Kenia Soares Johannes

Ms. Kenia Johannes is an attorney licensed in the State of North Carolina. She was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and grew up in small town Kearny, New Jersey. She moved with her husband and two daughters to North Carolina in 2007, and considers Charlotte home.

Ms. Johannes finished her last year of high school at the Ataulfo Alves School in São Paulo, Brazil, and upon returning to the States, went on to be listed as an achiever of academic excellence in “Who’s Who Among American Junior Colleges.” She met her husband, Angus, in English 101, where they competed which each other for top of class. She graduated in the top 2% of her undergraduate class, and with magna cum laude honors, from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, having double majored in English and Criminal Justice.

Ms. Johannes graduated with cum laude honors from law school.  Achieving her Juris Doctor is the highlight of her academic career. While in law school, she served two semesters as a Teaching Assistant for Legal Research and Writing, and served as the Editor-in-Chief for the academic Property Law Journal. She also served as a Student Attorney in the Immigration Law Clinic and has worked with clients on resolving various immigration issues, such as, family based petitions, special immigrant visas, removal defense and asylum claims, adjustment of status, extension of status, and U visas, among others.

Ms. Johannes is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and has always maintained a dedication to advancing the position of underserved populations, and actively involves herself in groups and organizations that work to ensure equality, fairness, and freedom for all. She graduated from law school with over 400 hours pro bono experience; many of those hours were accumulated by working with a large international non-profit, where she led a team of volunteers to process overseas refugee applications and Special Immigrant Visas.

Ms. Johannes believes that knowledge is key to the resolution of all conflicts, and works to promote to advancement through involvement, communication, understanding, and advocacy.