Yau Lee

A partner and mediator at Nachlis | Cohade | Lopez-Whitaker LLP in San Francisco, California, attorney Yau Lee’s practice encompasses a comprehensive range of family law services, including child custody and support, modifications and enforcement, and divorce. She is also skilled in providing adept witness testimony and consulting services with attorneys on international family law matters. Additionally, her competence covers parentage, premarital, post-marital and cohabitation agreements, property division, spousal support, and alternative dispute resolution.

As a formidable litigator, Ms. Lee consistently recognizes the significance of settling cases outside of court, prioritizing her client's interests in cost-effectiveness and efficiency. Her commitment to this approach has successfully resolved 95% of her cases without trial. Her advocacy predominantly occurs during the pleadings and through strategic negotiations with opposing counsel. By crafting well-reasoned arguments in her written submissions, she effectively employs one of her most potent negotiation tools, persuading the opposition that proceeding to trial poses greater risks.

Ms. Lee recognizes the emotional intensity of family law matters and strategically avoids escalating drama or tension. She understands that heightened emotions do not enhance the legal process or prevent court proceedings. Instead, she concentrates on aligning the case with legal requirements and devising innovative agreements that serve her clients and the opposing party. Despite the challenges, she maintains transparency with her clients about the necessity of collaborating with the opposition. Her clients value her exceptional interpersonal communication skills, prompt responsiveness and keen listening ability.

After earning her Bachelor of Arts in ethnic studies from UC San Diego, in 2008, Ms. Lee received her Juris Doctor from Golden Gate University School of Law in 2013. In 2021, she was licensed to practice law in California. Furthermore, her professional experience includes serving as a judicial extern for Judge Monica F. Wiley, the retired Judge Lillian K. Sing, and Judge Ronald E. Alberts at the San Francisco Unified Family Court.

Beyond her legal acumen, Ms. Lee is an active member of The Bar Association of San Francisco, The State Bar of California, the San Mateo County Bar Association, the Alameda County Bar Association and the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area. She is also proficient in Mandarin and Cantonese.