Paul W. Shonk

Paul W. Shonk graduated from Ohio Dominican University with a bachelor's degree in English literature and obtained his law degree, cum laude, from Ave Maria School of Law in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After passing the Ohio bar, Paul took an opportunity to work for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn in New York City.

In the Big Apple, Paul provided non-profit immigration legal services advocating on behalf of people of divergent backgrounds, cultures, and creeds. Paul was responsible for numerous cases, including affirmative applications to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and removal/deportation defense before the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR). His accomplishments included winning lawful permanent residence for victims of domestic violence and other crimes, in addition to winning political asylum for clients who fled persecution in their home countries. He finished out his work at the diocese as the Managing Attorney for Immigration Legal Services.

In 2011, he moved to Cincinnati and joined the law firm of McKinney & Namei. There he expanded his practice to include family law, probate matters, personal injury, and criminal defense. He often counseled non-citizen clients who had been accused of crimes, exercising skillful advocacy in these high stakes “crimmigration” cases. Paul continues to recognize that skillful advocacy often makes the difference between deportation and keeping a family together.

In addition to trial work in Hamilton, Butler, and Warren counties, Paul developed a successful appellate practice. Where other attorneys might give up on justice, Paul has challenged numerous matters to higher courts, winning reversals and the re-opening of wrongly decided cases at the Ohio Court of Appeals, the Board of Immigration Appeals and the U.S. District Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit.

Paul joined Rodríguez & Porter in 2017, adding Wrongful Death, Probate, and Adoption to his already long repertoire of practice areas. Paul and his wife, Cristina, have four children, two boys and two girls. He is a parishioner at St. Gertrude Catholic Church and in his spare time he enjoys playing the piano.