Family Law Boot Camp Conference (WA)

Faculty:

Judge John Erlick was most recently Chief Civil Judge for King County Superior Court and currently presides over civil trials.  He serves on the State Commission on Judicial Conduct and chairs the Superior Court Judges’ Association (SCJA) Ethics Committee.  He previously served as the SCJA appointee to the State’s Ethics Advisory Committee. He has also served as the chair of the King County Superior Court Ex Parte and Probate Committee, and as a member of the Superior Court’s Jury Committee, Governance Committee, and Ad Hoc Duty Time Committee and the King County Bench/Bar Efficiencies Task Force. 

Judge Erlick was the 2004 judicial co-chair of the King County Bench-Bar Conference and  co-chair of the 2003 Settlement Guardian ad Litem mandatory training seminar. 

Judge Erlick is an adjunct professor in professional responsibility and the  judicial externship program at Seattle University and has also been involved as a coach and instructor in countless mock trial and moot court competitions.

Judge Erlick was elected to the King County Superior Court in September 2000, after concentrating in private practice on defense of professional liability cases.  

Judge Erlick graduated from Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts with honors and from the Georgetown University Law Center with honors.  He is a graduate of the National Judicial College. 

Leonid (Les) Ponomarchuk is Lead Family Court Commissioner for King County Superior Court.  Commissioner Ponomarchuk was appointed by the judges of King County in August of 1998.

From 1987 to 1998 he was in private practice as a domestic relations lawyer.  Les has served on the family law, domestic violence protection order, juvenile offender, at-risk youth and truancy, dependency, ex-parte, civil commitment and status conference calendars in both Seattle and in Kent.

A frequent presenter for continuing legal education courses, Les has been on the faculty of the State of Washington Judicial College; training newly appointed or elected judges, since 2005.

Lawrence R. Besk currently practices with Bartlett, Pollock & Besk, PLLC in Seattle, WA, focusing on alternative dispute resolution.  Mr. Besk is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Law and was selected to Washington Super Lawyers 2003 through 2010.

Carol Bailey, the founder of the law firm and Integrative Family Law, has been in private practice in Seattle since 1991.  Before that, in 1979, she was licensed to practice law in Texas, which is a community property state like Washington.  She brings a unique perspective to the practice of family law.  For a decade her practice was serving as a Guardian ad Litem in complex divorce and family law cases.  A Guardian ad Litem is a professional whose job it is to represent the best interests of children.  The Guardian ad Litem is appointed by the court and serves the court in a fiduciary capacity. 

Prior to immersion in children’s issues, Carol practiced law in Seattle as a general family law attorney representing clients with complex estates and child custody issues.  She has handled a range of family law cases from medium size through complex, very large estates. Our approach and philosophy strongly supports our clients' financial interests by developing the relevant facts, without using overly aggressive and inflammatory tactics that serve only to promote conflict and increase legal fees.

In addition to this experience, Carol is trained as a mediator, most recently attending the University of Washington Law School Foundation training in 2005.  She also offers Facilitative Divorce Mediation and is trained in the practice of Collaborative Law.  Carol speaks Spanish and French.  She is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, King County Bar Association, American Bar Association, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and the Washington Collaborative Law group.  Carol was recently elected to the Women's Leadership Board of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.  Carol frequently speaks at seminars and CLEs regarding family law.

Having studied at very close range over an extended period of time the nature of conflict in general, and the long-term impact of divorce and conflict on children and families in particular, she brings a unique perspective to the role of the legal professional in resolving transitions and difficulties in relationships.  Carol and her associates spend time with their clients to determine what outcome meets the client’s highest expectations.  In this way, the client’s values drive the legal strategy, rather than the more common occurrence of the legal strategy used by the attorney driving the outcome of the clients’ life, often with unfortunate consequences the client would never have chosen.   Carol's practice is dedicated to providing exceptional legal understanding and ability, tempered by the wisdom of experience so that her clients avoid unnecessary acrimony and are able to achieve a sense of long term well being after the legal proceedings conclude.  This is the heart of practicing Integrative Family Law.

Carol has recently broadened the impact of Integrative Family Law by developing a training curriculum.  The training is for attorneys, and teaches essential communication and conflict management skills.  This education and skill development will support attorneys to become part of the solution for families rather than compounding the existing conflict in divorce and Family Law.  Carol recently studied at Harvard University with the authors of the book Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen.  Their work was developed at the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School.  The curriculum for the Seattle University School of Law class is based in large part on the work of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School.  Carol taught this curriculum at Seattle University School of Law for the first time in the fall semester, 2009.

Ms. DeBuys maintains a practice in family law with an emphasis in complex financial issues.  She is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.  She was President of the Washington Chapter of the AAML for 2002/2003. Ms. DeBuys is a frequent speaker at CLE seminars.

Ms. DeBuys has been named one of the “Best Lawyers in America” since 1993, one of “Seattle’s Best” family law attorneys by Seattle Magazine, one of the “Top 50 Women Lawyers,” “Top 100 Lawyers” in Washington and a Washington “Super Lawyer” by Washington Law & Politics, and one of “Seattle’s Best” lawyers by Seattle Business Monthly and Seattle Metropolitan Magazine.

Ms. DeBuys is a Member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and President of the Washington Chapter; Washington Board Member, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2005-2007; President, Montlake Neighbors for a Better 520; is involved with the Volunteer settlement program, King County Superior Court; is a Sustaining Member of the Junior League of Seattle; and is on the Board of Directors for Family Law CASA.

Ms. DeBuys earned her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law (1979) Order of the Barristers, Moot Court Board; her M.A. from the University of Washington (1974) Classical philology, Greek and Latin language and literature; and her B.A. from the Swarthmore College (1971).

Ms. DuCharme graduated from the University of  Washington  in the undergraduate School of Social Work,  Magna Cum Laude and received her law degree from the University of Washington Law School.   She has been practicing law for 26 years.

Ms. DuCharme has presented extensively on the topics of unmarried couples law as it relates to estate planning and family law to community groups, financial planning organizations, gay organizations, and attorneys at Continuing Legal Education Seminars.  

Ms. DuCharme was an adjunct professor at Seattle University Law School on issues relating to unmarried couples and Estate Drafting Labs.  She has been an expert witness in attorney malpractice cases dealing with meretricious relationship dissolutions.  She authored the upcoming WSBA Washington Family Law Deskbook chapter on Registered Domestic Partners and the soon to be published  King County Probate Policy and Procedures Manual relating to Registered Domestic Partners and Committed Intimate Couples.

Robert E. Duffy is a Partner with Grant Thornton LLP’s valuation practice, specializing in the valuation of closely held business interests and related issues.  Bob has been performing business appraisals on behalf of public and private entities, litigants and taxpayers for over 25 years.  He is a Certified Public Accountant, is Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and is an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) under the auspices of the American Society of Appraisers.  Bob is a member of the AICPA Business Valuation Hall of Fame.  As a contributing editor of the AICPA’s CPA Expert publication and a co-author of Financial Valuation – Applications and Models, Bob stays abreast of current valuation issues.  Bob is a frequent speaker on valuation subjects on both the local and national level.

In his litigation practice Jason focuses on dissolutions and legal separations involving complex financial issues; dissolutions of domestic partnerships, civil unions, and cohabitation relationships; parenting and child custody disputes; and modifications of parenting plans and child support orders.

In his transactional practice, Jason works with clients to develop a wide range of relationship agreements, including: prenuptial and postnuptial agreements; domestic partnership agreements, cohabitation agreements; and assisted reproduction agreements.

Jason works with clients to identify and set goals defining the ideal approach for each client's needs. This goal-based strategy focuses on the client's desired outcome and allows the client to better understand, plan, and be a part of the decision-making process. Jason works to control costs and to find inventive solutions to case issues. Such solutions may involve traditional courtroom litigation or instead working cooperatively through mediation and direct negotiations with opposing counsel. The approach is determined by what is best for achieving the client's goals.

Whether a case or a client's need are large or small, simple or complex, what remains consistent in Jason's approach is his dedication to his clients, his attention to detail, his tenacity to reach the best possible outcome, and his commitment to providing clients with the highest level of service and legal representation.

Jason earned his J.D. from Willamette University School of Law in 1999, and was Associate Editor of the Willamette University Law Review.

Jayne D. Hulsey, MPH University of Washington 1987, after eight years with Family Court Services for the King County Superior Court, has been in private practice since 1998 providing mediation, arbitration, evaluation, counseling, consultation and Title 26 guardian ad litem services.

She has handled more than 500 mediations and 400 parenting plan evaluations and domestic violence assessments. Jayne is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington State and has been a presenter and coach at various professional forums since 1994.

She conducts agreed and court-ordered parenting plan evaluations to determine the best outcome for the children, mediates with parents in developing or modifying parenting plans, provides reunification and co-parenting counseling for parents and children, and serves as a team member in collaborative divorce cases and as an arbitrator of parenting plan conflicts.
 

Mr. Steven Kessler is a principal in the firm of Morrow Kessler & Dowsing PLLC.  The primary focus of Mr. Kessler’s practice is litigation support and taxation services. 

He has significant expertise in the area of taxation, business valuations, pension valuations, and litigation services particularly for family law cases.  Mr. Kessler is a qualified expert witness in King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Snohomish, Jefferson, Yakima and Pierce Counties as well as in Alaska. 

Mr. Kessler earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting with honors from Seattle Pacific University in December 1983.  He received a Master of Science Degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University in June 1986. 

Mr. Kessler has earned the designations Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) and Diplomat of American Board of Forensic Examiners (DABFE).  He is a Member of: the American Institute of CPAs, The Washington Society of CPAs, National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, American Society of Appraisers (Candidate Member), Seattle Estate Planning Council, and the Seattle University Planned Giving Committee. 

He is a Past Member of the University of Washington Planned Giving Committee.  He is a Past Board Member of Blanchet High School, Past President and Board Member of Sea-Tac Occupational Skills Foundation, and Past Board Member of Lifetime Learning Center and Aha! Theatre.

Kathleen Miller is a Certified Financial Planner®, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™, and holds a Master of Business Administration degree. She has published two books, authored numerous articles for legal and financial trade journals and has been quoted about financial planning and post-divorce financial issues in national magazines and newspapers.

She frequently serves as a guest lecturer on investment, money management and divorce related topics to organizations such as the Washington Bar Association, the American Women's Economic Development Corporation, the Institute of Certified Financial Planners as well as Boeing, Microsoft, PACCAR and Bank of America.

Kathleen is a member of the Financial Planning Association, the Institute of Certified Divorce Financial Analysts, and the Registry of Financial Planning Practitioners. She is a graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa. Kathleen is an avid reader and writer. She has lived abroad in Brussels, Belgium and continues to travel the world whenever she can.

Cheryll Russell is an experienced litigator and mediator with more than 26 years of legal experience.  Cheryll’s practice is now exclusively mediation, arbitration and settlement of family law disputes.

Cheryll earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Iowa in 1973 with a major in voice and theater performance.  After teaching high school music and theater for 8 years in public schools in North Dakota, Iowa and Washington, she entered law school.

Cheryll graduated from the University of Puget Sound School of law in 1984.  She passed both the Washington State Bar and the California State Bar.  Cheryll first served as law clerk to King County Superior Court Judge Shannon Wetherall, and then moved to Marine Power & Equipment as part of the in-house counsel team.  Cheryll next worked as an associate in the areas of toxic tort litigation defense for McKay and Gaitan, and then as an associate in defense work and family law at the Lane Powell firm in Seattle.  From there she joined Casey Gordon Davis in Bellevue as senior associate where she managed the family law group.  Cheryll then teamed up with Stella Pitts to form RUSSELL & PITTS, PLLC, which concentrated on complex family law issues.  Cheryll then moved her practice to Bellevue.

Cheryll is past-Chair of the WSBA Family Law Executive Committee, past-Chair of King County Washington Women Lawyers, past-Chair of the Council of Community Property States, and past-Chair of the WSBA Character and Fitness Board.  She served on the WSBA Bar Examiner’s Committee and the Court Congestion and Improvement Committee.  Cheryll was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Puget Sound School of Law where she taught Aids and the Law.  She has edited Chapter 54 of the Family Law Deskbook.  She has served as King County Family Law Pro-tem Commissioner since 2003. 

Cheryll is a frequent speaker for seminars and workshops.  She has compiled and presented extensive summaries of Washington Case Law on decisions affecting family law, and spoken on discovery issues as well as mediation issues.  She has been a speaker for WSTLA seminars, WSBA CLE programs, and for the Washington State Superior Court Judge’s Association meetings.

Cheryll is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and an inactive member of the California State Bar Association.  She was admitted to the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the U. S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.  Cheryll is a member of the American Bar Association, the King County Bar Association, the East County Bar Association, and the Family Law Sections of each Association.   

Cheryll has completed extensive training in mediation including the Collaborative Law training at Pepperdine University and most recently, the Advanced Family Law Mediation Training at the Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution.

Elizabeth Selleck is a 1981 graduate of American University School of Law.  Ms. Selleck’s private practice has focused primarily on family law guardian ad litem work for approximately 25 years.  From 1999 through 2002 she worked as attorney for the King County Family Law CASA Program.  Her private practice also includes adoption and mediation and arbitration of family law disputes. 

David Ward is legal and legislative counsel at Legal Voice (formerly known as the Northwest Women’s Law Center).  His areas of responsibility include gender violence, family law, and LGBT issues.  Before joining Legal Voice, David was the legislative liaison for the Washington State Bar Association.  He also worked as a litigation associate at Heller Ehrman LLP and served as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Marsha J. Pechman and U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Alice Theiler.  David is a graduate of Yale Law School and Trinity University.