Paul S. Simon

Paul S. Simon

Partner

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.

Selected Honors and Positions

Rising Star (Family Law), Super Lawyers
Atlanta Magazine 2018-2024

Guest
North Fulton Business Radio, February 2024

Guest
Sports ‘N Torts, October 2023

Author, “Family Law as a Second Language”
Daily Report, May 2022

Guest
Asking for a Friend, May 2022

Guest
Lawyers Tell All Podcast, December 2022

Guest
Renovation Radio Podcast, December 2022

Author, “Moving Up: Sweat, Money, Jokes, Pain”
Verdict Magazine, Summer 2022

Author, “I Want Custody”
The YLD Review, Fall 2022

Speaker, “Identifying and Resolving Ethical Issues in Cases Involving Children”
HalfMoon, 2022

Speaker, “Devil’s in the Deviations”
Advanced Family Law Seminar (September 2021)

Author, “Perspective on the New Normal”
Daily Report, 2020

Author, “Lawyers and the Bad News Blues”
Daily Report (December 4, 2018)

Speaker, “Not Your Average Case Law Update”
Nuts & Bolts of Family Law (September 2018)

Author, “A Little More Advice for Rookies: Understand Yourself, Recognize Your Limitations”
Daily Report (November 20, 2017)

 

Bernard V. Pepukayi, Sr.

Bernard V. Pepukayi, Sr.

Senior Counsel

Bernard V. Pepukayi Sr.
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.

Selected Honors and Positions

Shailey H. Shah

Shailey H. Shah

Associate Attorney

Shailey Shah standing in a conference roomShailey 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.

Selected Honors and Positions

Jon Rotenberg

Jon Rotenberg

Of Counsel

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.

Selected Honors and Positions

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