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When a marriage ends, the decisions made in the following months shape the rest of your life. Compass Mediation Group gives you a better path — one built on clarity, respect, and resolution rather than courtrooms and conflict. Virtual sessions available nationwide.
When a marriage ends, the decisions made in the following months shape the rest of your life. Compass Mediation Group gives you a better path — one built on clarity, respect, and resolution rather than courtrooms and conflict. Virtual sessions available nationwide.
When a marriage ends, the decisions made in the following months shape the rest of your life. Compass Mediation Group gives you a better path — one built on clarity, respect, and resolution rather than courtrooms and conflict. Virtual sessions available nationwide.
Meet Alisa Kharis
Founder & Lead Mediator, Compass Mediation Group
25+ Years of Mediation Experience. 16 Years in the Courtroom. One Mission: Resolution.
Alisa Kharis founded Compass Mediation Group with a mission to provide compassionate, effective dispute resolution for individuals, families, and businesses. With a Juris Doctorate from Seattle University School of Law, 16 years as a former practicing attorney (1996–2012) in Washington state courts, 25+ years of mediation experience and education, and Master Mediator certification from the International Mediation Association (IMA), Alisa brings a depth of knowledge and human understanding that is rare in the mediation profession.
Every mediation session at Compass Mediation Group is led personally by Alisa. She does not delegate cases or hand clients off to associates. When you work with Compass Mediation Group, you work directly with a seasoned professional who is fully invested in helping you reach a fair, lasting resolution.
Alisa's practice spans four core areas: divorce mediation, family mediation, business mediation, and estate mediation. Her combined legal training, tax expertise as an IRS Enrolled Agent, and real-world business ownership experience make her particularly effective in cases involving complex assets, tax implications, business valuations, and multi-party disputes.
Education
Juris Doctorate — Seattle University School of Law (1995)
Alisa earned her law degree from Seattle University School of Law, one of the Pacific Northwest's most respected legal institutions. Her legal education provided a rigorous foundation in family law, dispute resolution, negotiation, civil litigation, and legal ethics — skills she applies daily in her mediation practice.
B.A. Political Science, Cum Laude — Washington State University (1987)
Alisa graduated Cum Laude from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, developing strong analytical, research, and communication skills that have served as the bedrock of her professional career.
Credentials and Professional Background
Alisa's qualifications reflect a career dedicated to both the legal and financial dimensions of dispute resolution:
Master Mediator — International Mediation Association (IMA), 2021
Alisa holds the Master Mediator designation from the International Mediation Association (IMA) — the highest level of professional recognition in the mediation field. She earned this credential through a rigorous year-long training program in Phoenix, AZ, demonstrating advanced proficiency in conflict resolution, negotiation strategy, facilitation techniques, and ethical mediation standards. This designation reflects not only extensive training but also deep, practical case experience.
IRS Enrolled Agent (2022, with Oregon License)
Alisa is a federally licensed IRS Enrolled Agent — authorized to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service. She earned this credential in 2022 and also holds an Oregon license. In the context of mediation, this expertise is invaluable: divorce settlements, business dissolutions, and estate distributions all carry significant tax consequences that many mediators are not equipped to address. Alisa can identify and help parties navigate these financial complexities during the mediation process, leading to agreements that are not only fair but financially sound. She also applies this expertise at H&R Block, where she has served as an IRS Enrolled Agent since 2021.
Mediation Training — Aberdeen, WA (2016 & 2020)
Alisa completed 40-hour mediation training programs in Aberdeen, WA in both 2016 and 2020, supplementing her year-long IMA training and her decades of practical mediation experience with structured, skills-based education in mediation methodology.
16 Years as a Former Practicing Attorney (1996–2012)
Alisa practiced law for 16 years (1996–2012) at the Law Office of Alisa Maples and Maples-Lane PLLC, handling trial and motions practice across King, Pierce, Kitsap, Whatcom, and Grays Harbor counties in Washington State. Her general practice covered:
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Family Law — Divorce, custody, parenting plans, and support
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Criminal Law — Defense representation
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Civil Litigation — Disputes, claims, and trial practice
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Business Law — Formation, contracts, and disputes
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Entertainment Law — Contracts and intellectual property matters
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Administrative Hearings — Government agency proceedings
This courtroom experience gives Alisa a perspective that few mediators possess: she has seen firsthand how litigation affects families, finances, and futures. That experience is what drove her to dedicate her career to mediation as a better alternative.
25+ Years of Mediation Experience and Education
Alisa's mediation journey spans over two and a half decades — beginning during her years as a former practicing attorney, where she facilitated settlements and negotiations, and continuing through her formal mediation training and her current full-time mediation practice. This depth of experience means she has navigated virtually every type of dispute scenario and knows how to guide even the most contentious situations toward resolution.
Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship
Beyond law and mediation, Alisa is an experienced entrepreneur and business owner:
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Synergy Relations (2003–Present) — Alisa's umbrella company encompassing consultation, public relations, strategic communications, event planning, video production, graphic design, and marketing services. Over two decades of business ownership gives Alisa practical insight into the challenges business owners face — insight she brings directly to her business mediation practice.
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Compass Tax Center — A sister company to Compass Mediation Group, reflecting Alisa's IRS Enrolled Agent expertise and offering tax services. This dual practice ensures Alisa stays current on tax law and financial regulations that frequently impact mediation outcomes.
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Compass Mediation Group (formerly Blend Mediation, 2017–Present) — Alisa's dedicated mediation practice, offering divorce, family, business, and estate mediation services nationwide.
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Business Development Director, MXTReality (2017–2019) — Alisa directed business development for an AR/VR technology company, further broadening her business and strategic communications expertise.
Areas of Specialization
Divorce Mediation
Drawing on 16 years of family law practice in Washington courts and her IRS Enrolled Agent credential, Alisa helps couples navigate property division, child custody, parenting plans, spousal support, and debt allocation. She understands the legal requirements across multiple states and ensures agreements meet court standards for approval — while also accounting for tax consequences that many mediators overlook.
Family Mediation
Family disputes extend well beyond divorce. Alisa mediates parenting plan modifications, elder care decisions, guardianship disagreements, blended family conflicts, and sibling disputes. Her approach prioritizes preserving family relationships while achieving fair outcomes.
Business Mediation
Alisa's combination of legal knowledge, IRS Enrolled Agent credential, and 20+ years of business ownership through Synergy Relations makes her uniquely qualified to mediate partnership disputes, shareholder conflicts, contract disagreements, employment issues, and business dissolution. She understands financial statements, operational realities, and the importance of protecting both the business and the relationships involved.
Estate Mediation
Will contests, trust disputes, beneficiary conflicts, and executor disagreements are among the most emotionally charged disputes Alisa handles. Her understanding of tax law and her sensitivity to family dynamics help families reach fair resolutions while honoring their loved one's legacy.
Community Involvement and Achievements
Alisa's commitment to justice and community extends beyond her mediation practice:
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Founding Board Member, Justice Watch (2000) — Helped establish an organization dedicated to defending the wrongfully convicted
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Candidate Evaluator, King County Municipal League (2001) — Evaluated judicial and legislative candidates for public office
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Ethiopian War Victims Fund (1998/1999) — Organized and executed a fundraiser that raised 3x the original goal
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Public Relations Coordinator, Community Legal Services (1998) — Provided PR support for a community legal aid organization
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Produced video evidence for Lewandowski v. Fairway Ornamental Iron (2000) — Contributed to a case resulting in a $1M+ settlement
BREAKTHROUGH TODAY Podcast
Alisa hosts the BREAKTHROUGH TODAY podcast, where she shares practical insights on conflict resolution, mediation, personal growth, and navigating life's most challenging transitions. Drawing on her 25+ years of mediation experience and her diverse professional background, BREAKTHROUGH TODAY offers listeners actionable strategies for finding clarity and resolution in their own lives.
Mediation Philosophy
Alisa's approach to mediation is rooted in the belief that most people, given the right environment and guidance, are capable of reaching reasonable agreements on their own terms. Her role is not to impose solutions but to create the conditions where solutions can emerge.
Listen first. Every party deserves to be heard fully before any problem-solving begins. Understanding the underlying interests — not just the stated positions — is where real resolution starts.
Stay grounded in facts. Emotion is a natural part of any dispute, but durable agreements are built on clear information. Alisa helps parties separate feelings from facts so they can make decisions they will not regret.
Think long-term. A mediated agreement is not just a document — it is a roadmap for the future. Alisa helps parties think beyond the immediate conflict to consider how their agreement will affect their lives, their families, and their finances in the years ahead.
Bring real expertise to the table. With a JD from Seattle University School of Law, Master Mediator certification from the IMA, and IRS Enrolled Agent status, Alisa does not offer generic facilitation — she offers informed, knowledgeable guidance grounded in legal, financial, and mediation expertise.
Make it accessible. Compass Mediation Group conducts all sessions virtually, removing geographic and logistical barriers. Whether you are in Seattle, Los Angeles, Phoenix, or anywhere else in the country, you can access the same high-quality mediation services from your own home.
A Personal Note from Alisa
