Rina M. Goodman, JD
Principal, Transforming Conflict, LLC
Rina uniquely blends compassion and understanding with a balanced perspective and the neutrality required of professional mediators. Her extensive legal background enables her to steer through the most complex disputes in a knowledgeable and straightforward manner to help clients find the most equitable and satisfying resolutions to their disputes.
Rina founded her practice in 2004 and devoted it entirely to divorce and family mediation. As a former trial lawyer, she understands the financial and personal impact litigation often has on individual parties. She has chosen mediation as a full-time practice because she believes that with compassionate and skilled guidance, her clients can form their own creative and lasting solutions to their conflict.
Although Rina believes that a mediator shouldn’t speculate about the possible outcome of litigation, her extensive legal experience enables her to understand how cases are evaluated. This helps her guide the parties through a process of informed and collaborative decision-making while considering a variety of ways to measure the fairness of a settlement proposal. Her mediation style—flexible, empowering and constructive—encourages creative problem solving and conflict resolution in challenging family situations.
Rina's clients praise her ability to instill confidence in what they can accomplish and her commitment to helping them find the best long-term solutions. Her achievements also have been recognized by her superiors and her peers. Throughout her professional career as a lawyer and mediator, she has been commended by employers, clients, associates, and judges for her professional knowledge and integrity. In 2007, Rina received recognition by the King County (Washington) Dispute Resolution Center as Mediator of the Year.
Rina is the 2010-2011 chair-elect to the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the Washington State Bar Association. She has served on the Executive Board since 2008, and has chaired the section's Education Committee for the past three terms.
Past and present clients express deep satisfaction with Rina’s compassionate style:
“From the outset, my husband and I knew we wanted a collaborative process in seeking our divorce. There were a few issues that were particularly sticky when it came to finances, in particular. But Rina helped us listen to each other and the open environment led to a lot of ‘out-of-the-box’ ideas that eventually created our solutions. It took time. But it was time very well spent. My ex-husband and I are still not only on speaking terms, but have retained a lot more good will toward the other than we could have imagined at the outset.”
S. Sprague
“Above all, Rina is dedicated to balance in the mediation process. Her exquisite sense of service to the parties (and their children) is moving. Her delicate touch at challenging the mediating parties to carefully listen and re-state their opinions and positions was equally helpful.”
D. Gluck
“Words can’t express how grateful we are for the time and care you’ve taken to help us. We’ve learned so much from you and appreciate it more than we can say. With warm appreciation,”
Note from client regarding the couple’s mediation to preserve their relationship.
“It has been such a roller coaster ride and through it all you have been a beam of hope. . . I really feel and know you are committed to helping people communicate and heal through very difficult opposition. I am certain J & I wouldn’t have gotten to where we are now without your help. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Letter from a party to a strongly-contested parentage case.
“Thank you for all of your help and insights. I think A* and I are in a better place than we were before mediation!” L*
Note from a client regarding a post-divorce mediation with blended-family issues.
"There is no easy way to go through this ordeal, but because of people like you and Rina-and many others-I believe God is holding us in the palm of His hand."
Letter to former employer, Gerard R. Lear, Esq., from wife of a federal worker who died as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals.