 2012, I  practiced criminal defense. During that time, I gained extensive trial and courtroom experience. However, my desire to assist those in the family law sector drew me away from criminal law. I am motivated to advocate for my clients and provide the support that is often needed when going through such a life-changing situation such as divorce.. Although not a native North Carolinian, I am proud to now call Charlotte my home and use my passion for the law to assist my clients. When not practicing law, I enjpy spending time with my family, exploring local restaurants and breweries, traveling, and watching the Florida State Seminoles and Carolina Panthers play. If you or someone you know has a family law issuse, please call my office and I would be happy to assist you through this difficult time.

My legal career has afforded me the opportunity to practice in several different areas of law. I understand that each case is unique and am dedicated to providing my clients with the zealous representation they deserve. I believe the most powerful tool I can provide my clients is knowledge of the law, so together we are able to make informed and educated decisions each step of the way.

Growing up in Charlotte, North Carolina I learned to focus my energy on finding a solution rather than worrying about the problem. This mindset inevitably led me to my profession as an attorney.. I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a business degree in Economics. I immediately began work in the financial field helping people navigate the world of small business loans. The following year I received the Fourth Ward Scholarship to attend Charlotte School of Law. While attending Charlotte School of Law I had the opportunity to gain valuable experience through internships with the Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office, the Law Offices of C. Reid Beaver, and Legal Aid of North Carolina.. Upon graduating from Charlotte School of Law and passing the North Carolina State Bar Exam, Nicki Fisher and I began working together. We started Fisher Law Group with the goal to create a law firm that focused on the clients in and out of the courtroom. I have limited my representation to Family Law, Juvenile Law, and Criminal Law. This allows me to consistently partner with my clients to ensure that we focus on solutions instead of the problems.

My experience in family law has taught me that we all have a story and that no two stories are alike. We all face challenges and we make difficult decisions that often have a lasting impact on our family and ourselves as individuals. Each decision we make ultimately becomes part of our story. As a family law attorney, nothing is more rewarding than empowering individuals to make well-informed decisions that can positively affect their story.. Whether you are seeking the assistance of an attorney to start a family through adoption or surrogacy, or to end your marriage, it is paramount that you understand the laws before you make a decision. As an attorney, I feel it is my responsibility to educate you about how those laws may impact you and help guide your decision. Although you are responsible for making these difficult choices, I will assist you and guide you along your path so that you have clear expectations and set reachable goals.. For most, while the same laws will govern your decision-making, the way you reach your goals may not be the same. For some, we will negotiate our way to your goal. For others, we may need to employ a third party, such as a mediator, arbitrator or even a counselor, to reach the outcome you hope to achieve. Still others will enter into litigation to achieve resolution. Whichever path we take, as your attorney, I am committed to you every step of the way.  While no one can predict the future, inside or outside the courtroom, I can promise that you will not find another attorney or law firm that will be more dedicated, determined, and dependable than me and our team at Sodoma Law.

Rob has practiced family law for 25 years. He has tried cases in our family courts and witnessed first-hand the destruction the traditional adversarial system can exact upon families and children. For the last 10 years, Rob has focused the majority of his family law practice on alternative dispute resolution with great success, and helping clients resolve their family law disputes mostly through negotiation, mediation, and collaboration, allowing clients and families to make it through to the other side in a much more positive manner. Rob believes that litigation should be a last resort.. Rob has been a board certified specialist in Family Law since 2002, and is also certified as a family financial mediator. He has been recognized every year since 2007 by Business North Carolina Magazine in its “Legal Elite,” and received the top number of votes in the state in 2016. He has also been recognized each year since 2007 by Law and Politics Magazine as a “Super Lawyer.” He has been included in “Best Lawyers in America” every year since 2011. Rob has also been designated through Martindale-Hubbell by his peers as “AV Preeminent,” which is the highest designation recognized. He has served on numerous committees through both the state and local bar, including serving on the Family Law Council of the North Carolina State Bar, and as a former co-chair of the Family Law Section of the Mecklenburg County Bar.. Rob is married and has two teenage boys as well as a teenaged-acting chocolate lab. He spends his free time serving on various committees and community outreach through his church and chasing his children around the Southeast to watch them play soccer. When he has a free moment, Rob enjoys reading, exercising and playing an occasional round of golf.

During her second year of law school, a very close family member of Ms. Ross' separated from her husband and came to Ms. Ross for emotional support. Hearing her struggle with the emotions of her separation while trying to process the legal difficulties at the same time made Ms. Ross realize that helping those in this situation would be her life’s work. Since that time, she focused her studies in school on family law related courses. After graduating from law school in 2009, she began practicing family law and estate planning and has continued to do so ever since.. Ms. Ross understands how difficult it is to face a shift in your family. She is available to you to make the transition as easy as possible. Each family is different and therefore has different legal, emotional, and ethical needs. She strives to recognize those specific issues for your family and use that knowledge to provide long-lasting resolutions.

I have been a board-certified family law specialist since 2010.  I have received advanced training in collaborative law and am a Certified Family Financial Mediator.  I strive to keep family law matters out of the courtroom.. I dedicate my practice to family law matters, such as equitable distribution, child custody, child support, alimony, post-separation support, and step-parent and family member adoptions.. I also handle matters related to family law, such as property disputes between unmarried couples.. I offer in-person and virtual consultations, meetings, and mediations.

Bob Hanner is a highly respected civil and family law attorney.  Bob has handled complex family law matters ranging from divorce, child custody, child support and alimony, to equitable distribution.  His practice includes collaborative law.  Bob has been a Certified Family Law Specialist since 1989 (the first year of the establishment of the Family Law Certification).  Bob also maintains a personal injury practice and has considerable jury trial experience representing plaintiffs injured as a result of automobile and motorcycle accidents.. Bob Hanner has an AV rating by Martindale Hubbell and has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers for the past seven years.

To read what some of my past clients would say about working with me, visit my website for testimonials.. Family law is a complicated and emotional area of the law, and it’s not one I would encourage people to navigate on their own.  My goal as a family law attorney is to help my clients understand the issues at hand, how we can deal with them, and what a judge might realistically do in their case.. While I never attempt to take on the role of a counselor or therapist, I do understand that this is a very emotional time, so I try to make the entire process as seamless as possible.  I do this by managing my client’s expectations of what the legal future may hold, as well as answering any questions they may have along the way. Specifically, I have found that preparing clients for mediation, hearings, etc., provides them with a great advantage. They have a better idea of what to expect when they walk into that setting.. Managing clients’ expectations is about giving them a realistic picture of what will most likely happen with their property, finances, and custodial time.  I’ll never paint a picture of perfection, because, as the saying goes, “in family law, there are no winners.”  Instead, I want my clients to walk away from their divorce process feeling satisfied, and confident that their lawyer led them in the right direction, always doing what was in the best interests of the family as a whole.. I love practicing family law because I love helping people when they need it most.  When people walk into my office, it’s usually one of the hardest times of their lives.  It is such a pleasure to help them make decisions that -- at the time -- seem extraordinarily difficult, but that they’ll eventually see as the right decisions for their family. It is so gratifying to watch people go from rock-bottom to happier, and healthier, sometimes in just a matter of months.. I am also a Certified Family Financial Mediator.* After spending 8+ years as a litigator, I felt that I could use my extensive courtroom experience to help guide people towards settlement outside the courtroom. Since becoming certified in April 2019, I have mediated dozens of cases, and have successfully helped a majority of those people settle. While I still handle many cases in active litigation on a regular basis, I have found that adding mediations to my practice has resulted in helping even more people reach a resolution in their lives. This brings me great joy, and I am very proud to help people in this way.. I not only handles divorce and custody matters, but I also helps my clients with alienation of affection cases. My most notable trial resulted in a $1.5 million judgment for alienation of affection while in Raleigh. After returning to Charlotte, I participated as co-counsel in an alienation of affection case, which resulted in a jury verdict of $1.3 million in our client’s favor. Subsequently, I handled another trial for alienation of affection which resulted in a $300,000 jury verdict in my client’s favor. Because of this experience, I am well-versed in the intricacies of the laws surrounding alienation of affection cases and have been selected as a CLE speaker on this topic.. The top three questions I answer for my clients are:. 1.      Can I leave the house or will that be deemed to be “abandonment”?. 2.      What is a realistic custody schedule I can expect?. 3.      How much support will I get, or pay, and for how long?. Each case is different, so during your initial consultation, we can address your specific concerns.. What you’ll get if you work with me:. When you work with me, you’ll get an advocate who’s caring, but honest, someone who will work hard to keep you out of court if at all possible, and who understands that your case is about you and what’s best for your family.. To book a mediation or consultation, please email me or visit my website for online scheduling.

During his years working for the Council For Children’s Rights, attorney Kenneth R. Harris Jr. was exposed to many different aspects of family law, including its difficulties and repercussions on children and their families.. That experience convinced him a career practicing family law was right for him.. “I knew family law was the most natural fit and held the most interest for me,” Mr. Harris said.. Mr. Harris works hard to develop a personal connection with each of his clients. He sincerely wants to understand what their concerns are so he can better advocate for them and help them reach their goals in the divorce process.. “I believe I have a very good ability to read a client and understand who that person is,” he said, “which helps me get the results that client most desires.”. Mr. Harris is also realistic when he explains to clients what they can expect during their case.. “Expect nothing but honest communication and passionate advocacy from me above all else,” he said.

I am a native Charlottean, having graduated from Myers Park High School.  I did my undergraduate studies at UNC-Charlotte, graduating with a B.S. in Business Administration, major in Marketing, as well as a B.A. in Spanish.  While there, I studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain through a program with UNC-Chapel Hill.  I graduated from the Charlotte School of Law as class valedictorian in the first graduating class.  While there, I studied abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland through a program with William Mitchell College of Law.. After graduating from law school, I began practicing misdemeanor criminal defense matters and plaintiff’s side civil litigation before opening my own practice, focusing primarily on family law.. Since opening our doors in 2010, we have helped hundreds of clients through the tough times that often come along with family law issues.  We believe in fighting hard for our clients and being there for them when they need us most.

In representing her client’s interests, Lindsey’s goal is advocacy rooted in practicality.  While the perfect scenario allows resolution of family conflicts outside of the courtroom, this is not always attainable.  Lindsey works on a personal level with her clients to understand their specific needs, to provide alternatives to litigation, but also to provide an affirmative defense of her client’s interests, including preparation and execution of a comprehensive litigation strategy, where conflict resolution requires judicial intervention.

She has been licensed and practicing in the state of North Carolina since 1994. She obtained her North Carolina bar license immediately after graduating from North Carolina Central University School of Law. While at North Carolina Central University, Attorney Wallace was determined to do well and therefore excelled academically. As a result, she received several American Jurisprudence awards for academic excellence.. After obtaining her North Carolina license, Attorney Wallace worked several years as an associate attorney with other firms. While working as an associate, Attorney Wallace observed what she believed to be a shortage of attorney’s who were willing to provide competent and aggressive legal services to clients at affordable rates. It was then that Attorney Wallace decided to dedicate her legal skills to obtain justice for those who would otherwise slip through the judicial system.. Therefore, in 1999 she established the Law Office of Tamela T. Wallace, P.A. to provide competent legal services to those who could not afford representation by larger firms in the Charlotte and surrounding areas. Since that time, her office has grown and Attorney Wallace has successfully provided aggressive and competent legal representation to hundreds of clients for the last ten years.. The staff at the Law Office of Tamela T. Wallace, P.A. believes that each client is important. Therefore, they strive to treat each client with civility and respect, while diligently addressing every issue presented.. Attorney Wallace believes relationships with her professional peers are important as well. Therefore, she is a member of the following legal organizations: NC Bar Association, American Bar Association, NC Association of Women Attorneys and the Mecklenburg County Bar Association.

Jennifer was raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she graduated from Walter Hines Page High School. She received a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a second major in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned her Juris Doctor from Elon University School of Law in Greensboro, North Carolina.. At Elon University School of Law, Jennifer was the vice president of the Public Interest Law Society and a member of the Family Law Society. During law school, Jennifer interned at the Elon University School of Law Field Placement Clinic with Legal Aid of North Carolina where she represented clients in domestic violence court proceedings.. Jennifer's passion for family law began in college while working summers as a runner / legal assistant at a firm in Greensboro. She continued to work for the firm on a part time basis while in law school and after graduating and passing the North Carolina Bar Exam. Jennifer relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2011 and now proudly calls the Queen City home.

Andrew is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist focusing his civil litigation practice primarily on family law.. Andrew graduated from Bucknell University and received his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.