About Us
We believe in the power of mediation and communication as transformative tools for resolving disputes in a fair, efficient, and lasting manner.
We are not just a lawyer who added mediation to our practice; rather, we adopt a comprehensive approach to dispute resolution. By integrating our extensive legal expertise with specialized skills in transformative communication, change management, and conflict resolution, we endeavor to help you create lasting and meaningful peace from even the most complex and challenging disputes.
Meet the Team
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Founder, Mediator, Conflict Coach
In her mediation practice, Marissa focuses on empowering people to find creative, long-term solutions and effective ways of communicating that benefit everyone—an approach that distinguishes her as a non-attorney mediator. Known for her curiosity and compassion, she is a skilled communicator who understands the critical role of psychological safety to productive communication and team problem solving. Her ability to navigate complex, emotional, and high-stress situations with sensitivity and clarity reassures clients that they are in capable hands, guiding them toward resolutions that are both practical and lasting.
Marissa has extensive organizational experience with large corporate clients in change management and communications strategy and delivery. Her background includes senior management and career development for teams of consultants, facilitating communication and conflict resolution, creating communication strategies, and leading IT transformations for global organizations. She has successfully cultivated collaboration between parties, discovering and creating practical plans with an eye for identifying the core needs and desires of all stakeholders. In addition to corporate work, Marissa has led pro bono initiatives and managed an internship program in partnership with a local nonprofit to support aspiring technology professionals.
Marissa graduated summa cum laude from Bethel University with a degree in Communications and is currently completing a master’s degree at UNC Greensboro in Transformative Peace and Conflict Studies. She has earned numerous professional certifications, including Certified Change Management Practitioner, Certified Scrum Master, Professional Product Owner, and Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt.
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Founder and MediatorBrendan McBride sees mediation as the natural destination of a 25-year career spent at the heart of complex civil litigation. As a veteran strategist and appellate lawyer, he has spent decades navigating the intricacies of civil cases, gaining a deep understanding of why they succeed or fail both inside and outside the courtroom. Today, he utilizes that high-level experience to help parties avoid the uncertainty of trial and the exhausting financial and emotional toll of pursuing a unilateral “win” that is often actually a loss, given the financial and emotional toll it took. Instead, he guides those in conflict toward fair, mutually empowering solutions.
Brendan’s expertise spans a broad spectrum, including insurance coverage, commercial disputes, information technology, personal injury, products liability, employment, and complex construction litigation. As a mediator, he applies the same strategic insight and dedication to resolving conflicts that defined his litigation practice. Having been involved in the successful resolution of hundreds of cases through alternative dispute resolution, Brendan is known for his ability to grasp every facet of a complex legal dispute while remaining committed to impartiality and respectful communication.
Beyond the mediation table, Brendan contributes to the legal community through regular papers and seminars on advanced civil practice, construction, and insurance litigation. His commitment to fairness is further reflected in his community work; he founded a pro bono legal clinic to empower families within the public special education system and regularly provides services to those who often lack an advocate in the justice system. A summa cum laude graduate of Gonzaga University and an honors graduate of the University of Washington School of Law, Brendan continues to make a meaningful impact by facilitating compromise in even the most challenging civil cases.
