Laura has over 20 years of experience helping family law client resolve their cases through litigation and negotiation.  She is an accomplished lawyer, leader, mediator and mentor.  Laura is dedicated to assisting clients and their attorneys resolve family law disputes with creativity and respect.

Distinctions

  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the field of Family Law, 2019 - 2024
  • Distinguished as a Washington Super Lawyer, 2018 - 2023
  • The Lawdragon “500 Leading Family Lawyers,” 2020

Community Involvement

  • Adjunct Professor at Seattle University School of Law, Spring Semester 2024, Co-teaching “Solo & Small Law Firm Business Planning”
  • Supervisor of Volunteer Adjunct Professors at Seattle University School of Law, for the Applied Family Law and Applied DV Practicums, Spring Semester 2022
  • Settlement Conference Master at the King County Volunteer Settlement Conference Program since 2013
  • Chair of the King County CASA Uncorked fundraising event, 2019

Education 

  • Mediation Training (40 hours), The Dispute Resolution Center of King County, 2013
  • J.D., University of Dayton School of Law, 1998,  CALI Award, Products Liability
  • B.A., Western Washington University, 1992

Professional Experience

  • Founder and principal of Laura Sell Family Law Mediation providing mediation services to family law clientele and their attorneys.
  • Law Practice Managing Partner at McKinley Irvin, mentored, recruited, trained, and coached 40+ attorneys in the largest exclusively family law firm in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Of Counsel at Stokes Lawrence, robust family law practice focused primarily on cases with complex financial assets and provided family law mediation services.
  • Founder and principal of The Law Office of Laura Sell, represented clients in family law matters, performed employment investigations, and provided family law mediation services.
  • Associate Attorney at K&L Gates, practiced family law and worked with high net worth clients involving complex marital and separate property estates.

 

Memberships

  • Washington State Bar Association
  • King County Bar Association
  • Domestic Relations Attorneys of Washington (DRAW) 

 

Publications & Presentations

Program Chair, “Dissolution from A to Z,” King County Bar Association CLE
(Seattle 2017)

“Protecting Your Practice from Divorce: Tips for Solo and Small-Firm
Practitioners,” author, King County Bar Bulletin (October 2016)

“Spousal Maintenance,” chapter co-author with James McGuire, LexisNexis
Practice Guide: Washington Family Law (2016)

 “Internal Investigations - Who, What, When Where and Why,” co-presenter
with Aviva Kamm, Stokes Lawrence Employment Law Institute (December
2015)

“Investigation Issues - Who, What, When, Where and Why,” co-presenter
with Aviva Kamm, Employment Law Institute CLE, King County Bar
Association (September 2015)

“Prenuptial Agreement Basics,” author, blog post, Stokes Lawrence
Washington Divorce & Family Law (July 2015)

“Financial Wisdom for Women,” co-presenter with RoseMary Reed and
Cornerstone Advisors (June 2015)

“Post-Dissolution Disputes Involving Neglected Assets and Liabilities,” coauthor,
Matrimonial Strategist (February 2008)

“The Non-Biological Parent; Washington Creates a Common-Law Parentage
Cause of Action,” co-author, Matrimonial Strategist (May 2005)