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.

See the review of 6/26/15, and the 4 other bad reviews since then. This is all still the same, poor…read morerepresentation, unprepared your during mediation, causing me to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in my divorce. I was never even told to file for alimony or child support and I filed in July 2020, when asking for food stamps and on unemployment. She never even explained that I couldn't ask for that money back. In mediation she was a deer in the headlights, letting the mediator dictate the decisions, she didn't even have my financial spreadsheet ready when the mediator asked for it. I am a survivor of both emotional and financial abuse, she knew this going into mediation. I was forced to comb through numbers and produce while flooded with PTSD. I was unable to calculate the numbers, and that should have been her job. I was re-victimized during mediation. When I wrote Karin and Melissa the next morning, explaining that I needed them to be my voice, asking them why they froze up and why they let Cheryll the mediator dictate the decisions, and told them they didn't consider the mortage owed on my home, only the equity. They didn't even confirm the numbers used in his bank statement were not correct. Their firm is clearly not prepared for complex asset divorce, or dealing with women from domestic abuse and financial abuse. This has been a complete nightmare. I only ask for what is fair, and now I walk away with nothing but child support that can be overturned at any time. I hope no one else goes through this nightmare. I signed a CR2A after being coached by her and the mediator that I could stand to lose $100-$200,000. The next day in the morning with no distractions, and a calm place I look at the spreadsheet used in mediation and I see over a six-figure errors in their calculations that the decisions were based on. It was her job to oversee the financials, and understand how to litigate finances. It was her job to know divorce law, but instead she was quiet and let the mediator dictate. I asked her why the next day I said why didn't you advocate for me why were you sitting there silent, she said "oh well Cheryl's been doing this for so many years so I let her do it" she should have prepared me for mediation, it was her job to be my advocate when I was in the most vulnerable place possible. I was nervous as we lead up to mediation, she sent me and asked me questions literally for financials again after I already sent them to her only three days before mediation. I was expected to come up and produce during mediation, and it was the one day I really needed an advocate, I needed somebody who knew divorce law. It was clear she didn't as she sat there saying nothing. In mediation I asked her and her assistant Melissa, "please help me." Here I am scrambling for numbers when it was their responsibility to have the numbers prepared and have grit behind their global offer. It was a complete nightmare and still is. At this point I need help and going to the state bar to report the negligence and gross mathematical errors in the spreadsheet. She actually asked my exes attorney during mediation to update the spreadsheet's. She didn't even cross check the numbers? The experience was surreal, and it was a nightmare. It is still an ongoing nightmare because now I have to overturn what's been done. I am now seeking an attorney to take my case and overturn what has been done, and make this right. When I wrote her The next morning and to understand how she came up with the number so I could have a peace of mind, she used victim blaming. I will update this review again as I have submitted the glaring errors on the spreadsheet to her and the mediator Cheryll and have asked them to make this right. At this point I'm going to have to report her, sue her for what I paid her, fire her and then seek another attorney. This is the last thing I need as I am a single working mother. I could've got spousal support and child support this whole time yet she didn't advise me, and led me to believe I could have got it when I went to mediation. She did not explain that was something that I could never get back. She knew my fears going up against my husband. She knew the financial abuse that had gone on for years. She knew my emotions around this and that I was scared even to be at the mediation. No woman should put their trust in her for legal advice. Somehow someway I hope that I can overturn this, and get what's fair. I never asked for more than what's fair, and unfortunately I'm walking out with nothing.

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.

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!!

Professional and competent attorney? CHECK Proficient in…read moreCollaborative Law? CHECK Guide you through the process without making you go insane? CHECK Suggest a Mediator that you actually like? CHECK Explain the complexity of your situation without making you feel like an idiot? CHECK Strong worth ethic, but also funny? CHECK Possibly the more enjoyable part of my divorce. Highly recommend.

Sara was so helpful to me as my husband and I went through our divorce. He was adamantly opposed to…read moreretaining legal counsel of any kind, but I felt strongly that I needed professional guidance. Sara offered the perfect compromise, starting with a 1-hour consultation with me in which she explained all the steps involved in the process of divorce, as well as principles of collaborative law, to which she is strongly committed. (She does not do divorce litigation at all, though she recognizes it is sometimes appropriate, and can refer you to good attorneys who do.) She referred us to Teresa Sisk, a financially trained mediator with whom my husband and I were both comfortable, and over the course of several months we did do much of the work ourselves, including selling our house and splitting the proceeds. Sara was patient and gracious, and offered helpful advice as questions arose throughout the process. When the date of our hearing approached, I met with her once more to review the paperwork, which she very helpfully cleaned up, and made some important corrections to (corrections which, if they had not been made, would have meant our divorce being denied at the hearing!). I so appreciated her calm but firm demeanor, her flexibility in meeting our needs, and the sense she gave me that in her I had an ally. Divorcing was so stressful and emotional. Sara gave me the knowledge and support I needed to get through it happy and whole. And now ... I'm on the other side! On to the next chapter!

I consulted Nidal Dirini at Helsell Fetterman for a WLAD discrimination case against a state…read moreagency. While the firm did waive the consultation fee after I explained my financial situation, I had concerns about the contingency agreement and the process overall: Fee Structure: The contract required me to pay 33-45% of the total recovery, including any court-awarded attorney fees. At the time, I didn't realize that under WLAD, defendants are supposed to pay attorney fees separately from damages. After my consultation, I did my own research and learned this is known as "double-dipping," which can significantly reduce a client's net recovery. Case Valuation: During our conversation, Nidal told me he did not see my claim reaching six figures. He seemed to undervalue the potential of my case, which prompted me to do more research on my own. Later, I discovered published cases like Snell v. DSHS, where plaintiffs in similar or even weaker positions received much larger verdicts. Contract Terms: I found the firm was not flexible on contract terms related to medical liens, termination penalties, or interest rates-terms I now know are important for client protection. Second Opinion: Weeks/months later after our discussion, I requested to speak with another attorney at the firm who specialized in employment law. I did not receive a response, which left me feeling unsupported. For anyone considering this firm: Make sure you understand how court-awarded attorney fees will be handled in your case. Do your own research on case values and contract terms. Be aware that you may not get a second opinion if you disagree with the initial assessment. I only give 1-star or 5-star reviews-pass or fail. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this firm for WLAD discrimination cases.

This review is for Scott Johnson at Helsell Fetterman LLP…read more Scott has represented our transportation company for over ten years. Scott He has negotiated company purchase agreements/buy-outs, assisted us with real estate matters and handled our environmental concerns. Scott is our go-to person whenever we have a legal issue to solve. Scott is one of a kind. He is very skilled in the law, measured and deliberate. He only renders an opinion after consideration and a lot of detail-oriented thoughtful work/research. He is super-efficient and extremely generous when it comes to billing. He can relate to all different kinds of people and explains concepts and concerns patiently and honestly. Scott has saved our transportation company hundreds of thousands of dollars. His judgement and advice have been time- tested and proven to be 100% correct. Scott sometimes declines legal work we offer him when it is outside his area of expertise/comfort zone. Luckily, his referrals have proven to be great, resulting in additional successful outcomes.

We are a retired couple that wanted to update our will and create trusts. View Ridge Family Law…read moreand Estate Planning managed a contested adoption successfully so we contacted them. We were very pleased with their team, especially Evelyn Emanuel our attorney. Evelyn listened carefully to our questions and concerns and gave responses that were easy to understand. In addition, Evelyn made us comfortable sharing stories and humor to match ours. We are very pleased with the will and trusts that have been created.

I was looking for a law firm to help my mom with a power of attorney. The staff and lawyer we…read moreinteracted with were lovely and professional. I was impressed with their empathy. I would highly recommend them for family legal issues.

Nadine is the best attorney for me. She reassured me that my case would be dismissed and it got…read moredismissed. I am so glad that I paid for her service. It's reasonable and standard pricing. I'm happy and content with Nadine's leadership. Thank you Beckwith DV Law.

the best criminal attorney i have ever worked with. so efficient, extremely knowledgeable and knew…read moreexactly what to do for my case. we won a protection order and the process was seamless and they really care about their clients. Cristine is amazing at what she does, I would rehire her in a second

I hired this law firm for a DVPO case to help protect me from an abuser while 8 months pregnant…read more The attorney assigned was on vacation during 90% of the time where crucial prep work for my case needed to be done, she did not tell me this would be the case during our consult, I only learned about it from an absence document she submitted to the court. She kept emailing me from her hotel room asking me to provide duplicate documents that I had already gave her. She then proceeded to submit my pleadings on the exact deadline (12:00pm) without giving me any prior time to properly review them. At the hearing, she stated, on the record she "did not remember" the evidence, including what text messages said and the time frame. When I brought up these issues in the billing hoping to reach an amicable discount with the firm regarding their lack of care and concern for my representation, the firm refused to talk to me or be reasonable. I asked for a full refund on the remaining balance and to discuss the billing to reflect their lack of concern, preparation and care for my case. The firm completely shut down all communication and refused to reach a compromise with me. They proceeded to send me the remainder of the billing after stating they would remove it. When I reached out again, they refused to talk to me so I told them I had to contact the WA sate bar to request their assistance since they were refusing to talk to me. They then began accusing me of "extortion". I just want to put it out there that this is how this law firm treats their OWN client who paid every bill on time, without question, and who have come to them for help and with trust regarding protection during one of the most vulnerable times that a woman could ever go through.

This is an overdue review. I was in a sticky situation and didn't know what to do and wasn't sure…read moreif I should hire an attorney to represent me. I reached out to several law firms including Alinea Law. Out of all the law firms I reached out to, Alinea Law is the one that's the most professional and responsive to my complaint. I was immediately scheduled for a consultation with Ruth. Ruth is an amazing attorney. She analyzes my problem and tells me what my different options are and what's the best approach for it. Ruth is a coach. She is a leader for women. Ruth is not shy and will tell me that I cannot be dismissive. She made me feel strong in asking for what I needed to be comfortable. Ruth also provides a lot of insights on what I can do in the future to prevent similar types of situations. I cannot thank Ruth and her team enough.