Laura Anne Carlsen

Laura represented me in a child support modification case. I couldn't have asked for better representation. Not only did Laura always look out for my best interests, but she was always very prompt in getting back to me if I had any questions. If you want an attorney that will fight for your intere...st's with understanding and compassion hire Laura!

My case was very complicated. The fact that it involved children, was international, and involved several appeals by the other side was just the beginning of the complexity, and my case was rejected by every single lawyer I called in Kitsap and King County (which were at least 20), except one special... firm, McKinley Irvin. Laura Carlsen jumped on my case to handle the complicated appeals that the other side was presenting after another lawyer from the firm won the first trial. From her first email to me introducing herself and presenting me with how she was going to proceed with my case, I instantly confided in her knowledge and experience 110%. Laura is an attorney that is direct, persuasive, confident, with a presence in the courtroom of solidity and logical coherence, while remainging compassionate on a personal level with me as a client, emitting security during an emotionally tumultous time. The outcome of my case, that went through several trials and appeals due to the relentless persistance of the other side, was ruled by the appellate court not only in my favor, but with a final resolution even more so in my favor than before proceedings started. I can't recommend Laura enough. If I had to go through the whole process over again, I would not hesitate to ask her to represent me.

After over 14 years of marriage, and working with another attorney, my divorce case had devolved into a senseless affair. Laura was always a voice of reason and facts. In my case, Laura's calm, clear logic along with her thoughtfully considered written opinions were key to bringing my case to a sett...lement. As issues have arisen with my sons in the years sense my divorce, I have continued to consult with Laura. She continues to be a pleasure to work with and direct and logical in her counsel. In my personal and business dealings over the years I have been rarely been genuinely impressed by few people in general, and even fewer attorneys. Laura has repeatedly impressed me for her integrity, directness, and ability to keep me focused on what matters.

Laura was prompt, helpful, well informed and clearly invested in looking out for our best interests, even in terms of choices that could help reduce our costs. We were grateful to have Laura's help and guidance throughout the inevitable difficulties and stresses of dealing with legal matters related ...to child custody. Our child custody case was not a typical case, 2 women vying for child custody, but Laura was confident and optimistic about our case. However, she was also honest about the current laws and our specific situation. Laura was personable, professional, reliable and a pleasure to work with and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to someone in need of a family law attorney.

After a few weeks of trying to get an attorney to represent me in spike of my lack of financial resources my daughter and I met with Yonga Matsumoto [an account person] and Laura Carlsen [the attorney assigned to my case] of McKinley Irwin. From the very beginning we made it very plain that our purpo...se was to engage an attorney simply to help me respond to my husband’s petition for a divorce and attend a hearing to request an order for him to pay legal fees. .I could not raise their normal retainer of $3000. We agreed on $1000 and my brother and sister each charged $500 to credit cards to pay it. We asked several times to be sure that this should be all we would need to pay to get to the point where my husband would be required to pay my legal fees. They claim that this is not true but they cannot claim that they did not know that I have no money. But without their assurances that it should be enough I would NEVER have paid the $1000 as I knew I would not be able to raise any more. So, I did as much of the work as I could and Laura finalized the documents for me and submitted the appropriate responses and a cross motion for legal fees. Then about a week later on April 19 – I received a message to call Susan Manns about my account. When I returned her call she said that she needed another $1000 from me and that I had to give her a credit card to charge and I had to do it “NOW”. I explained to Susan that coming up with the first $1000 was a hardship and that there was no way I could pay another $1000 until April 27 when I will receive a $3000 IRS refund. To that she said either I give her the money right then and there or they would drop my case. I said that I understood that Laura could not work on my case until I come up with extra money and that it would be fine as long as they picked it up again when I could pay the additional $1000 in a week. To my utter shock her response was that once they dropped the case that that would be it, that they do not do business with people who cannot pay their bills. In total disbelief I repeated what she said that they would drop the case and I would have to start over and she simply repeated that they do not work with people who cannot pay their bills. She was extremely rude and condescending and hung up on me when I tried to reason with her. I have been in contact with one of the senior partners [David Stark] and he simply says that Laura will not do anymore work on my case and she will not represent me at the hearing in spite of the fact that she filed a notice of her intent to represent me with the court.