Biography
Paula Emery is the founder of Emery Law and Mediation Services (ELMS.LAW). where she conducts real property, community, small business and probate mediations, represents nonprofit organizations and small businesses in non-litigation matters, and provides non-tax estate planning services. Additionally, she facilitates public policy environmental discussions, conducts conflict coaching and offers advanced and specialized mediation training to individuals, groups, and organizations. Across Texas and Washington, Paula has over twenty-five years of professional experience as a business and technology leader, attorney, and conflict resolution practitioner.
Paula began her law career representing individuals facing execution in Texas during post-conviction appellate and habeas corpus proceedings, winning a commutation to life in prison for a client with developmental disabilities. Prior to returning to private practice, she served customers and partners for 8 years leading multiple business lines for Microsoft. Both experiences honed her legal and business writing, analysis, and persuasion skills in very different but equally valuable ways.
Paula is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and currently chairs the Dispute Resolution section and serves on the executive committee for the Administrative Law section. She is also a member of the King County Bar Association, where she serves in leadership for the Environmental and Land Use section and previously chaired the Dispute Resolution section. Additionally, Paula is a member of the American Bar Association, the Texas Bar Association, the International Council for Online Dispute Resolution (ICODR), the Washington Mediation Association, and the Association for Conflict Resolution.
Paula joined the adjunct faculty at Seattle University in 2023, teaching Mediation Skills and coaching members of the Dispute Resolution Board in regional competitions. She now also serves as faculty advisor to the Dispute Resolution Board and as writing advisor.
