Kathleen Royer has mediated family law cases for me on three occassions. I recommend her without…read morereservation! Ms. Royer is knowledgable, has a keen understanding of child development, and is a well respected attorney and former Pro Tem Judge. She is able to clear a path toward resolution in high conflict cases and moves toward an efficient and fair settlement. Ms. Royer brings a wealth of experience in family law and is one of our respected leaders in the area. Consider using Kathleen Royer as your mediator, you won't regret it.

Kathleen helped my husband and I work towards and amicable divorce. We wanted to come to the…read moreeasiest dissolution of our marriage, however we have kids and a house and needed guidance getting through this process. Kathleen simplified the paperwork and was able to meet us where we were at for our specific process. Time and money well spent!!

Steer clear of this attorney…read more This attorney was hired in a custody case. Initially she seems to be a great attorney however over time she dropped the ball on numerous occasions and led us down a path which instigated continuous litigation rather than resolution of our case - of course padding her pocket. Consider hiring this attorney if you want to be led astray while emptying your pockets.

Before I've even started to type this, I have tears of thanks running down my face…read more From our very first conversation, Kristen assured me and reassured me over and over again that we would get through this nightmare together and that my daughter and I would be happy and safe. Despite my extreme anxiety and stressful breakdowns through the 2+ year case, she was patient, understanding and supportive. Being in a marriage where I was degraded and abused for years, left me with zero self esteem and no conidence at all. I believed every awful thing the ex told me...( he'd get full custody, I'd never see my daughter again, he'd put me in jail for kidnapping etc..) I can't even tell you how many terrified tears I cried in the beginning. Step by step, with Kristen in my corner, I started to feel more secure and confident that I had finally made the right choice by leaving. While my ex made this a LONG drawn out process, Kristen kept me in the loop and as calm as possible. Two years later, I'm back to the strong, confident, independent woman I was before my miserable marriage. I know that I am a great mom and I've made the best choices for my daughter and I. I went from daily anxiety/panic attacks in fear of losing my baby girl, to laughing at the absolute ridiculous nonsense that my ex used to terrify me with. The first great choice I'd made in years was hiring Kristen. Even when I wanted to give up, she wouldn't let me. Even when I was willing to settle for less than my daughter and I deserved, she wouldn't let me. She fought harder for me than I would've even fought for myself. And everything she encouraged me to fight for was absolutely correct. My daughter and I are living our best lives and are protected and worry free. My simple words of thanks will never be enough.

Unless you have a simple marriage or divorce issue they are not interested. Anything complicated…read moreseems to throw them. I would avoid

Though most people don't ever hope for a divorce, those who go through them hope for a good one…read more And one way to have a good one is of course to have a great lawyer, but perhaps also to think about the process as a way to come to mutual agreements about moving forward, as opposed to a battle of separate interests. For those who lean toward the former approach, Adrienne Keith is a fantastic resource, not only as a lawyer but as a calm, steady person. She works in Collaborative Law as well as mediation, and is active not only in volunteering but also in writing an insightful, funny, sensitive blog about divorce and family law-related topics (http://splitsvillenews.com/). While I didn't technically utilize Collaborative Law (she provides legal divorce services other than just that process), Adrienne was so helpful in carefully walking me through each step of the process, always calm, professional yet warm, and perfectly prepared. I truly appreciated her attitude of non-combativeness and of working to find mutual solutions to sticky issues. Should you find yourself or know someone who's in the situation of needing representation through a divorce or family law issue, do yourself a favor and get in touch with her. Plus, on the way out of the courthouse she handed me a really thick envelope....When I got home, I opened it. A lovely bar, of bittersweet chocolate. What more can a girl want when she gets her old name back?

Divorce was uncharted territory for me, and Karin has guided me through these rough and daunting…read morewaters like a master seaman carrying precious cargo. She's been fair, exceptionally knowledgeable, ready to be assertive when necessary, and reasonable in all situations. She clearly has the respect of her peers in the legal community, and I found her through a personal recommendation/referral who knew of her expertise, diplomacy, and skills. She has a deep commitment and personal interest in helping her clients succeed in solving the problem of a separation, not making it worse. Her advice is timely and reflects a deep understanding not only of the law but of human relationships, and her mission truly is to help people solve their problems in an adult manner, with civil and amicable proceedings and outcomes. This is why she has become recognized as a powerful and poignant voice in the legal community and among those interested in how divorce and dissolution can work while minimizing conflict or emotion. Her partner, John Rosecrans, is equally skilled in his own right, and the two of them complement each others' skills in a manner well-suited to helping virtually any client with their situation. His focus on details of the law and researching cases to their fullest help tremendously in situations that become more legally technical and complex. Additionally, their pricing for clients is reasonable--which was one of my biggest fears--and their ability to "work things out" with other attorneys keeps costs down to a minimum. It's been a rough period of my life, but Karin & John definitely minimized many of the challenges that seemed so foreboding, and they've absolutely earned my respect, admiration, and willingness to refer them to nearly anyone who's going through a divorce. I already provided one referral, which I know has also had a very positive outcome for the client--beyond their expectations given the severity of the case. I cannot say enough positive things about this legal team. If you're going through a divorce, or even considering one, give them a call.

She represented me to the fullest and took special care of a delicate situation. I appreciated the…read morecare and thought she had strategically to resolve my issue.

I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to Garrett, Stephanie and everyone at Elise Buie who…read moresupported me through this process. It takes hardly any skill to be an attorney to represent someone to go against men in a system stacked against them. You don't need to have rational arguments, scientifically verified evidence or ethics to get orders on men. You can even have a successful career as an attorney, charge exorbitant rates and still be considered a social justice warrior. Law is reason free from passion; it takes real skill as a legal professional and courage to represent men despite how family courts need to be cautious and favor women. I want to thank you for representing me and showing empathy throughout the process. I felt protected throughout the journey with Elise Buie standing behind me. Thank you!

I don't know if I have ever written a review for anyone, but I am amazed by how much this firm…read morebilled me when my case was practically on pause. The paralegals were discussing my case when no new information was coming in and I was getting bills of $1200, $700, $1500 regularly. I must have spent $7,000+ and we never even served my ex or filed the paperwork. Elise seems personable but I never felt comfortable asking any questions for fear of what she would charge me. She talks about self-care during these times and she was my biggest stress.

Humane Legal Warriors…read more Veronica came billed by her referrals as "a real bulldog" though occasionally hard to reach due to high demand. In consultation she quickly grasped my situation with a few pointed questions. In court, where opposing counsel showboated or exaggerated, Veronica was calm, matter-of-fact, almost conversational. This was unnerving at first, but after our first couple rulings (favorable), I saw the other attorneys' performances as aimed at clients, not the judges. Veronica doesn't perform or exaggerate; She deals in facts that matter to the court, and delivers. When opposing counsel misrepresented events or twisted my statements, Veronica was quick to object sharply. I did not find her hard to reach: She seems to monitor e-mail at all hours, replying on weekends and holidays when necessary. Amy, her Chief Managing Paralegal, is fantastic - Sharp, tough, efficient, quick to recognize strategic value of details, and empathetic when needed (I needed a lot of reassurance). Divorce is awful enough, but the opacity and pace of the legal system is terrifying when family and financial matters seem to hinge on every ruling. Amy did a great job of keeping events in context of the law and our strategy, advising me on what to expect, and preparing me for each next step. She was responsive even when clearly managing a heavy case load. Working closely with her, I found myself fascinated by the process, and as another reviewer relates, at times even enjoying it. Both of them can be abrupt, perhaps an occupational hazard which I found intimidating, but came to recognize as ultimately in my best interest by not wasting time on what wasn't material or legally advantageous. Both could also quickly switch tone when I made clear my nerves were frayed. Their small adjustments and spontaneous offerings of compassionate perspective helped me trust they were honoring their fiduciary role, and actually cared about the outcome for me and my family, not just for their scorecard. As my case unfolded, that trust was rewarded with results. Despite the opposing party hiring a big firm and spending over twice what I paid in legal fees, the court ruled decidedly in my favor at nearly every hearing, and we settled with a very reasonable financial division. Most importantly, what Veronica, Amy, and their team secured for me is beyond valuation: A fair custody arrangement, and the legal protection throughout a very contentious divorce to enable me to live my life and enjoy some of the best family moments I've had in years. I feel unbelievably fortunate to have had Veronica, Amy, and their team represent and guide me through an otherwise very trying ordeal.

I hired Ms. Freitas for a complicated divorce case from a 30-year marriage after seeing positive…read moreGoogle reviews. Unfortunately, my experience was disappointing. I later read that she review gates, and from my experience, it appears this may be true. Based on my experience, I would not recommend Ms. Freitas for complex divorce cases. She doesn't listen, is unprepared and sticks to her agenda, not what is best for her client. Her communication was inconsistent. Important emails were not read before calls, and I often received multiple, confusing responses from different team members. I spoke with Veronica twice; the initial consultation 1.5 years before and a useless phone call 2 days prior to mediation where she berated and lectured me instead of discussing my concerns. Veronica's preparation for mediation was lacking. I had to review materials myself with the mediator, as Ms. Freitas had not read the opposing counsel's documents. Billing was unclear and included charges from unidentified staff. When I raised concerns, Veronica became defensive, stating she was cheaper than most attorneys and I should be grateful.

Barbara Isenhour helped answer some legal questions for me, courteously and efficiently. She asked…read moreme the questions that matter most upfront, and helped me figure out the best course of action to take.

We are contemplating a move back to Washington state where we lived for many years. Without proper…read moreestate planning we would potentially be subject to the Washington estate tax. n our initial contacts with the firm, we clearly identified that we were residents in another state. We were instructed to provide our detailed financial picture as well as our current estate planning documents which we provided promptly and told that our information would be forwarded to the attorneys for evaluation. The following is the email response. "Thank you for filling out and returning your Questionnaire. I will forward your information to our attorneys for review. Once they have completed their review, I will be back in touch with you regarding a quote for services and the next steps for scheduling." Well over a month went by with no word back from STIB. I finally contacted them by email requesting a status update. Within minutes, I received the following reply. "Thank you very much for contacting our firm. Unfortunately, we are not able to take on your case. Our firm does not advise out-of-state residents on tax issues. Our focus is estate planning and long term care planning." The STIB website clearly tax issues as part of estate planning. I also found no restrictions on attorneys in Washington state providing consultation to out-of-state residents considering residency in Washington. Needless to say, I was astounded by what I consider to extremely poor communication and timely follow-up. If it is indeed not their policy to advise out-of-state residents on tax issues, I would have expected to have been informed of that policy up front thus saving us the time of compiling and sending detailed and confidential financial and estate planning information. In my opinion, this represents incompetent and totally unprofessional behavior.

I've been in need of legal consultation and contacted William Buchanan. He's…read more professional, communicative and answered all my questions through both phone call and emails. I wanted to take a moment to thank him for the professional opinion he provided.

After roughly 3.5 years of fighting for visitation, I was awarded custody of my child. William…read moreBuchanan worked relentlessly to ensure that I was able to reunite with my child after several years of separation. He navigated very difficult, unique and personal circumstances and was always aware of and planning for the next steps. As a result, I moved from supervised visitation to full custody of my child. I highly recommend William Buchanan for anyone seeking a knowledgeable and dedicated attorney to represent them in any family court matter.