Kathleen has extensive experience in property divisions and financial matters related to divorce, and complicated parenting and non-parental custody matters. She also has extensive experience in other matters relating to children and families including adoptions, special education, dependency, and guardianship. Kathleen has served as a Court Commissioner pro tempore in King County Superior Court since 1998 and as a Volunteer Settlement Conference Master since 2001.

Kathleen has been a member of the King County Bar Association Family Law Section since 1994, and served as the Section's Chair in 2003 – 04. She has served on the Section's legislative committee. She served as the liaison to the Unified Family Court Training Oversight Committee, which she co-chaired from 2000 - 2006. Kathleen has also volunteered in community law clinics and participated in the work group that revised and developed the King County Local Family Law Rules. Kathleen served on the Washington State Bar Association Family Law Section Executive Committee from 2008-11,and she served on the Board of Trustees for the King County Bar Association from 2010-13.

Before moving to Seattle and attending law school, Kathleen was a project manager with the San Francisco Conservation Corps, a non-profit agency that provides employment for at-risk-youth and young adults through community improvement projects. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa.

Kathleen has served as a private and volunteer mediator since 2001.