About Kato, Feder & Suzuki, LLP
Co-founders Brent Kato and Bruce Feder met as new attorneys working at Legal Assistance to the Elderly in San Francisco. In 1987, after 9 years together, they established their own firm, dedicated to compassionate client care.
Over 30 years later, Kato, Feder & Suzuki, LLP is a leading firm in the San Francisco Bay Area in the fields of elder law, conservatorships, special needs law, public benefits, long-term care, and estate planning.
Brent Kato retired as a partner in 2019, and continues to practice part-time with the firm as Senior Counsel. Current partners Bruce Feder, Lori Suzuki, and Rowena Navia continue to lead the firm alongside a wonderful team of talented attorneys.
We are confident that when you work with us, you will feel taken care of.
Our Guiding Principles
We are strong advocates in protecting our clients’ rights
Our attorneys bring together a diverse range of expertise and collaborate closely to address the complex needs of our clients
We serve all income levels across all services
We are ready to take action to protect against physical and financial elder abuse and neglect, including exploring alternatives to conservatorship and litigation
Our understanding staff strives to minimize the pressures and stress that accompany seeking legal counsel
We prioritize creating a comfortable environment conducive to building open and relaxed relationships with our clients
What We Do
Kato, Feder & Suzuki works with individuals and families dealing with elder care, children or adults with disabilities, executors or beneficiaries of trusts or estates, and individuals seeking advice on long-term care, public benefits, and related legal matters.
We help our clients plan for their own or their loved ones’ future, in a caring, thoughtful, durable, and cost-effective way.
How we can help you
If you have an elderly family member or friend who may be losing the ability to make important decisions or manage life’s affairs, we can help you with durable powers of attorney, revocable trusts, or conservatorships.
If you require basic estate planning, are interested in establishing a living trust, or seek estate and gift tax planning, we can assist you with the advice, information and preparation of documents that you might need.
If you have minors or children with disabilities, we can assist you with trusts for your children and special needs trusts for those who may require public benefits for support.
For those who may need advice and counsel regarding long term care, SSI, In Home Support Services, or Medi-Cal benefits, we are among the most experienced attorneys in Northern California.
Whether you are an executor of an estate or trustee of a trust, we can advise you and guide you through the procedural maze that awaits you. Likewise, if you are a beneficiary of a trust or estate, we can help you protect your interests.
While some legal disputes can be resolved without litigation, we can effectively represent you in court if there is no better alternative.
Learn more about each practice area:
Advance Health Care Directives | Conservatorships | Decedent’s Estates | Estate Planning | Guardianships | Public Benefits Programs | Special Needs Trusts | Taxation | Trust Administration
Our Approach
We take our commitment to our clients very seriously.
Our years of work in legal services programs, undertaking pro bono work for low-income elderly, and participation on boards of various non-profit agencies, has allowed us to develop a unique perspective on our role in the community.
You will find that we treat our clients with respect, dignity, and kindness, and our years of experience in public interest and community service have helped foster an understanding of our clients and their circumstances that enables us to better assess our clients’ needs and to successfully address them.
Community Involvement
Our attorneys are available for presentations or in-service trainings to hospitals, nursing homes and senior center staffs, as well as social workers, discharge planners, or other professionals who serve elders and their families.
We are also available to give presentations directly to groups of elders and their caregivers.
Send us a message if you are interested in hosting a presentation or training.
Our Location
Kato, Feder & Suzuki, LLP, is conveniently located in the Russ Building, a National Historic Landmark in the heart of the financial district. Three blocks from the Montgomery BART/Muni-Metro station.
Visit our contact page for more information on getting here, including parking.
Home and hospital visits can be arranged as needed.