On July 26, 2013, attorney Shannon Fauver and co-counsel Dawn Elliott walked into federal court to file the first same-sex marriage case in Kentucky — a lawsuit that would travel to the United States Supreme Court and become part of the consolidated decision that made marriage equality the law of the land in 2015.
Overview
Fauver Law Office, PLLC is a solo practice firm founded by Shannon Fauver in 2004, situated in Louisville’s Crescent Hill neighborhood on Frankfort Avenue. Shannon Fauver handles every case personally. The firm does not assign matters to clerks or junior staff — clients work directly with the attorney throughout. That structure is by design: Fauver opened the practice after returning from the Peace Corps and earning her law degree from the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, and she has maintained direct client service as the firm’s organizing principle for more than twenty years.
The firm serves clients in Kentucky and Southern Indiana across a range of practice areas: bankruptcy, Social Security disability, civil rights (with a documented emphasis on LGBT rights), estate planning, expungements, and traffic offenses including DUI. The breadth reflects a practice built around serving individuals who need competent legal help across the full span of life circumstances — financial crisis, government benefits, constitutional rights, end-of-life planning, and minor criminal matters.
Shannon Fauver has been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell as a Top 5% attorney continuously from 2014 through 2024, and by Super Lawyers in 2026. The firm offers a free initial consultation for all matters.
Practice Areas
Bankruptcy. The firm handles consumer bankruptcy matters for individuals in Kentucky and Southern Indiana, advising clients on available relief options and managing the filing process.
Civil Rights. This is the area for which Fauver Law Office has received national attention. Shannon Fauver’s work on Bourke v. Beshear — the first same-sex marriage case filed in Kentucky, ultimately resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015 — established her standing as a civil rights litigator willing to take cases that other attorneys would not. She also worked on Love v. Beshear, which addressed the right of same-sex couples to marry within Kentucky. In 2016, she organized pro bono assistance for approximately 1,500 eastern Kentucky residents who were at risk of losing Social Security benefits.
Estate Planning. The firm prepares wills, powers of attorney, and related documents for individuals and families seeking to organize their affairs. As a solo practitioner, Fauver provides direct personal counsel on these matters.
Expungement. For clients with criminal records that qualify for expungement under Kentucky law, the firm handles the petition process.
Social Security Disability. Fauver represents claimants seeking Social Security disability benefits, including appeals of denied claims. She is a member of the National Association of Social Security Claimants Representatives.
Traffic Offenses and DUI. The firm handles traffic violations and DUI defense in Kentucky courts.
Attorney Profiles
Shannon Fauver founded the practice in 2004, the year after graduating from the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. Her undergraduate degree is in Biology from the University of Louisville (1997), and she served in the Peace Corps before law school. She is admitted to the Kentucky Bar (2004), the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky (2004), and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (2004).
Her recognition extends across multiple organizations and award categories. The Daniel M. Alvarez Champion of Justice Award came in 2023. She holds the Dr. James R. Ramsey LGBT Leadership Award, the ACLU Award (for Bourke v. Beshear), and the Paul G. Tobin Pro Bono Service Award from the Louisville Bar Association. The Louisville Fairness Campaign named her a 2015 Champion of Fairness. The Advocate magazine named her one of 25 Legal Advocates Fighting for Transgender Rights in 2016. She graduated from the LBA Leadership Academy and is a member of the Louisville Bar Association, the Kentucky Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Women Lawyers Association of Greater Louisville, and the Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys. She also ran as a candidate for Jefferson County District Court Judge, Division 7.
Location and Service Area
1752 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206. Phone: (502) 569-7710. Website: https://www.fauverlaw.com/
The firm serves clients in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Shannon Fauver holds bar admissions to the Kentucky courts, the Western District of Kentucky federal court, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, which handles federal appeals arising from Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, and Tennessee.
Client Focus
Fauver Law Office serves individuals rather than businesses or institutions. The client base includes people facing financial distress who need bankruptcy protection, individuals denied Social Security disability benefits, those seeking to vindicate civil rights claims, and people who need basic planning documents or help clearing their records. The firm’s pro bono track record — including the large-scale Social Security assistance effort in eastern Kentucky — reflects a consistent orientation toward underserved communities.
All matters are handled personally by Shannon Fauver. The initial consultation is free, which lowers the barrier for clients who are uncertain whether they have a viable legal matter.
No specific foreign language capabilities are listed for this firm.
FAQ
What is the significance of Bourke v. Beshear?
On July 26, 2013, Shannon Fauver and co-counsel Dawn Elliott filed Bourke v. Beshear in federal court — the first same-sex marriage lawsuit in Kentucky. The case was consolidated with three other state cases and went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of marriage equality in 2015. The ACLU recognized Shannon Fauver’s work on this case with a formal award.
Is the initial consultation free?
Yes. The first consultation is always free for all practice areas the firm handles, including divorce, bankruptcy, Social Security, civil rights, estate planning, and expungement.
Who handles my case at Fauver Law Office?
Shannon Fauver handles every case personally. The firm is structured as a solo practice, which means clients do not work through staff, assistants, or junior attorneys. All legal work is done by Fauver directly.
How long has the firm been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell?
Shannon Fauver has held a Martindale-Hubbell Top 5% rating continuously from 2014 through 2024 — a span of more than a decade reflecting consistent peer recognition of her legal ability.
Does the firm handle cases in federal court?
Yes. Shannon Fauver is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, enabling her to handle civil rights and Social Security matters that require federal court litigation.
Closing
A twenty-year solo practice built on the proposition that individuals deserve direct, experienced legal representation across the full range of challenges they face — from financial crisis to constitutional rights — Fauver Law Office carries a record of landmark civil rights work alongside the day-to-day practice that most clients need most of the time.