Attorneys at KFS Law Firm
Brent R. Kato
Senior Counsel
bkato@kfslaw.net
Senior Counsel Brent R. Kato retired as partner in the firm in 2019 after practicing almost 40 years in the areas of Elder Law. He continues to actively practice part-time for the firm as Senior Counsel.
Prior to founding this firm with Bruce Feder, Mr. Kato worked for the San Francisco Neighborhood Legal Assistance Foundation and was a supervising attorney at Legal Assistance to the Elderly in San Francisco.
He continues to work with other service organizations supporting the elderly, such as the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, Family Caregivers Alliance, Institute on Aging, Asian Pacific Islander Outreach and Kimochi.
Education
University of California at Davis, Martin Luther King School of Law, J. D.
Sacramento State University, B.A.
Associations
The State Bar of California
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Honors & Recognitions
Engaged and continues to work with local service organizations supporting the elderly, such as the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, Family Caregivers Alliance, Institute on Aging, Asian Pacific Islanders Outreach and Kimochi
Bruce A. Feder
Partner
bfeder@kfslaw.net
Partner Bruce A. Feder’s practice focuses on conservatorship matters, special needs trusts, probate and trust administration, and estate planning.
He is a founding member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and a member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners. Mr. Feder is also a member of the San Francisco Superior Court panel of attorneys who are appointed to represent proposed conservatees, and a panel attorney for the Family Caregiver Alliance, which supports families of disabled individuals.
Mr. Feder litigated the appellate cases Conservatorship of Kane (2006) 137 Cal App 4th 400, 40 CR3d 378 which provides authority for the court in a conservatorship matter to establish a special needs trust for the proceeds of an inheritance on a petition for substituted judgment, and The San Francisco Opera Association v. Chandler Flickinger, (2011) 201 Cal App 4th 971, which clarifies the scope of damages awarded under Probate Codes §9601-9603, confirming that an order for distribution is not a money judgment, and provides instruction as to the application of laches in a probate proceeding.
He has conducted numerous presentations and courses on long-term care and benefits planning. Prior to co-founding the firm, Mr. Feder developed his expertise in elder law through his ten years of work as staff attorney and managing attorney at Legal Assistance to the Elderly in San Francisco.
Mr. Feder received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley and law degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.
Education
University of California at Berkeley, B.A.
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D.
Associations
The State Bar of California
Academy of Special Needs Planners, Member
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Founding Member
Honors & Recognitions
Litigated the appellate cases Conservatorship of Kane (2006) 137 Cal App 4th 400, 40 CR3d 378 which provides authority for the court in a conservatorship matter to establish a special needs trust for the proceeds of an inheritance on a petition for substituted judgment.
Litigated The San Francisco Opera Association v. Chandler Flickinger, (2011) 201 Cal App 4th 971, which clarifies the scope of damages awarded under Probate Codes §9601-9603, confirming that an order for distribution is not a money judgment, and provides instruction as to the application of laches in a probate proceeding.
Lori T. Suzuki
Partner
lsuzuki@kfslaw.net
In addition to probate, trust and conservatorship matters, partner Lori T. Suzuki handles sophisticated estate tax planning cases, advises business and non-profits, prepares estate and fiduciary income tax returns, represents clients in tax audits and offers in compromise cases, advises regarding property tax planning, and handles county property tax reassessment appeals.
She has served on the board of directors of various Bay Area community service organizations. She was a co-founder and first executive director of Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach (APILO), and has served for over thirty years as a member of its board of directors. Ms. Suzuki continues to provide pro bono services to APILO’s low-income clients for which she received the California State Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award.
Ms. Suzuki received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Davis, her law degree from University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly Hastings College of the Law), and a Master of Laws in Taxation from Golden Gate University.
Education
University of California at Davis, B.A.
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly Hastings College of the Law), J.D.
Master of Laws in Taxation from Golden Gate University
Associations
The State Bar of California
U.S. District for the Northern District of California
Honors & Recognitions
Co-Founder and First Executive Director of Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach (APILO)
Received the President’s Pro Bono Service Award from the State Bar of California Board of Governors in recognition of her contribution of free, voluntary legal services to low-income Californians in District four.
Rowena C. Navia
Partner
rnavia@kfslaw.net
Rowena C. Navia is a partner with Kato, Feder and Suzuki, LLP and has been an attorney with the firm since 1996. Ms. Navia's work focuses on conservatorship, trust administration and litigation, and decedent’s estates administration. In her practice she represents professional and non-professional fiduciaries in their roles as conservators, trustees, agents and personal representatives. She also represents interested third parties in those matters, including beneficiaries, family members, and proposed conservatees.
Ms. Navia is a member of the San Francisco Superior Court panel of attorneys who are appointed to represent proposed conservatees. Ms. Navia was an attorney on a team that successfully represented the Estate of Kampen in the California Court of Appeals case, The San Francisco Opera Association v. Chandler Flickinger, (2011) 201 Cal App 4th 971, that provides clarification on the scope of damages awarded under Probate Codes §9601-9603, confirms that an order for distribution is not a money judgment, and provides instruction as to the application of laches in a probate proceeding.
Prior to joining Kato, Feder and Suzuki, LLP, Ms. Navia worked for the Legal Aid Society of Alameda County and the Juvenile Division of the Office of the Corporation Counsel in Washington, DC.
Ms. Navia is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco and the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Irvine and law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, now known as UC Law San Francisco.
Education
UC Law San Francisco (Formerly UC Hastings), J.D.
Associations
The State Bar of California
Filipino Bar Association of Northern California
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
US District Court, Northern District of California
Honors & Recognitions
Successfully appealed San Francisco Opera Association v. Chandler Flickinger, (2011) 201 Cal App 4th 971. Clarified scope of damages awarded under Probate Codes §9601-9603, confirmed that an order for distribution is not a money judgment, provided instruction as to application of laches in a probate proceeding.
Will Doyle
Associate Attorney
wdoyle@kfslaw.net
Will Doyle is an associate attorney with Kato, Feder and Suzuki, LLP. Mr. Doyle concentrates on estate planning, including estate and property tax planning, trust and probate administration, and long-term care and special needs planning. He assists professional and non-professional fiduciaries, as well as interested third parties. After starting his career at Kato, Feder & Suzuki, LLP in 2002 while a student at City College of San Francisco, Mr. Doyle has worked in multiple facets of the firm in both administrative and legal roles.
Mr. Doyle received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at San Diego and his law degree from Golden Gate University, graduating with Honors and multiple class awards, including a CALI award for excellent achievement in the study of Wills & Trusts. While a student at Golden Gate University, Mr. Doyle concurrently received a Masters of Laws in Taxation and the Academic Excellence Award in Tax Law for 2015 as well as a certificate of completion of evaluated instruction in Mediation and Conflict Resolution.
Education
Golden Gate University, J.D., L.L.M.
Associations
The State Bar of California
Honors & Recognitions
CALI award for excellent achievement in the study of Wills & Trusts
Academic Excellence Award in Tax Law
Certificate in Mediation and Conflict Resolution
Marta C. Eisenberg
Associate Attorney
meisenberg@kfslaw.net
Marta Eisenberg is an associate attorney with Kato, Feder and Suzuki, LLP. Her primary areas of practice include conservatorships, estate planning, trusts administration, and probate administration.
Through this work, Ms. Eisenberg helps professional and non-professional fiduciaries successfully navigate the legal and emotional complexities of probate related matters.
Ms. Eisenberg serves on the independent counsel panel of attorneys who are appointed to represent proposed conservatees in both San Francisco and San Mateo Superior Courts.
Ms. Eisenberg received her undergraduate degree in Economics from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and her law degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.
She serves on the board of the San Carlos Little League and is an active volunteer in the San Carlos community.
Education
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, B.A.
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D.
Associations
The State Bar of California
Honors & Recognitions
Serves on the independent counsel panel of attorneys who are appointed to represent proposed conservatees in both San Francisco and San Mateo Superior Courts.
Melanie J. Emmons
Associate Attorney
memmons@kfslaw.net
Melanie J. Emmons has been a practicing attorney since 2012, and is currently an Associate Attorney concentrating in the area of conservatorships, limited conservatorships, guardianships, trust and probate administration and litigation, long-term care planning and estate planning, including estate and special needs trusts. She represents professional and non-professional fiduciaries, as well as interested third parties.
Before passing the California State Bar, Ms. Emmons gained legal experience and familiarity with the California Court system while interning at the Office of the Public Defender in Contra Costa Country, the San Francisco District Attorney's Office under Kamala Harris, and two San Francisco boutique firms focused on Estate Planning and Tax law.
Ms. Emmons had the honor of externing for the California Superior Court in the Unified Family Division, under then Supervising Judge Patrick J. Mahoney. She also had the honor of externing, and later clerking for Chief Judicial Magistrate Maria-Elena James of the Northern District Court in Federal Court.
Following law school, Ms. Emmons gained valuable experience helping people resolve tense legal situations while working for nonprofit organizations such as East Bay Children's Law Offices and Legal Advocates for Children and Youth in Silicon Valley. She has regularly provided workshops about limited conservatorship at Support For Families of Children with Disabilities and has been a speaker for the Bar Association and Special Needs Symposium. She has been on the Court Appointed Panel in San Francisco since 2016.
Ms. Emmons is a Bay Area native and is dedicated to helping families and individuals accomplish their objectives in supporting their loved ones and community.
Education
Golden Gate University School of Law, J.D. with a concentration in Public Interest Law
University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A.
Pepperdine University, Mediation Program
Associations
Chair of the San Francisco Bar Association (2023, 2024)(2022- Vice Chair)
Co-Chair of San Francisco Barristers (2021)
Honors & Recognitions
Speaking engagements include the Bar Association and Special Needs Symposium
On the Court Appointed Panel in San Francisco since 2016
Kristina Lam
Associate Attorney
klam@kfslaw.net
Kristina Lam is an associate attorney with Kato, Feder & Suzuki, LLP, where she focuses her practice on conservatorships, trusts and probate administration, and estate planning.
Ms. Lam started her career at the firm through various administrative and legal positions solidifying her passion to practice in these areas of law.
She received her B.A. from University of California, Santa Cruz and her J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law, with concentrations in Family Law and Public Interest Law.
During law school, Ms. Lam held a judicial externship with the San Francisco Superior Court, Probate Department working closely with the Hon. Peter J. Busch and the Hon. Joseph M. Quinn. Ms. Lam is a member of the State Bar of California and Asian American Bar Association.
Education
Golden Gate University School of Law, J.D.
University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A.
Associations
The State Bar of California
Asian American Bar Association
Honors & Recognitions
CALI award for excellent achievement in the study of Writing & Research II
John E. Fasesky
Of Counsel
jfasesky@kfslaw.net
John E. Fasesky concentrates on estate planning, special needs trusts, and trust and probate administration and litigation.
While attending law school on a scholarship, Mr. Fasesky worked as a judicial extern and associate family law facilitator for the Unified Family Court of San Francisco.
Before working at Kato, Feder & Suzuki, LLP in June 2021 as an LL.M. student extern and as an Associate Attorney since January 2022, Mr. Fasesky worked as a Staff Attorney at the AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP), a legal aid organization, practicing in the areas of public and private benefits and estate planning.
After opening his private practice in January 2017, practicing in the areas of estate planning, special needs trusts and trust and probate administration, Mr. Fasesky has worked with ALRP as a referral/panel attorney and was honored as their 2019 Attorney of the Year.
In 2019, just before the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr. Fasesky returned to law school to pursue an LL.M. in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate law from Golden Gate University, where he graduated with honors and was awarded the Outstanding LL.M. in Estate Planning Student Award in April 2022. He provides seminars in public benefits and special needs trusts to legal aid organizations serving disabled individuals.
Mr. Fasesky is a Bay Area native, has lived in San Francisco since 1978 and with his husband since 2007. He enjoys being with friends and family, good movies, books and eating good food.
Education
University of San Francisco, B.S.
New College of California, J.D.
Golden Gate University, LL.M. in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law
Associations
The State Bar of California
US District Court of Northern California
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Bar Association of San Francisco
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Academy of Special Needs Planners
Honors & Recognitions
Outstanding LL.M. in Estate Planning Student Award
2019 Attorney of the Year, AIDS Legal Referral Panel
Trisha D. Friedeberg – In Memoriam
We are so saddened to inform you that our wonderful colleague and partner, Trisha D. Friedeberg, succumbed to cancer on September 12, 2023.
We mourn the loss of a beloved friend, kind and caring law partner, and a thoughtful, highly-respected attorney. She had been an outstanding member of this firm for her entire 17-year career.
We will carry on with fond memories of her very much on our minds and in our hearts.