(480) 848-9550

(480) 848-9550

Meet Our Team

Desmond Law, PLLC

Our Team of Experts

Best Estate Planning Attorney in Scottsdale, AZ

Marjorie Desmond

Attorney

Marjorie Desmond was motivated at an early age to pursue a career as an estate planning attorney.   Her grandfather was lost in WWII, and left his death benefit to his brother instead of his wife and two children, creating extreme hardship for his young family. 

Marjorie determined to establish her own law practice in order to help people avoid costly mistakes, and properly protect their families after seeing a number of young parents die unexpectedly. 

Marjorie grew up in San Diego, California, graduated at the top of her class, and attended Stanford University, where she double-majored in history and German studies. 

Upon earning her bachelor’s degree with departmental honors, Marjorie set forth to achieve her childhood dream of becoming a lawyer and attended law school. 

After receiving her J.D. degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles in 1992, Marjorie was admitted to the California Bar and began her first job at a maritime law firm in L.A where she handled a broad spectrum of maritime litigation matters in both state and federal courts. Marjorie later joined the United States Customs Service as in-house counsel, advising on issues of trade, law enforcement, and labor matters. 

Where she handled a broad spectrum of maritime litigation matters in both state and federal courts in California in a large international law firm in downtown L.A. Marjorie later joined the United States Customs Service as in-house counsel, advising on issues of trade, law enforcement, labor matters, and import/export issues. 

Marjorie and her husband moved their family to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1999. Excited about the lifestyle change from L.A., she immediately dove right into the duties of an active school-involved parent. For the next 11 years she was involved in the school PTO and was active in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, sports, and music programs in Scottsdale. 

In 2010, Marjorie took the Arizona Bar Exam and was admitted to the Arizona Bar. She got a job with a firm in Scottsdale, handling a large range of commercial collection matters all over Arizona. After seeing the devastating effects of the economy and a failure to plan on families, Marjorie chose to transition towards helping people prepare their family for the future. Passionate about helping people create their legacy, she went into estate planning. 

Marjorie established Desmond Law, PLLC in May 2015. She has gone through a wealth of legal education and continues to expand her legal knowledge while helping clients prepare and protect themselves and their families to leave a lasting legacy. She has an office in Scottsdale near her home and horses. 

Marjorie lives in Scottsdale and has two children–her son has a job in Scottsdale, and her daughter is a doctor in New York.   

In her free time, Marjorie loves to read, play the piano and ride her two horses. 

Education 

  • Stanford University, B.A., 1989. History and German Studies, with departmental honors.
  • Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, J.D., 1992. Loyola Law Review, Note & Comment Editor 1991-92, and published author in the Loyola Law Review.

Memberships 

  • State Bar of California, 1992
  • State Bar of Arizona, 2010
  • Admitted to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and all of the federal district courts in California and Arizona. 
  • United States Supreme Court, 2019

Personal Organizations 

Marjorie has been actively involved in a number of community organizations since moving to Arizona. She has held numerous positions in PTO and school organizations, church groups, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. She is also a member of the Stanford Alumni Association. 

Leah McKeever

Associate Attorney

Leah McKeever is an associate attorney at Desmond Law. As a mother of two young children, she has a passion for helping families prepare for their future and achieving their wishes. 

Prior to joining Desmond Law, Ms. McKeever was a civil litigation attorney working on both sides of the aisle. She represented clients in personal injury cases including general liability, auto and premise liability, trucking accidents, dog bites, wrongful death, as well as property damage and defamation cases. She also defended insurance companies and their insureds—both corporations and individuals, in claims brought against them for a variety of reasons. This broad perspective of litigation motivated Leah to help families prevent litigation if something happens to them.  Ms. McKeever has over ten years of experience in the handling of conservatorships for her clients, which she continues to do at Desmond Law. 

Ms. McKeever achieved her J.D. from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in 2017, where she was a member of the Student Bar Association, served on the Arizona Journal of Environmental Law and Policy, and participated in the US Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) Law School Certification Programs for patents and trademarks, receiving an Intellectual Property Certification. She obtained her B.S. in Political Science from the University of Arizona in 2013. 

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, family, and friends. She also enjoys traveling, running, reading, and riding her horse, Rosie. 

Katrina Thomas 

Administrative & Operations Director 

With more than 25 years of experience in customer service, administration, and operations across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Katrina plays a vital role in ensuring the firm runs smoothly and efficiently. As Administrative & Operations Director, she oversees many of the behind-the-scenes functions that support both the client experience and the firm’s daily operations, helping to create seamless processes and exceptional service. 

Katrina began her career with a strong commitment to service and relationship-building, serving as the firm’s primary client contact for many years. Today, she leverages that client-centered perspective to support the firm’s operational excellence, internal systems, and strategic initiatives. 

Born in Landstuhl, Germany, while her parents were serving in the United States Air Force, Katrina continued the tradition of public service as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent, serving for nearly six years in Southern California and Washington, D.C. Having traveled extensively and lived in eight different states, she brings a broad perspective and adaptability to her work. 

Service to others has always been a cornerstone of Katrina’s life. She has raised funds for Multiple Sclerosis research and services, held leadership roles with a nonprofit organization supporting a local charter school, and volunteered as a Girl Scout Co-Leader, Sunday school teacher, and Vacation Bible School leader. 

Katrina graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1998 and settled in Palm Desert, California, in 2009 with her husband and their two daughters after living throughout the United States. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and dog, playing games, pickleball, hiking, and traveling. 

Katrina works remotely and is dedicated to supporting both clients and the Desmond Law team, helping ensure every interaction with the firm is a positive one.

Reagan Pressley

Client Services Coordinator

Reagan Pressley is the Client Services Coordinator at Desmond Law, where she is dedicated to providing guidance, support, and confidence to every client throughout their experience with the firm. As a primary point of contact, Reagan facilitates clear and compassionate communication while ensuring each task is completed efficiently and with close attention to detail. She is passionate about creating a welcoming and supportive environment that reflects the core values and client-centered mission of Desmond Law. 

In addition to client communication, Reagan assists with the estate planning process to help ensure accuracy and precision at every stage. Her strong passion for law and advocacy led her to complete her bachelor’s degree in law prior to joining the firm. Reagan also brings experience in customer service, education, and mentoring, allowing her to connect with clients from all walks of life with professionalism and care. 

Outside of work, Reagan enjoys working out, reading, writing, and spending time with animals.

Alyssa Cundari

Legal Assistant

Alyssa serves as Desmond Law’s Legal Assistant with a background in political science, community outreach, and public service. She graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science, where she developed a strong interest in government, public policy, and the legal system. 

Following graduation, Alyssa gained valuable experience working in the office of a State Senator in San Diego, where she learned firsthand about the legislative process and the importance of serving the community. She later worked in the nonprofit sector, where she focused on community outreach, coordinating programs and volunteers, building relationships, and connecting individuals with valuable resources. 

After relocating from California to Arizona, Alyssa transitioned into the legal field and joined the Desmond Law team in 2026. In her role, she supports the firm’s day-to-day operations and assists with client communication, legal documentation, scheduling, and administrative matters. Her background in political science, public service, and community outreach has provided her with strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills that she brings to her work in the legal profession. 

Alyssa is passionate about helping others and is excited to continue growing her knowledge and experience in the legal field. 

In her free time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, relaxing by the pool, and exploring new restaurants.