• David Starks
• Marc T. Christianson
• Jennifer J. Payseno
• Susan J. Shulenberger
• Kim Schnuelle
• Lisa Dufour
• Sharon L. Friedrich
• Laura Carlsen
• Elizabeth Bianchi
• Jessica T. Moore
• Annelisa Smith
• Jamie Walker
• Christina Smith
• Lindsay Noel
• Krista Stipe
• Lindsay Camandona
• Rita Herrera Irvin
• Sands McKinley

Susan J. Shulenberger

Of Counsel

• Divorce
• Complex Divorce
• Relocation
• Child Support Modifications
• Parenting Plan Modifications

• Download and print this profile: Susan J. Shulenberger

About Susan

Susan Shulenberger has been practicing law in Washington State for more than 28 years. Since 1998, she has focused her practice on complex family law. Before then, she built a solid foundation of experience practicing commercial law with leading Seattle law firms.

With this potent combination of both family and commercial law experience, Susan is highly skilled at representing high net worth individuals in their family law matters. Cases involving considerable assets such as real estate, stock options, professional practices or closely held businesses can often raise complex valuation and distribution issues. Susan has successfully represented clients with more than $1 billion in assets at issue.

Susan is viewed by her clients and peers not only as an astute and formidable family law attorney, but as an exceptional communicator. Communication is the hallmark of Susan’s success with her clients. “It’s not just a case to me, says Susan. ”It is someone’s life, livelihood, and family. I always listen to my clients and try to understand their perspective so I can develop a strategy tailored to achieve the legal outcomes that they desire.“

"I appreciated Susan's patience in letting me present my perspectives on different aspects of my case, instead of automatically pursuing some standard path in order to just be done with the case and collect her fees. She was exactly the opposite. Her judgment, counsel, and expert handling of every aspect of this matter could not have been better."

--Former Client R.M., Seattle, WA

Susan is also trained in alternative dispute resolution procedures, including mediation and arbitration. Susan believes in mediating disputes whenever possible and litigating whenever necessary.

"To help my clients get through challenging times, I try to maximize results and minimize stress. No matter what our strategy is, whether we are negotiating or going to court, I make myself completely accessible and make sure each client gets personal attention so they feel secure during the process," Susan says.

Susan is a leader within the legal community, where she is involved in issues of ethics in the practice of law. Susan is the current chair of the Washington State Bar Association’ s Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Board, which is a fund that serves to compensate people for losses due to attorney negligence. She is a past chair for the WSBA Character and Fitness Board, a group that recommends character qualifications for attorneys in Washington State. Susan also worked as disciplinary counsel for the WSBA, where she argued before the Washington State Supreme Court as well as the Disciplinary Board of the bar association.

PRACTICES IN THESE LOCATIONS

• Represents Clients in Washington State: King County (Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, Sammamish, Renton)

EDUCATION

• J.D., University of Puget Sound (now Seattle University), cum laude
• B.A., University of Washington

APPOINTMENTS

• 2008-present, WSBA Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection Committee, current Chair
• 2007-2010, WSBA Rules of Professional Conduct Committee
• 2007-2010, KCBA Judicial Recommendation Committee
• 2007-2009, KCBA Gender Equality in Law Committee
• 2003-2009, WSBA Character and Fitness Board, Chair 2007-2009
• 2003-2005, WSBA Professionalism Committee

MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS

• Member, Washington State Bar Association (WSBA), Since 1982
• Member, King County Bar Association (KCBA), Family Law Section

RECENT PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

• Presenter, "Divorce Litigation, Start to Finish, National Business Institute CLE (Seattle, 2011)
• Contributing author and editor, "Use of Professionals in Family Law Litigation," Washington Family Law Desk Book 2011 Cumulative Supplement, (December 2010)
• Presenter, "Dissolution Procedure Updates" at National Business Institute CLE, Current Events for Family Lawyers: Legislative and Case Law Update (June, 2010)
• Presenter, "Conflicts of Interests" and "Moral Turpitude and Offensive Personalities" at Washington State Bar Association CLE, Family Law Ethics: Avoiding the Web of Ethical Pitfalls (September 2009)