About Us
The Sexual Violence Law Center (SVLC) is a nonprofit law firm that seeks to improve the legal response to survivors of sexual violence. Our advocacy is based in race and gender equity principles. SVLC is the only legal aid program of its kind in Washington, providing holistic legal assistance and representation exclusively to victims of sexual violence, assault, abuse, harassment and stalking.
Our Approach
SVLC seeks to break and reshape the legal system that has upheld rape culture, victim blaming and gender-based violence, building our work on the shoulders of giants like Kimberle Crenshaw, Anita Hill, Christine Blasey Ford, Sarah Deer, and Tarana Burke. Instead of working on only one legal issue, we provide holistic legal services, meaning we address all the survivor’s legal needs as a consequence of the sexual violence.
Knowing Our History
Sexual violence, the shaming of survivors, and erasure of their experience has long been a brutal part of human history, including here in the United States. Our laws and legal systems have too often upheld and maintained a culture of rape and violence that continue to reverberate through today: the genocide and rape of our indigenous communities that has birthed the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement; the epidemic of sexual violence and brutality against black women, from Sally Hemings to Recy Taylor; the alarming rate of sexual violence and homicide of transgender women and gender nonconforming people; entire communities turning a blind eye to Missoula or Stuebenville or entire industries to Weinstein, Cosby, Nassar and Epstein. Communities and systems have failed survivors for too long.
Our Staff
Our staff provide holistic, trauma-informed legal assistance to victims of sexual violence in a wide variety of legal matters. We also provide technical assistance and trainings to advocates, attorneys, and judges working with victims of sexual violence.
- Ailise Delaney
- (she/her)
- Staff Attorney
- Alex Bejaran Estevez
- (he/him/el)
- Staff Attorney
- Amy Saraí Diaz
- (she/her/ella)
- Project Safety Navigator
- Cat Holmes
(she/they) - Staff Attorney
- Coco Decker
- (they/them)
- Community
Engagement Lead
- Elisabeth Friedman
- (she/her)
- Staff Attorney
- Elizabeth Hendren (she/her)
- Advocacy Counsel
- Lucie Erickson
- (she/her)
- Staff Attorney
- Melissa Guadarrama
(she/her)
Paralegal
- Riddhi Mukhopadhyay
- (she/they)
- Executive Director
- Sara Mooney
- (she/her)
- Pro Bono Counsel
- Shontrana Gates-Wertman (she/her)
- Staff Attorney
- Yvonne Chin
- (she/her)
- Legal Director
Our Board
The dedication of our Board of Directors is central to SVLC’s success and sustainability.
- Natalie Dolci
- University of Washington
- Board Chair
- Leah Griffin
- Washington State Association for Justice
- Board member
- Camille McDormand
- Office of the Attorney General
- Board member
- Michelle Muri
- Freedom Conspiracy | The Ethical Rainmaker
- Board member
- Michelle Osborne
- Mindspring Equity Consulting
- Board member
- Jenn Ozawa
- On Point Realty
- Board member
- Salma Siddick
- City of Seattle
- Board member
- Brendon Taga
- Olympic College
- Board member
- Amarinthia Torres
- Coalition Ending Gender Based Violence
- Board Treasurer
Our Survivor Council
Our work is informed by survivors in our communities we’ve served. The Survivor Council shapes our policy work, improves legislation and informs media. If you are a survivor wanting to engage in systemic advocacy, please contact us.
Resources
The Sexual Violence Law Center (SVLC) attorneys provide holistic, trauma-informed legal assistance to victims of sexual violence in a wide variety of legal matters, including protection orders, immigration, employment, public benefits, Title IX, housing, crime victim rights and more. We also provide technical assistance and trainings to advocates, attorneys, and judges working with victims of sexual violence.
Accurate and timely information about legal options and legal rights can assist both survivors and providers. If you don’t find the answer in our online resources, call our legal line at (844) 991-SVLC during business hours or email us to discuss your case and legal needs.