Rachel Felbeck

Rachel Felbeck

Founding Member, Sakaguchi Felbeck Story & Reese, PLLC

Bellevue, Washington, United States

Rachel Felbeck has been practicing family law since 1995 and is the founder of the Collaborative Divorce movement in Washington State. Rachel has also been a leader in helping to reduce the cost and complexity of the divorce process for families who are not adversarial.

During my career, I directly witnessed the trauma families would experience when participating in a litigated divorce. As a result, I developed a strong interest in several forms of dispute resolution, all of which are designed to help families solve their divorce issues without having to go to Court. This allows separating couples to be more involved in the solutions to their disputes, save time and money and move forward in a post-divorce situation with security and stability.

Member

Washington State Bar Association

Section Member of Family Law; Small and Solo Practice and Alternative Dispute Resolution Sections (current)

King County Bar Association

Section Member of Collaborative Law and Family Law (current)

Collaborative Professionals of Washington

Founding Board Member (2007)

King County Collaborative Law

Member (2003-present)

Founding Board Member (2003-2009, 2018-2021)

President (2003-2006)

Secretary (2019-2020)

Family Law Executive Committee Member

Washington State Bar Association (this 3-year committee position is by election, statewide within the Washington State Bar Association) (2005 – 2008)

Timeline

Washington State Bar

1995, admitted

United States District Court; Western State of Washington

1995, admitted

Law School, Seattle University

1994 (graduated cum laude)

University of Delaware

1983

B.A. in Political Science and History

Engagements

Speaking Engagements

Seattle University • 2004 – present

Family Law Practicum with Betsy Hollingsworth

Seattle University • 2003 – present

Various CLE programs

Vancouver, WA • Jun 2016

Co-Presenter, “Recreational Marijuana and Its Impact on Family Law”, WSBA Family Law Mid-Year Meeting and Conference

Richland, WA • Oct 2015

“Recreational Marijuana and Its Impact in Family Law”, Benton County CLE

San Francisco, CA • Oct 2011

“Special Needs Children and Collaborative Law”, IACP Annual Meeting

Gig Harbor, WA • Nov 2011

Co-Trainer “How Collaborative Law is Growing and Changing”

San Francisco, CA • Oct 2011

Co-Presenter “Advocacy in the Collaborative Law Model”, IACP Annual Meeting

Seattle, WA • Feb 2011

Co-Trainer “Introduction to Collaborative Law” (2 day basic training)

Washington, D.C. • Oct 2010

Co-Presenter “Advocacy in Collaborative Law”, IACP Annual Conference

Seattle, WA • Oct 2010

Co-Trainer “Introduction to Collaborative Law” (2 day basic training)

Seattle, WA • May 2010

Co-Trainer “Collaborative Law Advanced Negotiation Skills”

Kelowna, BC, Canada • Mar 2010

Co-Trainer “Introduction to Collaborative Law” (2 day basic training)

Seattle, WA • Feb 2010

Co-Trainer “Introduction to Collaborative Law (2 day basic training)

Bellingham, WA • Feb 2010

Co-Trainer “Collaborative Law Advanced Negotiation Skills”

Gig Harbor, WA • Nov 2009

“Should We Terminate?”, Collaborative Professionals of Washington 2nd Annual Statewide Forum

Boise, ID • Nov 2009

Co-Trainer “Introduction to Collaborative Law” (2 day basic training)

Lynnwood, WA • Oct 2009

Co-Trainer “Introduction to Collaborative Law” (2 day basic training)

Seattle, WA • May 2009

Co-Trainer “Collaborative Law Advanced Negotiation Skills”

Seattle, WA • Feb 2009

Co-Trainer “Introduction to Collaborative Law” (2 day basic training)

New Orleans, LA • Oct 2008

Co-Presenter “Divorce Legacy and Collaborative Law”, IACP Annual Forum

Seattle, WA • Sep 2008

Co-Trainer “Introduction to Collaborative Law” (2 day basic training)

Seattle University • Mar 2008

“Skills Necessary to be a Collaborative Attorney”

Seattle, WA • Feb 2008

Co-Trainer “Introduction to Collaborative Law” (2 day basic training)

Bremerton, WA • Sep 2007

Co-Trainer “Introduction to Collaborative Law” (2 day basic training)

Seattle, WA • Sep 2007

“Emerging Trends in Dispute Resolution”, WSBA ADR Section

Spokane, WA • Jun 2007

“Collaborative Law: The Team Approach” WSBA Family Law Mid-Year

Lynnwood, WA • Jun 2007

Co-Trainer “Introduction to Collaborative Law” (2 day basic training)

Semiahmoo, WA • Apr 2007

AOC Spring Judicial Conference

Seattle University • Mar 2007

“Truth and the Law: Honesty as Advocacy”

Bellingham, WA • Mar 2007

Co-Trainer “Introduction to Collaborative Law” (2 day basic training)

Walla Walla, WA • Jun 2006

WSBA Family Law Mid-Year

Oak Harbor, WA • Spring 2006

Island County Bar Association

Seattle, WA • Apr 2006

NW ADR Annual Conference, “Collaborative Law: How it Works”

Phoenix, AZ • Apr 2006

Council for Community Property States

Seattle University • Dec 2005

“Collaborative Law: An Introduction”

Bellingham, WA • Fall 2005

Whatcom County Collaborative Law Group

Seattle, WA • Aug 2005

Washington State Bar Association, Co-Chair “Advanced Client Communication Skills for Lawyers”

Yakima, WA • Spring 2005

Access to Justice Annual Meeting

Spokane, WA • Nov 2004

Spokane County Bar Association, “Make Peace Not War: A Collaborative Approach to Family Law”

Seattle University • Feb 2004

“Unbundled Legal Services”

Ocean Shores, WA • Jun 2003

WSBA Family Law Mid-Year

Publications

Publications:

  • Editor, Chapters 56 and 57, Washington State Bar Family Law Deskbook, Fall 2009
  • Quoted in “Harmonic Divergence: A Win-Win Way to Divorce” by Karen West, Seattle Woman Magazine, April 2009.
  • Co-author, Amicus Brief on behalf of Washington State Bar Association, Family Law Executive Committee, Tresler v. Treadwell, Sept 2008
  • Co-author, “Collaborative Family Law and Ethics in Washington”, Jan 2008
  • “Collaborative Law: The Evolution of a Revolution”, Published in Family Law Section Quarterly Newsletter, Spring 2007
  • Editor, Chapter 56, Washington State Bar Family Law Deskbook, Fall 2006

Let’s Connect


    Mary Sakaguchi
    Rachel Felbeck
    Courtney Story
    Kristilyn Reese

    Get to Know Our Team