Elijah Keyes
Founding Partner

Elijah Keyes’ interest in estate planning and special needs began as a child where he saw the effects of long term illness in his household. He gained an appreciation of the effects of physical and mental illnesses and how they affect families and communities. Ever since becoming an attorney, Elijah has worked exclusively in the areas of estate planning, special needs, elder law, and tax.
Elijah is recognized as a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. He is the Vice President and a Trustee of the Silicon Valley Bar Association, a group of more than 300 estate planning professionals. Elijah is also a member of the J. Rueben Clark Law Society, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Elijah is a former professor of law at Golden Gate University and frequently speaks to
attorneys and community groups on a range of issues related to special needs trusts,
estate planning, trust administration, probate, and conservatorships.
Elijah lives in Milpitas with his wife, two children, and dog. He enjoys obstacle course racing and DIY home improvement projects.
Practice Areas
- Estate Planning
- Special Needs Planning
- Retirement Accounts
- Medi-Cal Planning
- Conservatorships and Guardianship
- Fiduciary Representation
Admissions
- State Bar of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. Tax Court
- U.S. Supreme Court
Certifications
- Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
Education
- Golden Gate University School of Law – LL.M. in Taxation, 2010
- Golden Gate University School of Law – J.D., Certification in Litigation, with honors, 2009
- San Jose State University – B.A. in Communications and Business, 2005
Awards
- Rising Star in Estate Planning – Superlawyers Magazine, 2016-2019
- Superlawyer in Estate Planning - Superlawyers Maganize, 2021-2022
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.”
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!
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.