Cheryl Bruner
Owner/Attorney
Cheryl is the owner of Pitt & Emison, a firm with a solid history of succession planning to ensure continuity for clients. Cheryl concentrates her practice on estate planning and elder law. Offering comprehensive education to clients, she creates a plan to address the clients’ goals and concerns, such as avoiding the long probate process, protecting their children’s inheritance, and minimizing the financial impact of elder care. Working throughout the state of Kentucky, she prepares revocable living trusts, irrevocable asset protection trusts, wills, durable power of attorney (financial and medical surrogacy), healthcare documents, and living wills for end-of-life decisions. For many individuals and families, an asset protection trust is an essential component of an estate plan to preserve the tradition of passing down an inheritable asset. Cheryl also prepares specialized trusts, such as gun trusts to give firearms owners peace of mind related to inheritance or transfer of their property.
Cheryl obtained her law degree from the Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville. She is admitted to the bar in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the United States Supreme Court. She has received many honors over the years, including Business First’s “Forty Under 40” and YMCA Volunteer of the Year.
Cheryl’s bar memberships include the Kentucky Bar Association, the Louisville Bar Association, WealthCounsel and ElderCounsel.
Cheryl’s husband, Bart Bruner, is a teacher and football coach at St. Xavier High School. They have two adult children and they love spending time with their new grandson. They are members of St. Michael Catholic Church, where they’ve spent many years of active participation. Cheryl previously served as a member of the Parish Council, School Advisory Board, Capital Campaign Leadership Team, Summer Picnic Co-Chair, and Girl Scout Troop Leader. She and her husband volunteer at the Cathedral of the Assumption daily lunch program with a group of friends.
Cheryl is an active civic volunteer as well. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Greater Louisville and chaired the Annual Giving Campaign for many years. Cheryl also serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, a cause near to her heart, having lost her mom to mesothelioma.
A native of Owensboro, Kentucky, Cheryl keeps close ties with friends there and doesn’t pass an opportunity to enjoy some Owensboro-style barbeque.
Cheryl is a frequent speaker at churches and seminar presenter for financial advisors and their clients on the topics of estate planning and elder law.
Contact Cheryl at (502) 230-9119 or by email at cbruner@pittemison.com.
Annie Golemboski
Attorney
Annie grew up in Oldham County, Kentucky and attended Xavier University, where she obtained her undergraduate degree in social work (B.S.S.W., 2014). After college, Annie spent a year of service in Guyana, South America, as a social worker at an HIV clinic, and at St. John Bosco Orphanage. After returning to Kentucky, Annie worked for three years in an elder law firm as a Client Manager. There, she learned the complexities of elder law and the role that a well-prepared estate plan plays in helping clients and their families navigate difficulties during their senior years. Realizing her passion for helping others, Annie pursued a law degree at Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville. Annie is licensed to practice law in Kentucky and Indiana, and is a Veterans Affairs Accredited Attorney. Annie is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association, the Louisville Bar Association, the Indiana State Bar Association, ElderCounsel, and WealthCounsel. She was recently honored by Business First as one of the “20 People to Know in Law.” |
Annie is committed to working with clients and their families to protect their assets from the high cost of nursing home care. Annie also prepares estate plans for individuals, couples, and families, including general and healthcare powers of attorney, living will directives, last will and testaments, and revocable or irrevocable trusts.
Outside of the office, Annie likes to spend her free time with her family and friends, exercising, playing volleyball, and is a registered yoga instructor.
Contact Annie at (502) 230-9120 or by email at agolemboski@pittemison.com.
Emily Monarch
Attorney
Emily Monarch brings more than 20 years of legal experience to Pitt & Emison, with over a decade focused on helping families protect what matters most through thoughtful estate planning and elder law. A compassionate
advocate for her clients, Emily believes that practical, well-crafted planning is one of the greatest gifts you can leave for those you love, making an already difficult time a little easier for the people left behind. She is the founder of Elder Law Solutions, PLLC, the first Life Care Planning Law Firm in Kentucky. Emily’s commitment to community and legacy extends beyond the law. She served as Director of Gift Planning at the Community Foundation of Louisville for several years, giving her a deep and nuanced understanding of philanthropic planning that she brings to every client relationship.
Emily graduated Summa Cum Laude from Transylvania University before earning her law degree, finishing second in her class, from the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. She began her legal career with a judicial clerkship under Judge Charles R. Simpson III of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, an experience that shaped her precise, client-centered approach to the law.
Outside the office, Emily and her husband Will are deep in the rewarding, if occasionally chaotic, season of raising three children and watching them take flight. When she’s not visiting her college students, cheering from the pool deck at swim meets, or fielding the inevitable “What’s the Netflix password?” text, Emily loves gathering friends and family around the table, exploring new restaurants, and traveling the world with the people she loves most.
Contact Emily at (502)351-0078 or by email at emonarch@pittemison.com.
Paige Reardon
Attorney
Paige has lived many places over the years, but she calls Louisville home. After attending Ballard High School, (true Louisvillians will want to know—Go Bruins!), Paige went to Miami University and received her undergraduate degree in Journalism. Upon graduation, she commissioned as a Naval Officer and served four years as a Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy.
During her first tour in the Navy, Paige met her husband, Eric—also a Navy veteran. They have three children: Micah, Louisa, and Vivian. Eric’s 20-year military career took their family all over the country and the world including overseas tours to Cartagena, Colombia and La Spezia, Italy. Paige was a stay-at-home mom during this time, and an active volunteer, teaching English, serving on various PTO and PTA boards, and supporting her kids’ schools.
Serving others has always been important to Paige, and she knew that a career in law would be a meaningful way to serve her community. She earned her J.D. from the University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law, and is proud to practice as an Estate Planning attorney at Pitt & Emison. Connecting with families and individuals, helping them plan for the future, and guiding them through difficult transitions is deeply rewarding for her.
In addition to raising three kids and practicing law, Paige enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, and playing tennis.
Contact Paige at (502) 351-0063 or by email at preardon@pittemison.com.
Christine Emison
Of Counsel
Chris recently passed the torch as the owner of Pitt & Emison to Cheryl at the end of 2024, to travel and spend more time with her family.
During her years in practice, Chris focused on representing clients in estate planning, probate, and real estate matters. Through her years of experience in both probate and estate planning matters, she was able to plan her clients’ estates to minimize the time, expense, and publicity of probate. Plus, during times of difficult decision-making and grief, after the passing of a loved one, she was able to provide her clients with compassion and skill in guiding them through the process.
Chris also helped her clients with Medicaid asset protection through both advanced Medicaid planning and crisis Medicaid planning. She has helped many clients in protecting their assets from the costs of long-term care. She was able to assist veterans and their families with obtaining Veteran Benefits, and was able to help clients maximize their benefits under Medicaid and VA programs.
Chris received her undergraduate degree from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public and Environmental Affairs. She worked for several years as an oil and gas landman negotiating mineral leases. She then obtained her law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law, where she was also a Notes Editor for the University of Kentucky Journal of Mineral Law and Policy.
Chris is married to Bryce and has two daughters and a son-in-law. Sidney, and Claire and Tristan. She served on the DeSales High School Board and Executive Committee and is active in her church, St. Albert the Great. She is currently a member of the Wealth Counsel, Elder Counsel, Kentucky Bar Association, and Louisville Bar Association. She served as the secretary of the KBA (Kentucky Bar Association) Elder Law Section from 2017-2018.
Julie Mrozinski
Paralegal
Louisville native and graduate of the University of Louisville School of Education, Julie Mrozinski is a dedicated and detail-oriented paralegal recently joining Pitt & Emison. With her previous experience as an administrative specialist and in a supportive role in estate planning, Julie brings a strong foundation in estate planning document drafting and administrative support. She is passionate about organization and accuracy to efficiently support attorneys and clients in meeting their estate planning goals.
As the widow of a U.S. Navy veteran and a proud parent of two adult children, Julie understands the importance of resilience, service, and support in both personal and professional settings.
Beyond the legal world, Julie enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, making memories with family and embracing creativity through her favorite hobby, scrapbooking.
Contact Julie at (502) 230-9122 or by email at jmrozinski@pittemison.com
Divina Callahan
Legal Assistant
Divina is a proud Louisville native and dedicated professional. Driven by a deep compassion for people and their family stories, she brings a strong academic foundation to her role at Pitt & Emison. Having graduated from the University of Kentucky with dual Bachelor’s degrees in History and Psychology, her background allows her to uniquely understand the human complexities of estate planning and elder law.
Divina uses her passion for organization to provide support for clients and co-workers. She excels in ensuring smooth and efficient operations. Her thoughtful and thorough approach helps simplify complex processes, giving families the confidence they need as they plan for the future.
Outside of the office, Divina enjoys visiting museums and historical sites across the state, browsing local bookstores, and exploring new restaurants with friends and family.
Contact Divina at (502) 721-7139 or by email at dcallahan@pittemison.com
Addison Rogers
Law Clerk
Born and raised in Louisville, Addison is excited to serve as a law clerk at Pitt & Emison. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminology from the University of Kentucky (go cats!) and has just finished her first year of law school at Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law.
Prior to starting law school, Addison spent a year working as a Deputy Clerk in the Probate Division of the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk. Her primary role as a bench clerk allowed her to spend time in the courtroom, giving her a unique insight into the inner workings of the Probate process.
Addison is passionate about helping people navigate important legal matters and making these processes as smooth as possible. Her education and professional background have prepared her for the detail-oriented and analytical work involved with estate planning and probate administration.
Outside of the office, Addison enjoys travelling, camping, and cheering on the cats!
Contact Addison at (502) 351-0026 or by email at arogers@pittemison.com
Shaye Karem
Summer Intern
Shaye was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and graduated from Assumption High School before attending the University of Kentucky in Lexington. She is an incoming senior pursing dual bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Law & Justice, reflecting her strong interest in the legal field.
While working for Pitt & Emison over the last three summers, Shaye has continued to gain valuable experience in a legal setting and a deeper understanding of the practice of law. Her passion for helping people has reflected in her assisting the attorneys and helping facilitate a positive client experience.
After completing her undergraduate studies, Shaye plans to attend law school and pursue a career in the legal profession.
Outside of school and the office, Shaye enjoys spending time with family and friends, discovering new food and travel experiences, and staying active.
Contact Shaye by email at skarem@pittemison.com