When a marriage ends or a business dispute threatens what you’ve built, you deserve guidance from someone who understands both the legal landscape and the human side of conflict. Compass Mediation Group serves the Portland metro with professional mediation backed by 25+ years of experience, helping families and businesses resolve disputes with clarity and dignity.
Led by Alisa Kharis — a Master Mediator certified through the International Mediation Association (IMA), a Juris Doctorate graduate of Seattle University School of Law, and a former practicing attorney with 16 years of trial and motions experience — our mediation practice provides a safe, structured space where agreements are reached without the emotional and financial toll of litigation. Alisa also holds a B.A. in Political Science (Cum Laude) from Washington State University and is an IRS Enrolled Agent, bringing a rare combination of legal, financial, and interpersonal expertise to every case.
All sessions are conducted virtually via secure video conferencing, so you can participate from the comfort and privacy of your own home anywhere in the greater Portland area — on either side of the Columbia.
Divorce is one of life’s most stressful transitions — but it doesn’t have to be a battle. Our divorce mediation process helps couples in the Portland area divide assets, establish support arrangements, and create parenting plans without the adversarial nature of courtroom proceedings.
Oregon is an equitable-distribution state, which means marital property is divided fairly — though not always equally — based on the circumstances of each case. Understanding how Oregon courts approach property, debts, retirement accounts, and support requires careful analysis, and as an IRS Enrolled Agent — a credential Alisa earned in 2022 and also applies through her work at Compass Tax Center, our sister company specializing in tax services — she brings tax expertise most mediators simply cannot offer. Your settlement considers not just what’s fair today, but the long-term financial implications for both parties.
Family disputes extend beyond divorce. Whether you need help with parenting-plan modifications, elder-care decisions, or conflicts between family members, our family mediation services provide a neutral, structured environment where everyone’s voice is heard.
Oregon requires a parenting plan in any case involving children. Drawing on her 16 years of family law, civil litigation, and general practice experience, Alisa helps parents develop comprehensive plans that address parenting-time schedules, decision-making authority, dispute-resolution methods, and relocation provisions — all centered on the best interests of your children.
Partnership disagreements, succession-planning conflicts, and estate disputes can fracture relationships and destroy value. Portland’s diverse economy — from downtown professional services to a thriving small-business and maker community — generates its share of commercial disputes that benefit from mediation over litigation. Our business and estate mediation services help stakeholders find workable solutions that preserve both relationships and assets. Alisa’s extensive business background — including founding and running Synergy Relations, a consultation and strategic communications firm, since 2003 — gives her practical insight into the realities business owners face during disputes.
If you’re considering divorce in the Portland area, your case will be filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court (or the circuit court for your county). While Oregon courts encourage mediation — and require it in many custody and parenting-time disputes — navigating the procedural requirements, from the 90-day waiting period to financial disclosure obligations, can feel overwhelming.
Compass Mediation Group helps you understand what the court requires so your mediated agreements meet all legal standards. Alisa’s 16 years of prior legal practice, including extensive trial and motions experience, means she understands the procedural landscape from the inside. Although mediators do not provide legal advice to either party, our process is designed to ensure your agreements are thorough, informed, and ready for court approval.
Book NowOur virtual mediation format allows us to serve clients throughout the greater Portland metro and Southwest Washington. We regularly work with individuals and families in:
No matter where you are in the Portland metro, you receive the same attentive, personalized mediation experience.
Portland’s geography — split by rivers, bridges, and sprawling suburbs — can make in-person meetings a logistical headache. Bridge lifts, I-5 and I-205 congestion, and the crossing to Vancouver can turn a short trip into an ordeal. Virtual mediation eliminates that friction entirely.
Our clients tell us that participating from home actually improves the process. You’re in a familiar environment where you feel safe and grounded. There’s no anxiety about sitting in a waiting room. And for families with children, there’s no need to arrange extended childcare for travel time.
Every virtual session is conducted on a secure, confidential platform with virtual breakout rooms, so each party can think, regroup, or consult privately during the session — with the same professionalism and structure as an in-person meeting.
We serve families on both sides of the Columbia — the Portland metro and Southwest Washington — through a single secure virtual platform.
Alisa Kharis holds a Master Mediator certification from the International Mediation Association (IMA) and a JD from Seattle University School of Law.
As an IRS Enrolled Agent and founder of Compass Tax Center, Alisa ensures your financial agreements consider tax implications others might miss.
Formerly known as Blend Mediation, and part of the Synergy Relations family of companies.
See what our clients say on our Yelp listing.
Host of the Breakthrough Today podcast, where Alisa shares insights on conflict resolution, communication, and personal growth.
Intelligent and personable with a high EQ. Keeps it simple, gives respectful but tough-love guidance to keep clients focused on a mutually respectful outcome that leaves both sides knowing they did the right thing. I highly recommend Alisa for divorce mediation — even if you’re tempted to “lawyer up,” talk to Alisa first. Read more
Finding a mediator can be tricky — even knowing you need one is tricky. Where do you start? I was fortunate to meet Alisa through a referral from a trusted advisor, and I couldn’t have gotten a better one. She was exactly what the process needed, and listened very carefully throughout. Read more
Schedule a free consultation or call (888) 851-8856 to see how mediation can help your Portland-area family or business move forward.
Compass Mediation Group does not provide legal advice or legal representation. Alisa Kharis is a mediator, not a practicing attorney. Her legal background informs and enriches the mediation process, but she does not act as an attorney for any party. Both partners are encouraged to consult with independent attorneys for legal counsel. If you need legal representation, we are happy to refer you to qualified attorneys.
