Sharon and Chap are partners in life and in business here at Chap Petersen & Associates, PLLC.  She no longer practices law but focuses on keeping the Team efficient, happy, and fed; handles the money, complaints, and compliments; as well as oils the hinges of squeaky doors.

Prior to this venture, she practiced elder law and estate planning before going part time on and off to care for her family. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (BA ’93) where she always had jobs to pay the bills. In her last year she worked as the English Tutoring Coordinator for the entire University, and for the National Center for Adult Literacy. She worked for a year in London desktop publishing for Goldman Sachs but returned stateside to earn her J.D. from the American University Washington College of Law. Winning the intramural soccer finals (go Legal Eagles!) and performing in the Law Revue Musical were fond highlights. 

She stayed active in her community as a field hockey and soccer coach, played violin with the George Mason University Pep Band the Green Machine, and performed in many musicals with the City of Fairfax Theatre Company while also serving on its Board and being instrumental in its re-founding in 2011.

Her most important life work has been helping her four+ children navigate life and shepherding her parents through aging and disability; intensively for 20 years until their passing within 14 days of each other in 2023. The walk alongside her parents while managing her own marriage and children has had a profound impact on everything she does and decides. In the end, her motto is Be a Lover AND a Fighter.