“But his delight is in the law of the Lord.” — Psalm 1:2
Douglas S. Anderson, Esq.
FOUNDING ATTORNEY
Douglas S. Anderson has been a licensed attorney for 41 years, currently practicing in Woodbridge, Virginia. He was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 1982 and to the Virginia State Bar in 2008.
He received his B.S. degree in Political Science graduating cum laude from the University of Oregon in 1978. Following his undergraduate studies, Doug attended Pepperdine Law School where he was a member and published author with the Pepperdine Law Review. Doug also competed in and won the school’s moot court competition arguing the final round before the late Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun. He received his Juris Doctorate degree in 1981.
Doug began practicing law for a private firm in Corvallis, Oregon for three years primarily in the areas of worker’s compensation and domestic relations, writing numerous appellate briefs to the Oregon Supreme Court and the Oregon Court of Appeals.
In April, 1984, he accepted a position as Deputy District Attorney in Lincoln County, Oregon, a job he held until June, 1985. From there, he applied for and received his commission to the U.S. Air Force where he served as a Judge Advocate. During a distinguished 20 year career, he received numerous awards, including being named the 1986 Company Grade Officer of the Year for Los Angeles AFB , being selected as the Best Young Judge Advocate for Space Command in 1993, and earning an LLM (Masters of Law degree) in Military Law with a specialty in International Law in May, 1995. He served on U.S. compliance teams on the INF and START treaties with the Russians in Geneva, negotiated bilateral defense agreements in London with the Spanish, and served as the sole DoD representative at the United Nations on one of their permanent committees. In July, 2005, Doug retired from the Air Force at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and then served as a licensed minister (from 2005-2013), and established a non-profit ministry where he hosted and spoke at several conferences.
In 2008, he returned to the practice of law in Virginia opening his own law office specializing in estate planning and elder law. Doug was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2011 and joined the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys that same year, where he now serves as an instructor for new estate planning attorneys. He is also a member of Elder Counsel & Life Care Planning Law Firms Associations .
Doug has been a prolific writer, publishing numerous articles in law journals, including the Army Lawyer, a book review in the Military Law Review, an article in The American Journal of International Law and an article in the International Law Studies Journal. In addition to professional articles, he has co-authored a book entitled, “Contending for the Constitution,” and authored his latest book, an inspirational true story about the struggles of an immigrant Nigerian woman, called, “Her Name is Happiness,” in 2009.
He and his wife Laura currently live in Woodbridge, Virginia, and have two adult children, Paul and Christina, and four adorable grandchildren, Savannah, Caleb, Jackson Douglas and Logan.
STEPHEN S. KAO, ESQ.
OF COUNSEL
Stephen Kao has represented multiple clients for over two decades, including individuals, families, churches, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit companies. In 2015, Steve became a member of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys and was mentored by Douglas Anderson.
Steve has a passion for preserving and protecting his clients’ personal, family, and faith legacy. Since 2017, Steve has also served as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel at American Bible Society. Previously, Steve served as Director and Counsel for Corporate & Transactional Practice at Gammon & Grange, P.C., in McLean, VA. Steve is a member of the bar in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina. He is also a member of Christian Leadership Alliance, Christian Legal Society, Association of Corporate Counsel, Juris Collective, Pennsylvania Bar Association, and Ministry In-House Roundtable.
Steve graduated with honors in Political Science from Columbia University and earned his Juris Doctorate at the University of Virginia School of Law.
Steve and his family live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Teresa have three children, Caleb, Bethany, and Micah, and one precocious toy poodle, Kit.
HAPPINESS EMEJURU, MBA, CECC
TRUST SETTLEMENT, PROBATE & ELDER LAW COORDINATOR
Happiness joined the law firm in November 2016. Prior to joining the firm, she was a business owner and government contractor for 15 years. She comes to the firm with over 30 years of administrative and management skills from working in healthcare fields. She is excited to continue helping families navigate the Life Care Planning challenges they face through the law firm.
She received her Associates degree in Computer Information Systems, her Bachelors degree in Business Administration, and her Masters degree in Business Administration in 2001.
As our Elder Law Coordinator, she earned her Certificate in Elder Care Coordination from Stockton Center on Successful Aging, Stockton University, New Jersey in conjunction with the Life Care Planning, Law Firm Association (LCPLFA).
In her time off, she enjoys spending time with her family. She also enjoys meditation, exercising and “road trips”.
Diane Kuhns
DOCUMENT PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Diane has been with our law firm since its inception, serving as our document production specialist, notary, and every job in the firm at one point or another. She describes herself as "an old workhorse" but we consider her as a key member of our team.
Born and raised in or around Pittsburgh, PA, Diane spent 22 years serving as a legal secretary for several prominent DC law firms, including Dickstein Shapiro and most recently, Bracewell & Giuliani.
Diane has been married to her husband Martin for 24 years and has two sons, Matthew and David, 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.