Who I Am

I am a divorce attorney but I am also a bonus mom to two amazing kids.  We live with 2.5 fabulous dogs (two dogs are full-time and we share custody of a little chihuahua named Leyla).  I am, as they say, “talking the talk and walking the walk” of blended family life.

I am a life-long fan of the game show “Jeopardy!” and have fond childhood memories of tuning in after dinner each night with my whole family gathered around the TV.  That is why it was a particular highlight of my career to serve as the show’s attorney when I worked for the ABC television network.

I also enjoyed my time working as a federal law clerk in the United States District Court.  It was an honor to be on stage with my judge during a massive naturalization ceremony in San Diego, CA.  My heart swelled with pride as the judge called out each represented country and hundreds of people stood to pledge their Oath of Allegiance.  Like my grandparents, each of these people had realized their dream of becoming Americans.  My career certainly did not take a linear path but the diversity of my experience has made me a better attorney, and better storyteller, than I otherwise may have been.

I am passionate about protecting children and have volunteered my time as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (“CASA”) in the King County Juvenile Dependency Court.  I am also a proud supporter of New Beginnings, one of Seattle’s premier domestic violence survivor support organizations.

Why I Do This Work

I believe that nothing is more detrimental to a child’s development than family conflict so my goal is to create parenting plans that both reduce the opportunity for future conflict and the likelihood of future litigation.  Family conflict may be born out of violence, addiction, mental health issues, or an emotionally-immature co-parent.  The origin of the conflict matters because, left unaddressed, history will repeat itself over and over.  A good parenting plan must be carefully tailored to address each family’s particular source of conflict.

My Background and Education

I was born and raised in Southern California.  I have a huge extended family including more than 40 first cousins.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from UCLA and I apply what I learned in college to high-conflict cases where substance use disorders (addiction) and significant mental health diagnosis are often contributing factors.

Prior to narrowing my practice to family law, I practiced complex commercial litigation for several years, served on the Board of Directors for International Microcomputer Software, Inc., and worked in-house for the Walt Disney Company/ABC as Counsel, Legal Affairs.  I am a former federal law clerk to the Honorable Louisa S. Porter (Ret.) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.

When I’m not working I unwind by cooking, getting outdoors, and learning new things.

Juliana Wong and I co-authored chapter 40, entitled “Insurance Issues in Family Law,” in the 2023 Washington State Family Law Handbook.

At A Glance

Education

• J.D., University of San Diego School of Law
• B.S., University of California Los Angeles, Neuroscience

Professional Associations & Affiliations

• Washington State Bar Association, Family Law Section
• California State Bar Association, Family Law Section
• King County Bar Association
• Domestic Relations Attorneys of Washington
• Bar Admitted: U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
• Bar Admitted: U.S. District Court, Central District of California

Volunteer & Social Involvement

• Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), King County Juvenile Dependency Court

Publications

• Co-Author, Family and Community Property Law Handbook, Washington Practice Series (2023)