WHITAKER KENT ORDELL - Key Persons
Cynthia Whitaker founded the firm in 1984 as Law Offices of Cynthia Whitaker. Cynthia's practice is solely focused on representing clients in complex family law matters, including financial, business, and parenting issues. Cynthia graduated from the University of Washington Law School, where she was on the Law Review. She served as a pro tem Family Law Court Commissioner in King County Superior Court from 1988 to 2013. Cynthia has been noted as a Washington Law and Politics Super Lawyer each year since 2002. She has both organized and served as Chair for Continuing Legal Education seminars, including the annual "Hot Topics in Family Law" seminar hosted by the King County Bar Association for the last 12 years. Cynthia served as the Editor in Chief for the Seattle King County Bar Bulletin (then named) and created and served as editor for the first three years of the Washington Women Lawyers Newsletter (1979 -- 1982). Cynthia's accomplishments include an extensive list of cases on which she served as trial counsel; she has been integral in establishing case law in Washington State.
Meet Jessica, a dedicated legal professional who practices exclusively in family law. Throughout Jessica's career, she has served in various roles. Prior to joining Whitaker Kent Ordell as an attorney, Jessica served for two years as a Family Law Commissioner with King County Superior Court, gaining invaluable experience in the intricacies of family law proceedings. She continues to serve as a pro tem Family Law Commissioner in King and Snohomish Counties, adjudicating family law motions and civil protection orders. In addition to practicing as an attorney, Jessica is currently working to obtain her mediator certification.
Jessica received her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington and her law degree from Seattle University. She spent her first eight years practicing family law as a co-owner and partner in her own firm. Jessica's varied experience brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table.
Katherine Kent is the Managing Partner at Whitaker Kent Ordell PLLC focusing her entire career on complex family law matters and representation of high net worth individuals. She has been a matrimonial attorney with the firm since 2002. She graduated from the University of Washington in 1990. Prior to obtaining her law degree from Seattle University in 1999, Katherine worked as a social worker for Child Protective Services for over 10 years working for CPS and attending law school at the same time. Katherine served as a pro tem Family Law Commissioner in King County Superior Court for 8 years. Since 2019 she has been voted as one of the best divorce lawyers in Washington in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine and as a Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine. In 2016 she became a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She is top rated by AVVO for over 10 years. Since 2016 she coordinates and serves as organizer and Chair for the Continuing Legal Education "Hot Topics in Family Law" seminar hosted annually by the King County Bar Association. She is a well-known presenter at family law seminars and has been featured in various televised interviews regarding family law issues.
Nicole joined WKO in October 2023 after her admission to the Washington State Bar. Prior to becoming an attorney, she volunteered as a mediator with Southern California Family Mediation, where she negotiated parenting residential schedules for parties with cases in the California dependency system. She worked as a clerk at a complex family law firm while she attended law school, focusing primarily on complex divorce, long-distance parenting plans, and custody and support modifications. She also volunteered and clerked at a family law nonprofit in Los Angeles, where she primarily assisted domestic violence victims file for divorce and obtain and renew domestic violence restraining orders.
Nicole received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and her juris doctorate from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. She also received her specialty certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from USC due to her focus in divorce and family mediation.
Rachel's practice focuses exclusively on complex family law matters, including parentage, Assisted Reproduction, divorce/dissolution and legal separation, domestic partnership issues, complex asset divisions, parenting plans, child custody and support matters, and relocation actions. Rachel also assists families with adoption and assisted reproductive technology (ART) legal matters such as donor agreements and surrogacy agreements. Rachel has significant experience representing business owners, professional practitioners, and high net worth individuals.
Rachel received her undergraduate degree from Gonzaga University and graduated with honors from Seattle University School of Law. Rachel is admitted to practice in the federal and state courts of Washington. She is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, American Bar Association, King County Bar Association. She has been named a 2023 Washington Super Lawyers "Rising Star".
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Human Resources and Information Technology Managing Partner
Roni Ordell was admitted to the Bar of the State of Washington in June 2010. He joined the law practice of David J. Ordell in February 2011, with his practice focused on domestic relations. Prior to joining that firm, he was a faculty fellow and associate in public health law at Arizona State University (from April 2010 to December 2010), where he worked on publications related to the law and public health. During that time, Ron also served as Deputy Director - Western Region of the Public Health Law Network. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ron worked for two years as a Program Manager for Microsoft, and for more than four years for Nike as a Finance Business Systems Analyst.