We are back! Thank you for your patience. We are now accepting a limited number of appointments for both new and existing clients.

We are back! Thank you for your patience. We are now accepting a limited number of appointments for both new and existing clients.

Hollie Del Vecchio
Hollie Del Vecchio

We assist public and private parties in resolving land use, real property, employment and agriculture disputes in a manner that fosters trust, respect and understanding.

What We Offer

Attorney Hollie Del Vecchio is now providing dispute resolution services—including mediation and conflict coaching—within her practice areas of land use, real property, employment and agriculture. Our dispute resolution services can be conducted virtually or in-person, and with or without attorney representation. We will slowly be adding details to our website and blog. In the meantime, feel free to submit a services request form and we’ll be happy to follow up and answer any questions.

About Mediation

The most interesting definition I’ve heard to date is that mediation represents the “insertion of a human buffer” (that’s the mediator) between people who need assistance interacting with each other. Ideally, the mediator also has the technical and other expertise to effectively guide the parties to resolution. But even if full resolution is not reached, there can still be benefits to simply going through the process.

A few key features of mediation are:

  1. it is entirely voluntary (even if mediation has been court-mandated, no one can force you to reach an agreement);
  2. the parties determine the outcome (as opposed to litigation or arbitration, where a judge or arbitrator makes the decision for you);
  3. it can lead to a binding and written agreement (and one that is less likely to fail since the parties participated in the resolution);
  4. it is less costly than going through the courts (less costly in terms of time, resources and your own physical and mental energy); and
  5. it is confidential (if the dispute does not get resolved, nothing shared during mediation can be repeated in court).

What to Expect

Your mediation with Adaptive Law & Resolution will look something like this:

1. Pre-Mediation Calls.

Within a few days of the scheduled mediation, Hollie will conduct pre-mediation phone or video calls with each party in order to gain a better understanding of the dispute and the desired outcomes. This is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you might have about the process itself. I cannot give legal advice, but I can provide guidance on how to best prepare for the mediation.

2. The Mediation.

Depending on the complexity of the dispute and the number of parties involved, your mediation will typically be scheduled for a half-day (3 hours) or full-day (6 hours). We can also schedule additional time if needed. The mediations can take place at a mutually agreeable location or virtually using our secure client portal.

3. The Agreement.

If a resolution is reached, I will assist the parties in preparing a written Agreement in Principle that, if needed, can then be used to draft a more formal agreement. If the circumstances allow, we may also be able to prepare and sign a formal, binding agreement before the mediation concludes. Either way, we will get something in writing.

Please note that if you are operating within an established alternative dispute resolution program or process with its own requirements or parameters, we are happy to accommodate. Simply let us know when we first reach out to contact you.

Pricing

All pricing includes any pre-mediation and follow-up work. If the mediation lasts longer than scheduled, additional hours will be billed at a rate of $350 per hour.

  • $1,500 for Half-Day Mediation (for single-issue disputes between two parties)
  • $2,500 for Full-Day Mediation (for more complex disputes or more than two parties)
  • $350/hour for Conflict Coaching (for single parties seeking guidance as they navigate a dispute)

A travel fee may also be added on a case-by-case basis.

About Hollie

Welcome! I am a second career attorney who draws on a variety of background, experience and passion as I help clients plan for the future and problem solve. I am an attorney, mediator, and seasonal Christmas tree farmer—in addition to being a wife, mother and daughter. I wear many hats, but they all support each other in their own unique way, and—most importantly—they make me who I am.

I earned my law degree in 2011 from Lewis & Clark Law School, where I emphasized in agricultural and natural resources law. Ten years prior to that, I earned a Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Planning from Portland State University and taught urban and land use planning to undergraduate and graduate students at Cal Poly Pomona in southern California. I also hold a B.A. in Planning and Environmental Policy from Western Washington University’s Huxley College in Bellingham, Washington, and an associate’s degree from Shoreline Community College in Seattle, Washington.

I began my legal career in Helena, Montana, where I represented farmers, ranchers and government employees in a wide range of land use, natural resources and employment matters. When I opened my own law firm, I found a niche in real property and employment law, including discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination cases. This evolved into working with business owners on proactive planning for both estate and business succession matters and employee relations.

I am now excited to be merging my past education and experience to provide mediation services in the areas of land use, real property, employment and agriculture. I have completed 35 hours of basic mediation training through the Northwest Mediation Center and nearly 60 hours of employment and labor law training while earning my Professional Mediation Certificate from Cornell University. I also continue to provide pro bono legal services through Skagit Legal Aid, and am proud to be on the Board for Skagitonians to Protect Farmland.

I have always strived to make the best use of technology to support myself and my clients, and this has been further strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic. I recognize that technology is simply a tool, though, and that it simply doesn’t work for everyone. At the end of the day, my focus is on creating relationships and building trust. I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a business owner, a neighbor, a volunteer, and a friend. I am human, and I am not perfect. And I don’t expect you to be either. I will not judge, and I will not try and fit you into a box. I sincerely look forward to working with you.

My past (relevant) accomplishments, in brief form:

  • Professional Mediation Certificate from Cornell University (April 2022)
  • 35 hours of Basic Mediation Training with Northwest Mediation Center (2022)
  • Graduate, WSU Extension Forest Stewardship Coached Planning Program (2021)
  • Pro Bono Service Award, Skagit Volunteer Lawyer Program (2019)
  • Commissioner (District 3), Skagit County Planning Commission (2016-2019)
  • Admitted to Washington State Bar Association (2015, License No. 48993)
  • Admitted to State of Montana Bar Association (2011, License No. 11922)
  • Jim Fell Memorial Scholarship for Energy Law (2010-11)
  • Lewis & Clark Law School Pro Bono Certificate of Merit (2008-09)
  • Early Tenure & Promotion with California State University (2006)