ASNP Member Attorney Receives Prestigious Award

ASNP attorney Kevin Urbatsch is the recipient of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys' (NAELA) 2011 President's Recognition Award for his contributions to helping those with special needs.

Each year the current NAELA President selects an outstanding individual to receive the President's Recognition Award. NAELA President Ruth Phelps presented the award to Mr. Urbatsch at NAELA's Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, held May 19-21 (see photo). NAELA will make a donation to Mr. Urbatsch's organization of choice, the Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco (ILRCSF), a disability rights advocacy and support organization.

In her remarks, Ms. Phelps said the award was in recognition of Mr. Urbatsch's extensive contributions to the special needs planning community as a frequent lecturer, author, editor and attorney mentor for those in the field. She highlighted Mr. Urbatsch's work as editor and partial author of the Continuing Education of the Bar's 2008 publication Special Needs Trusts: Planning, Drafting and Administration. Mr. Urbatsch prepared the extensive 17-chapter outline, recruited more than 36 attorneys as authors or contributors (nine of whom were ASNP members), and worked for two years on editing and preparing the two-volume tome. The book received the Association of Continuing Legal Education (ACLEA) annual Award of Outstanding Achievement in Publications. Ms. Phelps also mentioned Mr. Urbatsch's contributions to ASNP, NAELA, California bar associations, and California not-for-profits that assist those with special needs.

Mr. Urbatsch, who practices in San Francisco, is a principal at the law firm of Urbatsch Law Firm P.C. He is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization.

Established in 1987, NAELA is a non-profit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations, and others. Members of NAELA are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and individuals of all ages with disabilities.