About Our Team
Heisler Zaragoza LLP stands for zealous client advocacy and compassion. The Heisler Zaragoza LLP team consists of legal professionals who share the core values on which the firm was built. The firm is well-rounded, handling all aspects of estate and probate law from proactive estate planning to conservatorships and guardianships.
LARA J. HEISLER, ESQ.
Partner
lara@hzllp.law
Lara J. Heisler, Esq., is a founding partner of Heisler Zaragoza LLP and brings more than 20 years of legal experience to her practice in conservatorships and guardianships. Recognized for her creative approach to litigation and her compassionate and effective advocacy, Lara is a trusted resource for families navigating some of the most sensitive legal matters concerning the care and protection of vulnerable loved ones.
Born and raised in Contra Costa County, Lara is driven by a genuine commitment to serve the community that has shaped both her personal and professional journey. She continues to raise her family in Walnut Creek, where she is deeply rooted in local civic and educational politics. In addition to her legal work, Lara dedicates time to supporting her children’s school activities and volunteering for community events.
Lara’s work is grounded in empathy, clarity, and excellence. She is proud to support families across generations with dignity and respect.
Bar Admissions:
- California State Bar
- New York State Bar (Inactive)
Memberships and Associations:
- Chair, Elder Law Section- Contra Costa Bar Association
- Board Member, Criminal Conflict Program (Probate Cases) – Contra Costa County
- Board Member, Independent Counsel, Inc. – Contra Costa County
LISA M. ZARAGOZA, ESQ.
Partner
lisa@hzllp.law
Lisa M. Zaragoza, Esq., is a dedicated estate planning attorney with additional experience in trust administration, probate, guardianships, and inheritance disputes. Her practice is distinguished by a thoughtful, client-first philosophy, providing clear guidance and long-term strategies for individuals and families navigating life’s most critical decisions.
Lisa earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, her Juris Doctor from Northeastern University School of Law in Boston. After gaining admission to the California State Bar, she began a career marked by diligence, empathy, and outstanding client service.
Lisa currently serves as court-appointed counsel in Contra Costa County for conservatorship and guardianship proceedings.
Lisa is also deeply engaged in her community and professional circles. She is a respected member of several local legal associations and civic organizations and is committed to mentoring the next generation of legal professionals. Outside of the office, she enjoys family life with her husband, two children, and their energetic schnauzer, Zoom. She can often be found on the sidelines of her children’s sporting events, cheering them on with enthusiasm and pride.
Bar Admissions:
- California State Bar
Memberships and Associations:
- Alameda and Contra Costa County Bar Associations
- Estate Planning Council of Diablo Valley
- Professional Fiduciary Association of California
- Rotary Club of Pleasant Hill
- East Bay Trust and Estates Lawyer
- Super Lawyers Rising Star 2019- 2023
Princy P. Nechikat, Esq.
Attorney
princy@hzllp.law
Princy Prince Nechikat, Esq., is a trusted attorney with a practice centered primarily on estate planning, trust administration and probate. She occasionally works on conservatorship matters. She is known for combining legal precision with a warm, approachable style that makes clients feel seen, supported, and understood.
Princy earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Merced, and her J.D from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Her academic background in psychology enhances her ability to guide clients with empathy and emotional intelligence, especially during challenging life transitions.
Princy grew up in the Silicon Valley and is still a Bay Area local. Outside the office, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, exploring new recipes, and dancing. As a lifelong enthusiast of dancing from a young age, she eventually became one of the founders and served as a choreographer to UC Merced’s Bollywood dance team, Tashan. Her dynamic spirit and creative energy are evident in her professional and personal pursuits.
Bar Admissions:
- California State Bar
Memberships and Associations:
- Contra Costa County Bar Association
- East Bay Trust and Estates Lawyer
Keaton Maring, Esq.
Attorney
keaton@hzllp.law
Keaton focuses her practice primarily on conservatorships, working with families and fiduciaries to navigate complex and often sensitive court proceedings. She also handles a variety of trust administration and probate matters.
She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law where she was actively involved in the Moot Court program, Women’s Law Association, and Human Rights Clinic. Prior to law school, she graduated early summa cum laude from the State University of New York at Oswego with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and two minors while also being a member of the University’s Division III swim team.
Outside of her practice, she still enjoys swimming and has participated in the Alcatraz Invitational open water swim in recent years.
Memberships:
- Girl Scouts of the USA
- East Bay Trusts & Estates Lawyers
- Women Lawyers of Alameda County
- Contra Costa County Bar Association
Danielle Higuera
Paralegal
Danielle@hzllp.law
With over eight years of experience in Probate law, Danielle brings both expertise and empathy to her role as a paralegal. She obtained her ABA-approved Paralegal Certificate from City College of San Francisco and is particularly passionate about trust litigation and conservatorship matters, with a genuine ability to connect with clients during often challenging times. Danielle is known for her approachable demeanor and commitment to guiding clients with clarity and compassion throughout the legal process.
To know Danielle is to know that she grew up in Lodi (wine country!), loves her family and her snacks, and is known for surprising people with her impressive and often unexpected impersonations.
Linda Suppanich
Paralegal
linda@hzllp.law
Linda Suppanich is a longtime Contra Costa County resident with over 25 years of legal experience including 4 years with Brobeck Pleger & Harrison and 22 years as a Probate Examiner for the Contra Costa Superior Court. She holds a B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland at College Park and an ABA-approved Paralegal Certificate from Cal State East Bay.
The focus of her career has been on customer service and training, where she has built a reputation for professionalism, clarity and support.
In her free time, Linda enjoys traveling, camping, hiking, bicycling and exploring new food and wine destinations with her husband and daughter.
Ashley Kellund
Office Manager
ashley@hzllp.law
As an enthusiastic Office Manager, Ashley is dedicated to maintaining a positive, organized, and supportive work environment for both clients and colleagues. She earned her B.A. in Film from San Francisco State University with an emphasis in directing.
While she is not running a film set at Heisler Zaragoza, she applies the same creative skill set to her professional role, focusing on collaboration, decisive execution, and providing comprehensive support to her team.
In her downtime, Ashley enjoys pursuing creative interests like cooking and painting. As a bay area native, she never turns down an opportunity to get outside and enjoy the beautiful nature in Northern California, whether that be on a hike, or at the golf course.