S.L. Pitts PC

Bios

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  Christopher Pitts

  Principal

  Christopher D. Pitts focuses on financial complexity and jurisdictional questions as they arise in family law litigation. Christopher has experience identifying, valuing, and dividing closely held business interests across a wide array of industries including: manufacturing, aerospace, technology, maritime, financial services, and commercial real estate. He also has experience identifying and valuing financially complex assets in divorce including: pensions, interest rate swaps, call options, and executive and top hat compensation plans. Christopher has identified and litigated professional goodwill in medical, dental, accounting, and legal practice groups. Christopher authored the chapter on jurisdiction for the Washington Family Law Deskbook (3rd Edition, 2022), which is published by the Washington State Bar Association for use by family law attorneys and judicial officers throughout Washington State. Christopher is licensed in both California and Washington and has successfully advised clients on jurisdictional issues related to all areas of family law in both interstate and international marital dissolutions. For parties who have extensive contacts with both California and Washington, Christopher can assist in selecting the most appropriate state within which to initiate a marital dissolution. He maintains active cases in both Washington and California.

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  Link: Christopher Pitts

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  Caitlin Baird Zellers

  Managing Attorney

  Caitlin practices family law, with a focus in high-conflict dissolution cases with financial and parenting issues. Caitlin’s experience analyzing issues related to closely held businesses, interstate and international property interests, separate property characterization, spousal support, and complex compensation enables her to advise her clients in complex, high asset property distribution cases. Her experience valuing deferred compensation, retirement assets, stock, and real property has enriched her ability to advise and advocate on characterization and distribution of such assets in a dissolution of marriage or committed intimate relationship. Caitlin’s experience negotiating and litigating issues of spousal and child support provides her with insight into these important and often complicated issues in dissolution. Caitlin also works with clients on post-decree enforcement matters. Caitlin is experienced in navigating cases involving complex and high conflict parenting issues, in establishing and modifying parenting plans and child support, as well as contested relocation of children. Caitlin also advises clients in securing protections against domestic violence. Recognizing that family law issues are emotional, and the stakes are high, Caitlin provides her clients with pragmatic and grounding advice. Caitlin’s experience representing her clients to negotiate a settlement, including experience in mediation and arbitration, is supported by her skill and experience as a trial attorney. Caitlin’s courtroom experience at trial and in presenting motions before judges and commissioners enables her to provide sound counsel on litigation strategies available to achieve her client’s stated goals.

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  Link: Caitlin Baird Zellers

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  Chloe V. Nichol

  Managing Attorney

  Chloe practices family law with a focus on complex financial issues and complex parenting issues. Chloe’s work identifying and valuing property in cases with large and complicated marital estates combined with her experience negotiating and litigating property issues enables her to counsel her clients with knowledge and confidence. She has addressed disputes regarding character of property and value of property. Chloe has negotiated and litigated issues related to closely held businesses including management of the business during the pendency of a dissolution, valuation of the business, and division of the business. Her experience includes valuation issues related to stock, retirement assets, real property, and deferred compensation. Chloe has negotiated and mediated the issues of spousal maintenance and child support; her experiences include analyzing changeable and complex income to calculate support. Chloe tailors her work to address the individual needs of each client and approaches advocacy for her clients with determination and ingenuity. Years of experience guiding clients through the complicated and often painful landscape of parenting disputes support Chloe’s ability to negotiate and litigate complex parenting issues. Chloe has addressed complex parenting issues during dissolution of marriage, in parentage actions, and post-decree. She has worked on cases that include domestic violence, child abuse, mental health issues, and drug addiction. Chloe approaches parenting matters with empathy, pragmatism, and insight. Chloe recognizes the life changing importance of family law disputes and strives to provide her clients with advice and advocacy designed to fit their needs and those of their family. She strives to make her clients feel heard, understood, and supported. She has supported clients through negotiation and mediation to resolve their case by settlement. With extensive courtroom experience Chloe is a confident and skilled courtroom advocate.

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  Link: Chloe V. Nichol

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  Christina Chung

  Managing Attorney

  Christina Chung is a managing attorney at S.L. Pitts PC. She is sharp and has experience successfully litigating in all areas of family law. She is known for her compassion and diligent advocacy, specializing in complex, high-asset dissolutions, and high-conflict parenting issues including relocation. She skillfully and successfully has negotiated high net worth financial matters, including business valuations, RSUs, large real estate portfolio, tracing, characterization of property, and child support and spousal support issues. She also has experience dealing with assets outside of the U.S. Her emphasis on a client-centered approach has been fundamental to her success at mediation, arbitration, and trial. A proactive problem solver, Christina’s sophisticated understanding of the law and dedication to clients has helped her achieve success advocating on behalf of her clients. Prior to joining S.L. Pitts PC, Christina worked for the King County Superior Court Family Law Facilitator’s Department. She also worked as a judicial extern for Judge Mary I. Yu (presently an Associate Justice of the Washington Supreme Court). Christina also worked as a volunteer attorney at King County Bar Association: Family Law Mentor Program and Eastside Legal Assistance Program focusing on Family Law and Domestic Violence cases. During law school, Christina joined the Civil Rights Amicus Clinic where she was actively involved in assisting and drafting amicus brief for the U.S. Supreme Court involving Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which was heard on April 24, 2013 as a part of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center v. Nassar, M.D.

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  Link: Christina Chung

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  Susana Ruiz

  Managing Attorney

  Susana Ruiz is a managing attorney with S.L. Pitts PC. Her family law practice is focused on high-conflict dissolution cases with complex financial and parenting issues. Susana has experience in analyzing issues related to closely held businesses, property interests, separate property characterization, spousal support, and complex compensation, which enables her to advise and guide her clients through these often complex issues. Susana also has experience negotiating and litigating issues of spousal support and child support. Susana’s experience in navigating complex and high conflict parenting issues has enabled her to advise her clients through emotional and difficult situations involving their child(ren). Susana is experienced as a litigator, including experience in arbitration, trial, and presenting motions before judges and commissioners. Prior to joining S.L. Pitts PC, Susana was a Rule 9 legal extern with King County Public Defense focusing on Juvenile law. Through this externship, Susana gained invaluable litigation experience arguing on behalf of her clients in First Appearance proceedings. Susana attended University of Washington School of Law. There, she served as the lead law clerk with the Moderate Means Program focusing on Family law, Consumer law, and Housing law. Susana was also a legal extern with the Children and Youth Advocacy Clinic where she participated and assisted in drafting memorandums for children to obtain Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Susana is licensed in Washington State and fluent in Spanish.

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  Link: Susana Ruiz

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  Nick Lovelace

  Associate Attorney

  Nick Lovelace is an associate attorney at S.L. Pitts PC. His practice focuses on family law. He is thoughtful and passionate about helping individuals in all areas of family law. Prior to joining S.L. Pitts, Nick was a volunteer attorney with the Housing Justice Project. Nick graduated from Seattle University School of Law where he was a Rule 9 intern with the Consumer Advocacy Clinic at Seattle University. While at law school Nick was the President of the Public Interest Law Foundation and President of Alpha Sigma Nu. Prior to law school, Nick was a community activist focused on the fight for marriage equality. Nick served as the Vice President of the Legal Marriage Alliance of Washington and volunteered with Equal Rights Washington and Washington Families Standing Together on both the Referendum 71 and 74 campaigns.

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  Link: Nick Lovelace

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  Alexander Morrison

  Associate Attorney

  Alexander Morrison is an associate attorney with S.L. Pitts PC. His practice is primarily focused on family law. He is passionate and driven toward helping individuals navigate their divorce. Prior to joining S.L. Pitts PC, Alexander worked as a Review Attorney with Perkins Coie. In this position, Alexander gained valuable insight into processing voluminous documentary evidence. Alexander also worked with the Ronald A. Peterson Law Clinic helping clients who were unable to afford an attorney. There he developed excellent one on one client interaction and communication skills. Alexander attended Seattle University School of Law where he graduated Cum Laude. There, he served as an Associate Editor for the Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, and Innovation Law as well as served on the Constitutional Drafting Committee. Alexander was also nominated for and awarded the American Bankruptcy Law Journal Prize from the American Bankruptcy Law Journal.

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  Link: Alexander Morrison

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  Rachel Hammond

  Associate Attorney

  Rachel Hammond is an associate attorney with S.L. Pitts, PC. Her practice is focused on family law. She is attentive, thoughtful, and solutions-oriented in her representation. Prior to law school, Rachel worked for Big Brothers Big Sisters, where she managed programs supporting low-income and at-risk youth. Desiring to help families and individuals navigate the legal system, Rachel decided to attend the University of Washington School of Law. During law school, Rachel worked for the Incarcerated Parents Project, where she provided legal aid to incarcerated parents, including child support and child custody matters. Rachel also worked as a Rule 9 intern in criminal defense, counseling, and helping represent clients in misdemeanor and felony cases. In addition to her studies, Rachel was on the board of the Washington International Law Journal and participated in the University of Washington Rural Alaska Tax Assistance Program. Prior to joining S.L. Pitts, PC, Rachel served as a Law Clerk for Judge Eric Z. Lucas at Snohomish County Superior Court.

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  Link: Rachel Hammond