Kena S. Hollingsworth - Attorney / Founding Partner

Email: KHollingsworth@hzlegal.com | Phone: 317.348.6723 | Fax: 317.569.2202

Kena Hollingsworth is a founding partner of Hollingsworth & Zivitz, where she practices exclusively in the area of family law, family law mediation, and collaborative law with respect to divorce and family law cases. Kena is a registered family law mediator as well as a trained collaborate divorce attorney. She represents clients with all types of family law issues including: divorce & legal separation; custody; parenting time (visitation); child support; paternity; adoptions (including contested adoptions); prenuptial and postnuptial agreements; post-decree modifications & enforcement (including contempt actions); guardianships, emancipation; domestic partnership agreements & disputes; spousal maintenance (alimony); relocations; protective orders; restraining orders; grandparent rights; education orders; military divorces; CHINS (children in need of services); and family law appeals. Kena is also a registered family law mediator and practices collaborative divorce. As a collaborative divorce attorney, Kena is a member of the and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and Central Indiana Association of Collaborative Professionals (CIACP).

As a child of divorce, Kena understands the complex, emotional nature of family law cases and, whether she is acting as a litigator or a mediator, she approaches them with compassion and empathy. Very dedicated to the legal community, Kena is an active member of the family law sections of the American, Indiana, Indianapolis, Hamilton County and Boone County Bar Associations. She is a frequent author of and speaker on topics of interest in family law, and has appeared on local television and radio programs discussing various issues related to divorce and family law. In 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, Kena was named to the prestigious list of Super Lawyers® Rising Stars for family law by Law & Politics Magazine and Indianapolis Monthly.

In addition to her commitment to the legal community, Kena is actively involved in Central Indiana's community. She serves on numerous non-profit boards and volunteers many hours to legal and civic organizations. Kena has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to the community through leadership, volunteerism, and professionalism. Kena was named a "Distinguished Fellow" by the Indianapolis Bar Foundation in 2011. In addition to being a top 5 finalist for Young Professionals of Central Indiana, Young Professional of the Year Award, Kena was selected as one of Indy's Best & Brightest, for three consecutive years by Junior Achievement of Indianapolis, was named to the prestigious Indianapolis Business Journal's Forty Under 40 list in 2008, and received the Colts Community Quarterback Award in 2007.

An avid sports fan, Kena is a Colts and Pacers season ticket holder. She loves playing tennis, golfing and boxing. Outside of her legal career, volunteerism, and sports, she enjoys traveling, photography and spending time with her friends and family.

Education

• Indiana University School of Law, J.D.
• University of Southern Indiana, B.A., English, Spanish & International Business (Marketing), magna cum laude
• Varsity Tennis (Scholarship Athlete, All-Conference, All-Academic Conference)

Awards and honors

• "Distinguished Fellow," Indianapolis Bar Foundation, (2011)
• Super Lawyers® Rising Stars, (2011, 2010, 2009)
• Young Professionals of Central Indiana, Young Professional of the Year Award, top five finalist, (2009)
• Indianapolis' Forty Under 40, Indianapolis Business Journal (2008)
• Indy's Best and Brightest, Junior Achievement (2009, 2008, 2007)
• Colts Community Quarterback Award, Indianapolis Colts (2007)
• Bar Leader Series (class V), Indianapolis Bar Association (2008, 2007)
• BV® Peer Review Rated^SM by Martindale-Hubbell® (highest rating for an attorney practicing five through nine years)

Legal Organizations

• Indianapolis Bar Foundation, Distinguished Fellow
• International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), Member
• Central Indiana Association of Collaborative Professionals (CIACP), Member
• American Bar Association, Advisory Panelist; Family Law Section; Young Lawyers Division
• Indiana State Bar Association, Delegate to Board of Governors; Family Law Section; Women in Law Division; Young Lawyers Division
• Indianapolis Bar Association, Executive Committee of Family Law Section; Family Law Section; Women in Law Division; Young Lawyers Division; Task Force to Create Family Law Manual for Family Law Practitioners
• Hamilton County Bar Association, Family Law Section
• Boone County Bar Association, Delegate to Indiana State Bar Association's Board of Governors
• National Association of Women Lawyers

Board Memberships

• Girls' Nite In, International, Board of Directors (2012-present)
• FBI Citizens' Academy, Board of Directors (2006-present)
• Peoples' Burn Foundation, Board of Directors (2006-present)
• Salvation Army, Board of Directors, Social Services Council (2006-2009)
• Indiana K9 Search Network, Board of Directors (2009-present)

Civic Organizations and Volunteerism

• Habitat for Humanity, Volunteer
• Kids' Voice, Guardian Ad Litem, Volunteer
• Ask A Lawyer, Indianapolis Bar Association, Volunteer
• Legal Lines, Indianapolis Bar Association, Volunteer
• Heartland Pro Bono Council, Volunteer
• Dress for Success, Volunteer
• National Association of Professional Women, Member
• Young Professional of Central Indiana, Member
• InfraGard, Indianapolis Chapter, Member
• Indiana University School of Law Alumni Association, Member
• University of Southern Indiana Alumni Association, Member

Seminars and Articles

• Top Ten Tips for New Family Law Attorneys (December 2011)
• Surviving and Thriving: Essentials for Starting or Improving Your Solo/Small Practice (October 2010)
• Staying Together For the Kids (June 2010)
• Alternatives To A "Dirty Divorce" (May 2010)
• Preparing For A Custody Battle (April 2010)
• Considering Divorce? . . . Consider This (February 2010)
• Divorce Tips for Family Law Attorneys (December 2009)
• Family Law Institute: Electronic Evidence (October 2009)
• Starting Your Own Law Practice - manual for law students (August 2009)
• How To Handle A Divorce: Top 5 Dos & Don'ts (April 2009)
• Top Ten Litigation Practice Tips for Young Lawyers - Family Law (December 2008)
• Hot Topics in Family Law (June 2008)
• Top Ten Tips for Family Law Attorneys (December 2007)
• Hot Topics in Custody & Parenting Time (August 2007)
• How to Find the Right Family Law Attorney for You (May 2007)
• Top Ten Litigation Practice Tips for Young Lawyers - Family Law (December 2006)
• Custody Evaluations - Family Law Practical Application Series (June 2006)
• Family Law - Beyond the Basics (December 2005)
• Evidence for Family Law Practitioners (August 2000)

Representative Cases

• Sabo v. Sabo, 58A05-0608-CV-409 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006)

To speak to Kena Hollingsworth about your family law issue, call Hollingsworth & Zivitz at (317) Divorce or click here to contact us online.