Sophia Zoë Kilmer
A civil litigation trial attorney with more than 15 years of experience, Sophia has always represented people, never corporations, organizations or insurance companies.
In the courtroom
Sophia has tried cases before juries and litigated against some of the nation's largest corporations and nonprofit organizations. She knows a case can be one of the most consequential matters in a client's life, and she takes on every one with seriousness, dedication and care. She has secured significant settlements that changed her clients' lives.
Most of her career has been spent on catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, representing people who were badly hurt and families who lost someone because of another's negligence. She has taken on some of the largest corporations and organizations in the world, in cases involving trucking and auto crashes, construction sites, sexual abuse at medical institutions, medical malpractice and injured college athletes suing the NCAA.
She has represented police officers, firefighters and EMS workers injured in the line of duty, and refinery, retail, construction and union workers, in civil litigation, workers' compensation and Social Security disability claims. Her employment work includes wrongful termination and discrimination cases.
Before opening her own office, she practiced at solo practices, boutique firms and large plaintiffs' firms. She stays calm and clear under pressure, and she does her best work when the stakes are highest.
Why she practices
Sophia sees the legal system as one of this country's most fundamental institutions: a level playing field where one person can hold even the most powerful party accountable. Her practice rests on two principles. No one is above the law, and every legal harm deserves real redress.
She believes every person who seeks legal counsel deserves zealous representation from an attorney who cares about them and about the harm they suffered. That belief brought her into the law, and it is why she opened her own firm.
Beyond the courtroom
An experienced public speaker, Sophia has addressed audiences of thousands on social justice and our shared responsibility to protect one another from harm.
In 2024 she founded Defend Trans Rights, a trans-owned firm that helps trans people facing discrimination find civil rights attorneys. She speaks often on the legal issues confronting LGBTQ+ people, and she makes informative videos for her large social media following about what the queer community faces at work, at school and in daily life. In 2025 she ran in the Democratic primary for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County.
Sophia grew up in the suburbs of Kansas City. She is a trans woman, she plays ultimate frisbee and flag football, she loves to hike, and she has run the Philadelphia Half Marathon. Her son is the light of her life, and being his mom is her favorite job.
Education
J.D., Dean's Honors
Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas
Top Paper honors in Contracts, Conflicts of Law and International World Trade Organization Law.
LL.M., Globalization and the Law
Maastricht University, the Netherlands
Earned alongside her J.D. Her thesis examined how private military contractors can be held accountable for violations of international criminal law.
Bachelor's degree
University of Kansas
Recognition
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star, every year from 2019 to 2024
- Top 40 Under 40 attorney in Pennsylvania, The National Trial Lawyers
Each recognition is awarded by the organization named, using its own selection process.
Professional memberships
- Montgomery County Bar Association
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- Bucks County Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Association for Justice
- Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association
- Montgomery County Equality Caucus
- Human Rights Campaign
Public service
- Elected Democratic Committee Person, Cheltenham precinct 2-4, 2020 to 2023
- Corresponding Secretary, Executive Committee of the Cheltenham Democratic Committee, 2021 to 2023
- Candidate for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Montgomery County, Democratic primary, 2025