Cat Zavis
Attorney, Mediator and Educator

Cat J. Zavis

Websites:

• http://www.catjzavis.com

Collaborative Professional ~ I work as a lawyer, coach and facilitator in the Collaborative Process. Collaborative Practice is a model that uses a team of Collaborative Professionals to assist families with the legal, financial and interpersonal elements of divorce. The process promotes respectful dialogue for mutually satisfying solutions.

Mediator - I help people transform conflicts into opportunities for connection and new possibilities. Clients are heard and understood, even when it's difficult, using and efficient and effective process. They find common concerns underlying differences and generate resolutions that are mutually satisfying, co-created and meet their unique needs.

Coaching ~ Through workshops, individual coaching and practice groups, I help people learn the tools to communicate across differences with respect and skill. I have worked with countless individuals, couples, and parents so they can transform conflicts into opportunities to deepen understanding and connection. I have conducted trainings for the Washington State Bar Association (various departments), Collaborative Professionals of Washington, Western Washington University, Fairhaven College, Explorations Academy, Friends Service Committee, Domestic Violence Shelters and others.

In addition, I co-led a Parent Peer Leadership Program - nine month training program for parents in Nonviolent Communication (the foundation on which my work is based).

To learn these skills, I participated in a year-long Nonviolent Communication Leadership Training Program through the Bay Area Center for Nonviolent Communication.

Prior to my work in this area, I was a Regional Attorney at the Northwest Women's Law Center in Seattle, Washington. And before that I was an attorney at The Public Defender's Association in Seattle, Washington

Specialties: Alternative conflict resolution - mediation and collaborative law

Help people transform conflict into opportunities for connection and deepening understanding of oneself and the other person/people, and ultimately to find solutions that work for everyone involved.

I would enjoy having more clients who either want to work with me one-on-one, who would enjoy coming to a workshop, who need mediation services or who is thinking of getting a divorce but wants a process that allows them to create the solutions and outcomes that work for their unique family needs.

M.A., Women's Studies and Gender Relations, 2003, University of British Columbia (Vancouver, B.C., Canada)

J.D., 1990, Northeastern University School of Law (Boston, MA)

B.A., 1986, Claremont McKenna College (Claremont, CA)

Mediation Tele-class: Introductory and Intermediate Mediation (Fall 2008) Two separate mediation tele-classes, led by John Kinyon, a certified NVC Trainer and mediator. 18 weeks of mediation tele-classes for 1.5 hours each session to support NVC practitioners who want to mediate conflicts.

The Embodied Spirituality of NVC: Inner Work & Dialogue Work 1 (Winter 2006) For individuals with extensive NVC training and experience, a 3-day retreat to deepen one's integration and practice, led by Robert Gonzales, Certified NVC Trainer.

Basic Collaborative Law Training, 12 hours (Spring 2006) To gain a deeper understanding of the collaborative law process and enhance representation of clients.

Collaborative Law/Mediation Training, 30 hours (Fall 2006) To learn skills in transforming clients' positions into interests and to support clients in reaching resolutions which work for their unique situation.

NVC Parenting Tele-class (Spring 2005) 8-week tele-class communication series for parents who share NVC with other parents, taught by Inbal Kashtan, Certified NVC Trainer and Program Director of Peaceful Families, Peaceful World Project, a joint project of BayNVC (www.baynvc.org) and CNVC (www.cnvc.org, the International Center for Nonviolent Communication).

Graduate of Bay Area Nonviolent Communication Leadership Program (2005) 12-month skill and confidence-building program geared for individuals with extensive NVC experience who desire to share and teach in a variety of settings. Training included: four 7-day intensives; monthly tele-classes with program leaders; weekly written assignments; buddy system of weekly telephone calls with fellow participants to practice skills and share challenges and celebrations.

LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING Trainer, Introduction to Nonviolent Communication Trainer, Lawyers' Anxieties: Lawyers' Needs and Interests Versus Clients' Needs and Interests 2 separate CLE trainings at the First Annual Washington State Conference for Collaborative Professionals (2008).

Trainer, Dealing with Dealing Clients (2008) CLE training for the Washington State Bar Association's Disciplinary Counsel's yearly retreat utilizing the principles of Nonviolent CommunicationSM (NVC) to support lawyers and staff in enhancing their communication and listening skills.

Trainer, Embodied Compassion: Communicating from Your Heart (2008) Continuing Legal Education (CLE) workshop for the Washington Bar Association's Lawyers' Assistance Program yearly retreat, utilizing the principles of Nonviolent CommunicationSM (NVC) to support lawyers in enhancing their communication and listening skills.

Co-leader, Parent Peer Leadership Program in Nonviolent CommunicationSM (2007-2008) 9-month training program for parents who want to share NVC with other parents in their communities. This program is jointly sponsored by Bay Area Nonviolent Communication (BayNVC) and International Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC). Led trainings at week-long family camp; facilitated bi-monthly tele-classes; provided feedback on weekly writing assignments; guided assistants in developing and strengthening leadership skills through monthly one-on-one phone calls; supported individual participants in growth and learning through telephone calls and email.

Trainer, "Building Client Trust: Reconnecting with the Meaning in Your Legal Practice" (2005) Designed and conducted Continuing Legal Education (CLE) workshop utilizing principles of Nonviolent CommunicationSM (NVC) to support lawyers in enhancing their communication and listening skills. Activities and learning opportunities included: role playing; exploring clients' needs; and, differentiating between client interests and positions (or understanding the needs that underlie clients' specific solutions).

Coach and Supporter, One-on-One Parent and Family Conflict Resolution (2005-present) Provide mediation, empathy, role-plays, strategy sessions, and journaling ideas, plus other creative support, as needed, for over 50 parents and families via email, telephone and in person.

Trainer, Nonviolent CommunicationSM (2005-present) Daylong workshops and practice groups for: • Individuals • Couples • Parents and teachers at all grade levels (preschool through high school) at four local schools • Spiritual groups

Trainer, Nonviolent CommunicationSM for Domestic Violence Survivors and Advocates (2005-2007) For residents and staff at local domestic violence shelters.

COUNSELING

Registered Counselor (2005-present) Drawing on Nonviolent CommunicationSM training, Depth-Oriented Brief Therapy training, empathy, meditation and mindfulness awareness, problem-solving skills, and my own life experience, support clients of all ages and backgrounds in: differentiating between emotional, legal and other substantive life issues; gaining a deeper understanding and acceptance of themselves; and, creating changes and solutions needed to bring greater joy and meaning to their lives.

LEGAL

Attorney, Mediator, Guardian ad Litem (2003-present) Specializing in developing alternative solutions that serve everyone's interests. Services include: alternative dispute resolution; mediation; and collaborative law. Child specialist for families in transition: make recommendations to the judge or the parties themselves regarding children's welfare, care, optimum living situations and other services needed to support the families.

Attorney, Northwest Women's Law Center (Seattle, WA, 1994-2000) Worked to advance women's legal rights throughout the Pacific Northwest. Responsibilities included: program management; networking; providing educational workshops and trainings; organizing conferences; direct litigation; legislative initiatives; lobbying; community outreach; public education. Areas of expertise: family law; violence against women; public benefits/welfare rights; poverty issues; gender bias analysis; constitutional litigation; prisoners' rights and criminal justice issues.

Staff Attorney, The Defender Association (Seattle, WA, 1991-1994) Worked in the misdemeanor, involuntary civil commitment and felony units. Clients ranged in age from 18-70 and were from diverse socio-economic, cultural, and racial backgrounds.

TEACHING

Faculty, Skagit Valley Community College (Mount Vernon, WA, Spring 2006) Taught Gender and Society, a sociology class in which we explored the effects of gender, race, class and ethnicity on our understanding and interpretation of ourselves in the world.

Faculty, Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies at Western Washington University (Bellingham, WA, Spring 2005) Taught Constitutional Law in the Law and Diversity Program. Issues included: free speech; right to choose; civil rights laws.

Lecturer, University of Washington (Seattle, WA, 1996) Taught Feminist Legal Studies: Theory and Practice, a class offered jointly by Women Studies, Political Science, and Society and Justice departments. Using real-life cases, we studied the impact of political and social inequality on social and legal structures, and explored whether the law can transform inequalities.

NON-PROFIT ADMINISTRATION

Founder, The Connection: A Women's Space (Bellingham, WA, 2003-present) Local women's community center offering services at no charge or a sliding fee. Programs include: Nonviolent CommunicationSM classes; art therapy sessions; collection and distribution of bath supplies for women at homeless and battered women's shelters; yoga and movement classes; grieving circles; singing circles; and performances. The center also offers: drop-in times for women and their children; an herb and flower garden; a lending library; and, a computer for general use. The mission question is: How can we create a safe and welcoming space where all women can build connections and support one another to fulfill their needs, nurture their dreams, advocate for their rights and enhance their contributions to the larger community?

Coordinator, Domestic Violence Awareness Month (August 2005 - November 2005) Convene meetings with domestic violence service providers and others in community who are interested in developing events; monitor budget; connect with media; create a public service announcement; help design a logo, poster and calendar; create events to raise awareness of the prevalence of domestic violence.