About Compass Mediation Group
A Practice Built on Experience, Guided by Compassion
Compass Mediation Group was founded by Alisa Kharis, JD, with a clear purpose: to give people a better way to resolve disputes — one that preserves dignity, protects relationships, and avoids the financial and emotional toll of litigation.
What started as a conviction forged during 16 years of courtroom practice has grown into a trusted, nationwide mediation practice. With 25+ years of mediation experience and education, Alisa has guided individuals, families, and business owners through some of the most difficult conversations of their lives — divorce, custody, business dissolution, estate disagreements, and more.
Every session at Compass Mediation Group is led personally by Alisa. This is not a firm that hands you off to a junior associate or rotates through staff. When you choose Compass Mediation Group, you work directly with a mediator who earned her Juris Doctorate from Seattle University School of Law, practiced law for 16 years (1996–2012) across Washington state courts, completed rigorous year-long Master Mediator training through the International Mediation Association (IMA), and holds a federal IRS Enrolled Agent license — someone who brings both the technical knowledge and the human understanding your situation demands.
Meet Alisa Kharis, Founder and Lead Mediator
Alisa Kharis is the founder and sole mediator at Compass Mediation Group. Her career includes 16 years of practicing law (1996–2012), 25+ years of mediation experience, and over two decades of business ownership — a combination that gives her an unusually deep perspective on the disputes she helps resolve.
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Alisa's background as an IRS Enrolled Agent is particularly valuable for clients navigating financially complex mediations. Whether the dispute involves dividing marital assets, restructuring a business partnership, or resolving inheritance disagreements, Alisa understands the tax consequences and financial nuances that many mediators simply do not.
The Compass Mediation Group Story
Compass Mediation Group — originally established as Blend Mediation in 2017 — was born from Alisa's firsthand observation that the adversarial legal system often made conflict worse, not better. During her 16 years practicing law at the Law Office of Alisa Maples and Maples-Lane PLLC, she saw families that entered the court system expecting resolution frequently leave with deeper wounds, depleted savings, and fractured relationships. She saw children caught in the crossfire of courtroom battles in King County, Pierce County, and beyond.
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What struck Alisa most was a fundamental disconnect in the system: courts traditionally require mediation before parties can proceed to trial — meaning that in most cases, people end up mediating anyway, but only after months of adversarial proceedings, mounting legal fees, and escalating emotional damage. It was far more efficient to start with mediation from the beginning, rather than waiting for the court to mandate it. Yet the system was not set up that way. This disconnect became a driving force behind Alisa's decision to build a practice that makes mediation more accessible and user-friendly for people who are already in crisis — before the court system compounds their stress.
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Mediation offered a better path: a structured, neutral process where both parties could be heard, where solutions could be crafted collaboratively, and where the goal was agreement — not victory.
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Compass Mediation Group operates under Synergy Relations, Alisa's umbrella company founded in 2003 that also encompasses consultation, public relations, strategic communications, event planning, video production, and marketing services. The sister company Compass Tax Center reflects Alisa's tax expertise as an IRS Enrolled Agent, offering tax services that complement the financial acumen she brings to every mediation session.
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Over the years, the practice expanded from local cases in the Pacific Northwest to serving clients virtually across the entire United States. The rebrand from Blend Mediation to Compass Mediation Group reflected the practice's evolution — the name representing guidance, direction, and helping people find their way through difficult transitions.
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Today, Compass Mediation Group offers divorce, family, business, and estate mediation, with every session conducted via secure video conferencing. This virtual format ensures that geography is never a barrier to quality mediation services.
A Practice Built on Experience, Guided by Compassion
Alisa's mediation philosophy is built on several core principles:
The Power of Effective Communication
Is to Resolve a Conflict.
Why Clients Trust Compass Mediation Group
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25+ years of mediation experience — a career dedicated to helping people resolve conflict
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16 years as a former practicing attorney (1996–2012) — deep understanding of the legal landscape across Washington state courts
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Direct access to the founder — no hand-offs, no rotating staff
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Dual legal and financial background— Alisa's JD from Seattle University School of Law combined with her IRS Enrolled Agent credential are rare in the mediation field
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Master Mediator (IMA) — the highest level of mediation certification, earned through year-long training
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Nationwide availability — virtual sessions mean you can work with a top-tier mediator no matter where you live
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Confidential and secure — all sessions are private, and mediation discussions cannot be used in court
Ready to Learn More?
If you are facing a dispute and want to explore whether mediation is right for your situation, Alisa is here to help. Your first consultation is an opportunity to ask questions, describe your circumstances, and understand how the process works — with no pressure and no obligation.
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Call (888) 851-8856 or book your consultation online.
Important Note: Mediation Is Not Legal Representation
Compass Mediation Group does not provide legal advice or legal representation. While Alisa Kharis holds a Juris Doctorate and previously practiced law for 16 years (1996–2012), she is exclusively a mediator and does not act as an attorney for any party. Her legal background informs and enriches the mediation process, giving her a deep understanding of the legal landscape — but she does not practice law. Clients are encouraged to consult with independent attorneys for legal counsel. Alisa is happy to refer clients seeking legal representation to qualified attorneys.