Minor and Keene has many talented staff, including:
Richard E. Keene / Attorney-at-Law
Rich is a native of California. He is married with two children. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1986, and earned his law degree from Santa Clara University in 1992. In addition to family and professional life, Mr. Keene is very involved in the community and has served on the boards of local nonprofit organizations, been involved in coaching youth sports, Boy Scouts of America, and been an active Rotarian as time allows. Rich has been practicing law continuously since 1992. Rich values the interaction with individuals and families that working as an estate planning attorney brings.
In addition to estate planning, Mr. Keene also has extensive experience in advising executors and trustees as they administer estates. Whether a probate or any trust estate, California law demands that creditors be dealt with, that beneficiaries are kept informed and provided with an accounting. This can be a complex process and many clients have benefited from Mr. Keene’s guidance and expertise.
With over almost 30 years of experience as an attorney practicing law in California, Richard Keene has the experience and expertise to advise families whether their circumstances are “straightforward” or unusually complex. Mr. Keene prides himself on listening to his clients as well as educating them with regard to the options available.
Laura F. Paré / Attorney-at-Law
Laura Pare earned her law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1990. While in law school, Laura externed for Justice Allen Broussard of the California Supreme Court, and worked in the employment law clinic at USF. After being admitted to the bar, she practiced Civil Litigation in the San Francisco Bay Area, specializing in insurance defense litigation. She handled cases in San Francisco, Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Sacramento, and San Joaquin Counties. Laura tried a dozen cases to jury verdict, and also handled binding arbitrations, mediations, and summary judgments. Her cases involved landslide, personal injury, landlord/tenant, insurance coverage, trademark infringement, breach of contract, breach of warranty, and asbestos issues.
Laura and her husband moved to Grass Valley following the birth of their first child where she fell in love with the natural beauty and the community. For several years, and now the mother to three boys, Laura devoted herself to her family and community, spending time working at her children’s school as the library supervisor and GATE coordinator, serving as President of the Chicago Park School PTA, and as the Vice-President and President of the Ghidotti PTA, and volunteering at her church, youth soccer and Little League, and with her sons’ Boy Scouts troops. For the last several years, Laura has returned to the practice of law in the area of estate planning and trust administration. Compassionate with clients, and passionate about the law, Laura enjoys the opportunity to assist clients in helping them find the right solution for their estate planning needs.
Laura is a member of the Gold Country Estate Planning Council, and on the Board of Directors of Sierra Nevada Children’s Services.
Brynda E. Privitt / Paralegal
Brynda was born and raised in Nevada County. She and her husband Russ have two children, Danny and Emily. Danny works for Cal-Fire. Emily is at William Jessup University with a major in Criminal Justice. Brynda worked in Dispatch and Warrants at the Nevada County Sheriff’s Department for 12 years, then left the Department to raise her family. Brynda began working at Minor and Keene in 2007. She has her Paralegal certification from UC Davis. Brynda and Russ are very involved in their church and enjoy traveling and hiking with their rescued pup Gracie. Brynda also enjoys cooking and has a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University. Brynda enjoys working in the estate planning field because of the strong bonds and relationships she is able to develop with clients.