Our Team
Our team is a collaborative group of dedicated legal professionals who support one another, our clients, and our community. We believe that the power of a team is greater working together than individually. This is true for our team internally, and even more true when we work collaboratively and proactively with our clients and their other advisors. We can all learn, grow, and achieve greater results when we work together.
Heather Johnston
Managing attorney
hjohnston@sapphire.law | (916) 546-5023 | vCard
Heather Johnston founded Sapphire Law Group in 2017, after practicing law at a boutique law firm in Sacramento for more than a decade. Heather first became interested in estate planning in law school, where she earned the Witkin Award in Wills & Trusts and received a Concentration in Taxation. Over the many years that she represented clients in all facets of real estate transactions, Heather developed a specific focus on planning and distributions from family trusts comprised of complex real estate portfolios and entity interests. Today, Heather uses this specific background to counsel clients with complex real estate planning, business succession planning and property tax planning opportunities. Heather is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.
Devin Picciano
ATTORNEY
dpicciano@sapphire.law | (916) 546-5023 | vCard
Devin began his legal career in 2015 as a paralegal at a non-profit firm providing education and representation to disadvantaged individuals. In 2016, Devin joined a personal injury firm as the paralegal to the managing partner. Then, in 2018, Devin took the next step in his legal career by attending McGeorge School of Law. During his tenure at McGeorge, Devin assisted disadvantaged individuals by representing them in court as a Certified Law Student through the McGeorge bankruptcy clinic. Furthering his practical training, Devin clerked for Chief Judge Ronald Sargis at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California as a judicial law clerk during the summer of 2019, and as a senior judicial law clerk during the fall semester of 2021.
Kellyann Petty
Paralegal
kpetty@sapphire.law | (916) 546-5023 | vCard
Kellyann has been in the legal field since graduating from Sonoma State University with a B.A. degree in Communications in 2008. Kellyann began her legal career as a file clerk at a boutique law firm in Sacramento shortly after graduation. What was originally intended to be a short-term "gig" for Kellyann, turned into a legal career where Kellyann grew from a file clerk, to a legal assistant and now a paralegal. Kellyann found she enjoyed working with attorneys, and that working in the legal field allowed her to help people in ways she did not previously realize she could. After spending nearly a decade at that same boutique law firm, many of those years as a legal assistant to Heather Johnston, it was time for a personal change. That's when Kellyann, her husband and their son, decided to move to Texas. While employed in an administrative position related to catering, customer service and college sports, she found herself missing the legal field. Heather Johnston contacted Kellyann shortly after starting Sapphire Law Group in 2017, and begged her to be a remote paralegal at her new law firm. Kellyann said “you had me at “work for Heather again.”
Amanda Cha
Paralegal
acha@sapphire.law | (916) 546-5023 | vCard
Amanda Cha joined Sapphire Law Group as a receptionist in January of 2020. Shortly after joining the firm, Amanda had a beautiful baby boy, and learned (and excelled at) the fine art of flexibility and resilience. Amanda learned how to serve the firm and its clients during a pandemic, navigating work from home schedules, urgent client needs and even greater reliance on the firm’s already prolific technology platforms. During this time, Amanda also attended school full time to obtain her Paralegal Certificate. Amanda has continued to grow and thrive in a paralegal position, serving clients primarily on entity formation, conducting estate planning signing appointments and other critical client support.
Leah Nuncio
Receptionist / Client Support Assistant
lnuncio@sapphire.law | (916) 546-5023 | vCard
Leah joined Sapphire Law Group as a receptionist in August of 2022 and solidified her role as the smiling face clients see when they walk into our office, as well as the friendly voice on the phone when calling to inquire about our services, or to set up the next step of their journey with our firm. Leah thrives off being helpful and is here to serve clients in each step along the way. She is wonderful at tending to clients’ needs and being a listening ear.
Karoline Oberhansley
Receptionist / Client Support Assistant
koberhansley@sapphire.law | (916) 546-5023 | vCard
Karoline joined Sapphire Law Group as a receptionist and client support assistant, offering a warm and welcoming demeanor to our clients while providing essential support to both clients and the firm, through collaboration and proactively seeking to meet the needs of those around her. She is passionate about making each client experience exceptional. With previous experience in the technology industry, she brings with her tech-savviness and a keen eye for detail, making her a dynamic addition to our firm.
Kenny Johnston
Firm administrator / Software Engineer
kjohnston@sapphire.law | (916) 546-5023 | vCard
Kenny brings a unique combination of skills to Sapphire Law Group. He has two decades of experience creating and managing technology for law firms and legal services providers. He has led countless software development projects, managed distributed teams and written software used by hundreds of law firms to streamline their operations, information management and integrations with various platforms.