Kenneth E. Mitchell emphasizes tax, probate, trust and estate planning, including litigation, and represents small businesses. He enjoys finding practical solutions to difficult estate, tax, and business problems. Ken received his law degree from the University of San Francisco in 1972, and served three years as an Army legal officer. After working six years as a public defender in Alameda County, he earned a master's degree in taxation from Golden Gate University. In 1982 Ken began practicing law with Kathleen Courts in the predecessor firm to Mitchell & Batchelder, LLP. The father of three, Ken plays an active role in the community, and has served on several boards of local nonprofit organizations. Ken is a member of both Alameda and San Mateo County Bar Associations. E-mail:ken@kmpblaw.com Philip Batchelder practices in trust and estate planning, trust and probate litigation, guardianship, and elder care matters, relating to incapacity and medical decision-making.  In 2009, he graduated from the Honors Lawyering Program at Golden Gate University School of Law, where he is now an adjunct faculty member. While a student, he clerked for the National Senior Citizens Law Center and the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, and he organized events to promote student involvement in elder law. Philip is on the Board of Directors of the Northern California Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and is a volunteer community member of the Ethics Committee of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley. He is a member of the East Bay Trusts & Estates Lawyers (EBTEL). Prior to entering legal practice, he was the executive director of San Bruno Mountain Watch, a conservation group. E-mail: philip@kmpblaw.com