Board Member
Co-Founder
Chairperson, Board Member
Naoko Inoue Shatz
Naoko Inoue Shatz is a Co-Founder of IFJC. After years of practice in the field, Naoko noticed an increasing demand for legal services for international families, and founded IFJC in March 2017. Ms. Shatz is the Managing Attorney of Shatz Law Group PLLC, focusing her practice in the areas of cross border transactions including M&A, joint ventures, incorporation/new business formations, contracts, intellectual property, employment matters and related dispute resolution. She has also extensive experience in the areas of domestic business, limited liability companies, and corporations both in the U.S. and in Japan. In addition, Ms. Shatz takes on select Family Law matters particularly relating to the Hague Convention and international family law issues between Japan and the U.S. Ms. Shatz is currently acting as outside General Counsel to several large Japanese organizations including Consulate General of Japan in Seattle and Japanese companies located in the U.S. Prior to founding the Shatz Law Group, Ms. Shatz practiced law at K&L Gates LLP and Perkins Coie LLP.
Board of Directors
Mei Shih
After graduating from the University of California Davis, with my B.A. in International Relations and East Asian Studies, Mei moved to Beijing China to learn to speak Mandarin Chinese. When she returned to the United States, I began working at a law firm in downtown San Francisco and soon realized that the legal field was the path for me. She earned her law degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego, California in 2010. There are several aspects of her experience that make her unique in the way she practices law.
As a first generation Chinese-American, Mei helped her non-English speaking parents navigate cultural barriers that affected many aspects of their lives in the United States. From an early age, she translated legal documents, explained technical terminology, and experienced first-hand the challenges that her parents faced as new immigrants. Now she has a translational skill that makes my legal practice unique.
Mei knows that dealing with legal issues can be very confusing and arduous. It is her goal to simplify the process for the clients. Mei will help them navigate through those uncomfortable topics and answer all their difficult questions. Mei is very comfortable working with individuals in the Chinese community. She is here to serve the Seattle Chinese market with spoken fluency in three Chinese dialects: Mandarin, Cantonese and Taishanese.
婚姻代表了责任、义务、和权利。离婚往往是万不得已的选择。你必须充分的了解你的合法权益。我叫伍美琴。我是一名在西雅图处理各种离婚案例的專業律师。我能帮助您了解、分析、和处理你将会面对的有关法律问题，从而争取最大的权益。我會說普通語，廣東話以及台山話。
Board of Directors
Alice Bagirova
Alice Bagirova is a Washington state attorney practicing in King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties. She obtained her juris doctorate degree in law at Seattle University in 2014 and has been building her practice ever since. Prior to passing the bar, Alice: volunteered in a domestic violence clinic at Santa Monica’s Courthouse in the state of California; completed an externship at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles; and worked through the family law fellowship program at East Side Legal Assistance Program (ELAP). For ELAP, Alice represented clients in family law matters and protection order hearings pertaining to Domestic Violence.
Alice’s professional focus is in the areas of family law, personal injury, traffic tickets, and DUI’s.
She has been an active participant in an array of different organizations in Washington. For the last three years she served on the Washington Young Lawyers Committee created by the Washington State Bar Association. Alice is currently the vice president of the East King County Bar Association, and a board member of the International Families Justice Coalition.
In addition to English, she is fluent in Russian. When not working Alice enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Board of Directors
Carmen Carrillo
Carmen was born and raised in Coalcomán, Michoacán (México). She is a proud Alumni of Marywood University graduating with a double major in Computer Systems and Telecommunications plus International Business with a minor in French. Carmen is the Administrative Director at MacDonald Hoague & Bayless, an Immigration, Employment, and Civil rights law firm. Aside of being an active member of the IFJC Board of Directors, she is also a member and volunteer for the Latina/o Bar Association of Washington (LBAW), the QLAW – LGBTQIA+ Bar Association of Washington, the Puget Sound Chapter ALA, the Loren Miller Bar Association (LMBA), the Catholic Community Services – Seniors’ program, the Women’s Health Outreach program, and the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA). Carmen is also recognized as an Honored Listee for Marquis Who’s Who.
Board of Directors
Katrina Weeks
Katrina Weeks is a global health professional with 13+ years of experience using evidence and innovation to advance human rights and health. As Associate Director at Fòs Feminista, she collaborates with 150+ organizations to promote sexual and reproductive health and justice. Her work focuses on trauma-informed responses to gender-based violence. She holds dual master’s degrees in Public Health and Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University and received a Fulbright award in 2012 to research reproductive health access in Argentina. A Danish-American, she has lived and worked in Mexico, Argentina, and Peru and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Danish.