Jessica Reece Fagan practices exclusively family law, helping her clients navigate the challenging issues related to divorce, custody, alimony and child support, modification, legitimation, and contempt actions.

In addition to litigation and trial experience, Jessica assists clients to resolve matters amicably through private mediation and settlement out of court. Jessica is admitted to appear before the Supreme Court of Georgia, all Superior and State Courts of Georgia and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Jessica is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia and a graduate of the State Bar of Georgia YLD Leadership Academy. Jessica is also a member of Lawyers Club of Atlanta, and a member of the Family Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association.

Outside the courtroom, Jessica enjoys bringing awareness to law-related volunteer efforts. She currently serves on the Leadership Council of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation and is a past co-chair of the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division’s Signature Fundraiser, which raised money to support veterans. Jessica is also past editor of the DeKalb Bar Association Newsletter, which received the State Bar of Georgia’s best legal newsletter award during her tenure.

Jessica also enjoys giving back to her local community. She currently sits on The Next30 Committee of the Southern Environmental Law Center. She is an active member of, and past board member for, Georgia Organics. Jessica also previously served as Board President of Generation Green of the Georgia Conservancy (2012-2014), as well as on the Board of Trustees for the Georgia Conservancy and on the Board of The Wylde Center.

A native of Augusta, Georgia, Jessica is a cum laude graduate of The University of Georgia. Jessica earned her law degree, with honors, from Georgia State University. Prior to joining Hedgepeth Heredia, Jessica practiced at the international law firm of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.

Jessica lives in Atlanta with her husband, William, and their two daughters. In her spare time, Jessica is an avid foodie and enjoys travel, reading, and yoga.

Named as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in the area of family law, Paul has exclusively practiced family law for the entirety of his legal career. The nuance and complexity found in every family law case informs Paul’s approach towards all of his clients to develop and craft a specific strategy to achieve optimal outcomes. Paul understands the difficulty family law issues can present and enjoys working with his clients towards bright, sustainable futures.

He is a member of the Family Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association and the Family Law Section and Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia. Paul has been published in the Daily Report, the legal organ of Fulton County, Georgia, and in the American Journal of Trial Advocacy. He has also spoken at continuing legal education conferences on topics germane to family law cases.

Paul received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Georgia in 2010, where he was an active member of his fraternity, serving as president his junior year. He received his JD from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2013.

While in law school, he served as president of his law school class, as an articles editor for the American Journal of Trial Advocacy, and as an oral advocate for Cumberland’s national finalist moot court team. He participated in the National Appellate Advocacy Championships in Chicago in 2013 and received the Hand Arendall Award for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy.

Paul currently lives in Inman Park.

Bernard V. Pepukayi, Sr. has more than 20 years of diverse multi-jurisdictional litigation experience. This broad unique background has enabled him to achieve favorable results for clients in divorce, alimony, child custody, and all actions involving family law. Prior to joining Hedgepeth Heredia, Bernard practiced family law with another notable law firm in Atlanta.

Bernard’s professional background includes serving as Chief of Litigation for the City of Atlanta where he managed and guided all litigation involving the City, supervised all litigation attorneys within the Law Department and managed all outside counsel representing Atlanta in litigation. Prior to relocating to Atlanta, he established and managed Pepukayi Law LLC where he effectively represented clients in all areas of family law. Additionally, he is the former Chief Legal Officer and County Attorney for New Castle County Government, Commissioner for the Family Court of Delaware and was Deputy Legal Counsel for Delaware’s first female Governor. Earlier in his career he served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Delaware Department of Justice and as a judicial law clerk for the President Judge of the Superior Court of Delaware. In addition to his positions of employment, he was appointed by the Governor to Delaware’s Sentencing Accountability Commission where he served for eight years. Also, he served the State Bar Association as Chair of the Committee on Professional Ethics, Chair of the Criminal Law section, Chair of the Multicultural Judges and Lawyers section, and was a recipient the Delaware State Bar Association New Lawyer’s Distinguished Service Award

Currently, Bernard is a member of the Lawyer’s Club of Atlanta, the Gate City Bar Association, Elizabeth Baptist Church and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity – Kappa Boulé. He is a proud graduate of Clark Atlanta University (magna cum laude) and the University of Iowa College of Law where he was the Captain of the National Moot Court Team and awarded Best Advocate in the Van Oosterhout Honorary Moot Court Competition

Bernard lives in the city of Atlanta. In his leisure time, he enjoys working out, watching movies and spending time with his two sons.

Shailey graduated from Mercer University School of Law in 2021. Shailey is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia, and a member of the State Bar Young Lawyers Division, where she serves on the Family Law Committee, and Litigation Committee.

While in law school, Shailey completed a study abroad program in International Humanitarian Rights, and became a Mercer- Oxford Scholar. In addition to her legal studies, she served as the South Asian Diversity Chair for the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, and was an active member of the Association of Women Law Students. During her second year, Shailey frequently volunteered for the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyer Foundation Saturday Lawyer Program, where she gained understanding in child advocacy and legal proceedings. She gained valuable experience by clerking for two personal injury law firms, and externing for the District Attorney’s office. She was sworn in under the 3L Practice Act, and had the opportunity to assist and participate in criminal trials. During her third year of law school, Shailey clerked for a family law practice and found her niche.

A native of the greater Atlanta area, Shailey earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Georgia in 2018. While completing her undergraduate studies, Shailey was a member of the Indian Cultural Exchange Program, and the Pre-Law Society. During her last summer, she studied abroad in Oxford, England and completed an intensive study of English literature.

Shailey now resides in Atlanta with her family. She is an avid reader, and in her spare time enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with her family and friends.

Jon Rotenberg has practiced family law for more than a decade. He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the Family Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association. He is admitted before the State Bar of Georgia, the Superior Court and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia. Prior to practicing at Hedgepeth Heredia, Jon was a partner at Howick, Westfall & Kaplan, where he worked in both family law and commercial law. His practice at HH is devoted exclusively to family law.

Jon received both his Bachelor of Arts and his Juris Doctorate from Emory University. During law school, he interned at the Charleston County Public Defender’s office and spent a one-year internship working on death penalty issues with attorney Stephen B. Bright through the Southern Center for Human Rights. Originally from Pennsylvania, Jon attended the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania before moving to Atlanta in 1988.

He serves as a Guardian ad Litem and volunteers with the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. Jon’s publications include “Helping Your Client Survive a Child Custody Evaluation,” National Business Institute: Continuing Legal Education, August 15, 2006.

Emily exclusively practices family law and since 2021 has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers. Emily appreciates the personal nature of every family law case and focuses on strong client advocacy while working with her clients to prepare for the future. As a trained co-parent coordinator, Emily understands the importance of amicable co-parenting and enjoys counseling clients regarding cooperative parenting after divorce. Emily’s clients appreciate her depth of knowledge and preparation, and her practical and forward-thinking approach to even the most contentious issues that arise in family law cases.

Emily is a member of the Family Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association. She is a trained Guardian ad Litem and enjoys volunteering with Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. Prior to practicing family law, Emily practiced with the international law firm of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton.

A native of California, Emily graduated with honors from University of California, Santa Barbara, and received her law degree from Emory University Law School. In college, Emily received the highest distinction in her major. She was a member of the Phi Alpha Theta history honors society and a recipient of the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities grant. In law school, Emily volunteered with the Emory Student Legal Services and the Emory Public Interest Committee, where she developed a strong desire to assist individuals with legal issues of a personal nature.

Emily lives in Atlanta with her husband, Chris, and their three children. During her free time, Emily enjoys exploring the outdoors with her family.