About Us at Keyes Law Group, PC

Meet Elijah Keyes

Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law

Elijah Keyes discovered his passion for estate planning early in life after witnessing how long-term illness impacts families. That experience shaped his belief that thoughtful planning is one of the greatest gifts you can give your loved ones.

With over 15 years of experience, Elijah has built a law firm dedicated to making estate planning clear, personal, and empowering for every client. His approachable, education-first style has earned the trust of hundreds of Bay Area families, reflected in over 250 five-star Google reviews.

Recognized among the top 5% of attorneys in California, Elijah has been featured in Super Lawyers (2016–2025) and the San Jose Mercury News for his excellence in estate planning, special needs law, and elder law.

When he’s not helping families protect their legacies, Elijah enjoys building LEGO, obstacle course racing, and spending time with his wife, two children, and their dog in Milpitas.

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Ashley Polston

Estate Planning Attorney

Ashley Polston is an accomplished estate planning attorney with over 17 years of experience helping clients safeguard their legacies. A summa cum laude graduate of Pittsburg State University, Ashley earned her Juris Doctor from Washburn University School of Law, where she led charitable initiatives and community outreach projects—including efforts to build shelters for abused women and children.

Ashley is a licensed attorney with a focus on complex estate planning. She is highly experienced in working with high-net-worth individuals and crafting sophisticated legal instruments such as charitable remainder trusts and irrevocable life insurance trusts. Her practice is defined by precision, discretion, and a deep commitment to her clients’ long-term goals.

Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, Ashley is widely respected for her legal expertise, ethical standards, and dedication to excellence in client service.

Outside the office, Ashley is a world traveler who enjoys exploring diverse cultures and sharing those experiences with her daughter, Arden. She’s also a passionate community advocate, volunteering for environmental causes, animal rescue initiatives, and local arts programs. A certified jet-rated pilot, Ashley is skilled in flying various aircraft and brings the same focus and discipline to the skies as she does to her legal work.

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Kathy Bonadonna

Trust and Probate Paralegal

Kathy Bonadonna graduated with an AA degree from De Anza College in Paralegal Studies in 2004. She also holds a BFA degree in Interior Design from Central Missouri State University in 1983. She has more than 18 years’ experience working as a legal assistant and paralegal, devoted almost exclusively to estate planning, trust administration, and probate, in Santa Clara County and surrounding counties. She joined Keyes Law Group, PC March 1, 2022, but had worked with Mr. Keyes for approximately four years prior. Kathy moved to California from Independence, Missouri in 1983 with her then fiancé, David. They were married in 1985 and had the privilege of raising twin boys. Kathy spent years volunteering her time with Boys Scouts of America as a Merit Badge Counselor and Charter Representative, PTA, and Deacon at her church. Kathy enjoys the outdoors, camping, and cruising. Kathy quote: “The best reward with my job is taking some of the load off the Trustee while they are coping with losing a loved one. Seeing their sigh of relief, they now know they are not alone.”

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Khouloud Dawahi

Law Clerk

Khouloud Dawahi brings a wealth of experience in trust and probate matters to Keyes Law Group. She holds an LL.M. degree from Penn State University Law School and has spent the past three years focusing on probate and trust litigation, conservatorships, probates, and trust administration. Prior to that, Khouloud served as an immigration law clerk with respected firms in Florida, Michigan, and California, giving her a broad foundation in complex legal practice.

Her professional path also reflects a deep commitment to advocacy and community engagement. Khouloud has been active on the global stage, including serving on the Advisory Board of the MENA Region Internet Legislation Atlas, participating in the ICANN Next Generation fellowship, and representing the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth as a panel moderator at the Global Internet Governance Forum in Geneva, Switzerland.

At Keyes Law Group, Khouloud applies her diverse legal experience and dedication to service in supporting clients through the trust and probate process with care and precision.

Outside the office, Khouloud enjoys contributing to human rights initiatives and exploring new opportunities to make a positive impact in her community.

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Christina Pittman-Keyes, MBA

Director of Marketing & Operations

Christina Pittman-Keyes brings a dynamic blend of strategic vision and operational excellence to her role as Director of Marketing & Operations at Keyes Law Group. With a background in business management and an MBA focused on organizational leadership, Christina oversees the firm’s marketing initiatives, business systems, and day-to-day operations with precision and purpose.

Christina is the creative force behind the firm’s outreach efforts, brand development, and client experience strategy. She is passionate about demystifying estate planning for families and helping clients feel confident and informed throughout their journey.

Whether she’s coordinating educational events, optimizing internal workflows, or designing engaging client communications, Christina ensures that every detail reflects the firm’s mission: to deliver compassionate, high-quality legal support that protects legacies and empowers families.

Outside of work, Christina is deeply committed to her family and community. She enjoys spending weekends adventuring with her children, listening to music, and finding new ways to bring creativity into both her professional and personal life.

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Eva Santillan

Legal Assistant

Eva is an accomplished Legal Assistant and Notary Public with over seven years of experience in estate planning. At Keyes Law Group, she plays an integral role in supporting clients with care and professionalism, preparing and organizing legal documents, managing scheduling, and ensuring each step of the estate planning process is handled with accuracy and confidentiality.

Before joining Keyes Law Group, Eva worked as a notary signing agent for an estate planning firm in Southern California, where she developed extensive experience helping clients complete their legal documents with confidence. She also leads bilingual seminars in English and Spanish, making complex estate planning topics accessible to diverse communities.

A graduate of San José State University and a Milpitas native, Eva takes pride in connecting with clients from all backgrounds, guiding them through important life decisions, and helping them feel at ease every step of the way.

Outside of work, Eva treasures spending time with her husband of 34 years, their two daughters, sons-in-law, and two granddaughters. She loves hosting Sunday family dinners, staying organized, and finding joy in helping others, values that shine through in her work every day.

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Jackie Gutierrez

Estate Planning Assistant

Jackie Gutierrez is a Client Coordinator and Legal Assistant. She has been with Keyes Law Group for over two years and has worked up to the head of our Estate Planning department. Prior to her time at KLG, she worked in workers compensation law for 5 years. She has many years of experience helping clients achieve their legal needs. Jackie assists all our Spanish-speaking clients by interpreting for those who do not speak English. Her administrative background was a great asset to KLG, as she was our first full-time employee to be hired in 2021. Jackie obtained her Notary Public commission in late December 2022, allowing her to assist clients with notarization at our firm. Jackie loves helping people. She finds joy in helping others and deeply cares for our clients. Jackie is originally from Michoacan, Mexico and immigrated to the US when she was a young child. She is a self-made woman who has made a great life for her beautiful daughter. Jackie has a passion for art, cooking, and Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Jackie’s love language is cooking; she will commonly bring in food and feed the whole office!

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Mer Velasquez

Marketing Assistant

Merari Velasquez, known as Mer in personal and professional circles, is a recent addition to our legal team. At 24 years old, she recently concluded her studies in Communication Sciences with a focus on Marketing and Advertising. Mer’s passion for marketing, social media, photography, and design has been a driving force throughout her academic and professional journey. While university provided her with technical skills, Mer went above and beyond, investing time in supplementary online courses, certifications and pursuing related hobbies like photography, marketing and design. Her professional journey took a significant turn in her third year when she embarked on an internship at a Social Media-Marketing Consulting Agency. Within six months, her exceptional skills and dedication led to a full-time position. With two years of experience as a Content Creator and Multimedia Designer, Mer excels in various aspects of her role, including taking and editing photos, content creation, branding, social media design, monthly marketing strategy planning, copywriting for social media, and animation. Beyond her professional achievements, Mer is deeply passionate about marketing, consistently seeking new marketing and design ideas to stay at the forefront of industry trends. Mer is also deeply committed to maintaining a balanced life. Her dedication to quality family time and occasional relaxation with a good book or TV show underscores her commitment to both personal and professional well-being.