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Office of the County Counsel
Office of the County Counsel

Adult and Elder Protection Team

The Adult and Elder Protection team represents and advises the Public Administrator/Guardian in nearly 1,000 conservatorship, decedent estate, and trust proceedings each year. 

As legal counsel for the Public Administrator/Guardian, the attorneys in this team handle trust, estate, and probate litigation and appeals, trust and estate administration, and probate and LPS conservatorship administration and assist in the drafting of legislation. The attorneys are also members of the County’s Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST), a multi-disciplinary Team that identifies, investigates and prevents financial abuse of elders and dependent adults.  FAST has recovered or prevented the loss of almost $195 million in assets and received the 2009 Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Award. 

Attorneys

Gita Suraj

Assistant County Counsel

Gita Suraj oversees the Office’s Adult and Elder Protection Team and Workers’ Compensation Team. She also oversees the Office’s budget, fiscal and IT teams, and administrative and legal support staff at the Julian Street Office.

Read Gita's bio

Mark A. Gonzalez

Lead Deputy County Counsel

Mark Gonzalez represents the Public Administrator/Guardian/Conservator and Adult Protective Services.

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man with glass wearing suit

G. Allen Brandt

Deputy County Counsel

Allen Brandt represents the Public Administrator/Guardian/Conservator and Adult Protective Services.

Read Allen's bio

Howard G. Frank

Deputy County Counsel

Howard Frank represents the Public Administrator/Guardian/Conservator and Adult Protective Services.

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Jessica Pentland

Deputy County Counsel

Jessica Pentland represents the Public Administrator/Guardian/Conservator and Adult Protective Services.

Read Jessica's bio