Brian Litzinger On Modern Family Law’s Bellevue Expansion

Brian: Opening our Bellevue office marks an important step in our continued commitment to serving King County. This new location not only allows us to maintain the high level of service we currently provide in the area, but it also significantly enhances our ability to support a broader range of clients. By establishing a presence in Bellevue, we are better positioned to reach individuals and families living farther north and east—communities that have traditionally been more challenging to serve efficiently from our Seattle office due to distance and accessibility. This expansion reflects our ongoing mission to make quality family law representation more accessible and responsive to the needs of those throughout the greater King County region and beyond.

Brian: I’m not so sure about this question, because I mean the client demographics in Seattle and Bellevue are nearly identical—they are essentially neighboring cities separated only by a lake. While the actual distance between them is short, traffic and the need to cross a bridge can make it feel more significant in terms of time. That said, the Bellevue office draws from the same core clientele as Seattle.

However, what makes Bellevue particularly strategic is its ability to serve as a gateway to clients farther north and east. This expansion allows us to reach individuals in different communities who may have varying income levels, diverse family structures, and unique legal needs that are less prevalent in central King County.

From a marketing perspective, we are also working to define areas of responsibility for each office to avoid overlap and internal competition. The goal is to prevent Seattle and Bellevue from targeting the same audience to the point of diminishing returns. By allowing Bellevue to focus more on northern and eastern regions—while still sharing the broader King County market—we can tap into under-served areas like Snohomish County, which currently represents a significant portion of our clientele.

Brian: Our goal with the Bellevue office is to significantly expand our reach into areas that the Seattle office has traditionally struggled to serve due to geographical and logistical limitations. There are many families outside of Seattle, particularly to the north and east, who need legal guidance and support as they navigate complex family law matters. While Seattle remains a vital part of our presence in King County, its ability to effectively serve these outlying communities is limited. Bellevue, on the other hand, offers a more accessible and strategically located base from which we can extend our services.

By growing the Bellevue office, I aim to build a strong team of three to four attorneys who can develop meaningful connections with these communities and handle a growing volume of cases. The long-term vision is to ensure that families in these underserved areas have the same access to high-quality legal representation and compassionate support as those closer to our existing offices. It is about meeting people where they are—both geographically and in terms of their unique needs—and ensuring we are truly living up to our mission of helping families through some of the most challenging periods in their lives.

Brian: Really, it’s just our approach in general, as Modern Family Law. You know our tech-forward approach, the compassion we show. It is at the core of everything we do. You know, this isn’t so much a business for us as it’s we’re a service, and we want to help people get through this process and come out the other side as whole as they can be. Considering the circumstances, as you get into some of these other firms here. I don’t think they have that same level of empathy, especially as I’ve been practicing here, and you’ve got a lot of sole practitioners who just kind of skate by. We are a professional, specialized firm that practices exclusively in the area of family law. When you hire Modern Family Law, you are working with an attorney whose sole focus is on family law, someone who has dedicated their career to understanding the complexities of this field and advocating for families. Our attorneys are not dividing their attention between personal injury claims, criminal defense work, or estate planning. This singular focus allows us to provide a level of expertise, care, and consistency that makes a meaningful difference in our clients’ lives.

Brian: It has truly been an exciting journey, and I am incredibly grateful to the firm for trusting me with the opportunity to lead and develop a new office. Being able to build something from the ground up, something that reflects our values, our standards, and the way we believe family law should be practiced, has been both rewarding and inspiring. I have also been fortunate to connect with and recruit talented attorneys who not only bring exceptional skill to the table but who genuinely want to be part of our team and embrace the way we operate. Not every firm functions the way we do, and not every attorney thrives in this kind of collaborative, client-centered environment, so finding the right people has been key.

This experience has been a time of growth and learning, especially as I’ve worked to understand the dynamics of a new market. There have been challenges along the way, but also countless opportunities to evolve and improve. And while we have accomplished a lot already, we know there is still more to do. We are just getting started, and we are committed to continuing this momentum as we grow and serve even more families.

Brian: For me, the most meaningful validation of our work comes from the feedback we receive through our Google reviews. That kind of feedback carries a lot of weight because it represents clients who are willing to publicly share their experience and speak to the quality of service they received. It is one thing to have successful outcomes, and we certainly have fought hard and achieved great results for many of our clients, but it is another thing entirely when those clients feel compelled to go online and express their gratitude and trust in us.

At the end of the day, those reviews reflect the heart of what we do. They show that we are going above and beyond to advocate for our clients, and that our efforts are being recognized. While we are still growing and building our presence in this market, the ratings we have received are consistently strong, and that speaks volumes about the dedication and care we bring to every case.

Brian: To be honest, many of the challenges we face stem from the courts themselves. Each court operates with its own set of rules, procedures, and filing systems, which can vary significantly from one jurisdiction to another. Navigating that complexity requires us to build strong internal processes—processes that help us stay on top of each court’s specific requirements, calculate and calendar deadlines accurately, and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

One of the ways we overcome these hurdles is by leveraging the collective experience of our team. For example, Donica brings extensive knowledge of the northern counties, while Gabrielle has deep experience within the Metro area. By sharing that insight and working collaboratively, we can adapt more effectively to the unique demands of each court system.

Teamwork is one of our core values, and it is not just something we say—it is something we live. We highlight it in our new client letters, letting clients know they may see time billed by multiple attorneys, because we truly work as a team. This approach allows us to draw on the strengths of different individuals to provide the best possible service and value. It is that team-based mindset that has allowed us to push through the challenges and continue delivering for our clients, regardless of the complexity of the court systems we are navigating.

Brian: Don’t hesitate to reach out and start a conversation with us. If you are looking for a firm that genuinely values work-life balance and demonstrates that commitment through real actions, not just words, then we may be exactly what you are looking for. We prioritize the growth, well-being, and long-term success of our attorneys, and we are intentional about creating an environment where people can thrive both professionally and personally.

If that resonates with you, we’d love to connect. That is the culture we’ve built, and it is who we are.

Brian: Expanding our footprint means we can help more families navigate what is often a complex and overwhelming process. In Colorado, for example, a divorce might start with a simple three-page petition, but it quickly turns into a stack of paperwork: financial disclosures, parenting plans, and more. That can feel daunting, especially for those unfamiliar with the system. By growing our offices and attorney team, we can offer that much-needed support. By leveraging our technology and internal tools, we can keep costs lower and provide more affordable services than many other firms.

Brian: Really, the continued growth. It has been incredible to see how quickly we have established a strong presence, built a client base, and earned respect in the community. We are no longer just the new firm in town; other firms are aware of us, they have heard our name, and we are making an impact. It is a great place to be, and the momentum is only building.