Sonya Pfeiffer

Sonya Pfeiffer is a Founding Partner at Pfeiffer Rudolf. She represents individuals in the United States and internationally in complex, high-conflict matters. Her practice includes well-publicized cases that draw media attention, high-stakes civil litigation, complex criminal matters, civil rights cases, wrongful-conviction work, police-misconduct claims, and media strategy.

Sonya earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Ohio University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She earned a JD With Honors from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Law. Her education supports her work as a litigator, advocate, journalist, filmmaker, and adviser in public-facing legal matters.

Sonya began her legal career as a public defender. She later worked at a large corporate law firm, handling white-collar criminal matters, civil litigation, and pro bono death penalty work. For the past decade, she has worked with her husband and law partner, David Rudolf, on routine and high-profile cases.

Sonya is a board member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a member of the American Bar Association, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, and the North Carolina Bar Association. She is also admitted in Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts, and licensed in the North Carolina federal districts.

Sonya is an award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker. She spent more than a decade as a television news reporter in the United States and Europe, focusing on investigative reporting. She also co-hosts Abuse of Power, a Webby Award-winning podcast that highlights injustices in the criminal legal system.

Sonya Pfeiffer is also a licensed barrister and solicitor in Canada, handling high-conflict, high-stakes civil and family litigation in Ontario. She teaches trial advocacy at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.

Law Office Affiliations

• Founding Partner, Pfeiffer Rudolf
• Member of Board of Directors, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, North Carolina Bar Association
• Member, District of Columbia Bar Association
• Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
• Former Vice President, North Carolina Advocates for Justice
• Former Chair, Mecklenburg County Bar Association
• Member of Board of Directors, Mecklenburg County Bar Foundation

Licensed State

• North Carolina
• District of Columbia
• Massachusetts

Education

• University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Ohio University
  BS in Journalism with Summa Cum Laude

Awards & Badges