Kutak Rock tax partner Matthias Edrich has been named the next President of the National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL).

As Matthias prepares to assume the role, he discussed what it means to be named President of NABL, an organization of which he’s been a member for the nearly 20 years he’s practiced public finance.

“The single most impactful organization for my career development has been the National Association of Bond Lawyers,” he said. “I am thankful for the invaluable education the Association provides and the opportunities to have meaningful professional and social interactions with others in the field. Helping lead NABL as President in the coming year is just one additional opportunity to grow and help others get the most out of the Association. I am honored to be able to follow those who led NABL before me.”

Kutak Rock and NABL have a shared history, dating back nearly half a century. 

“Kutak Rock played a crucial role in the creation of NABL,” Matthias said. “Dick Weill, a former public finance attorney in our Omaha office, organized NABL with other industry participants in 1978 and 1979 to provide members with a forum to discuss law and practice matters, foster continuing education opportunities and advance the understanding of public finance at federal, state, and local levels.” 

“In those days, there was little or no national source of information for the small bond lawyers, about federal tax or federal securities laws,” said John Wagner, Kutak Rock public finance partner. “The Association started annual meetings where bond lawyers from all over the country would get together for an annual meeting to discuss developments affecting municipal finance. Dick Weill was on the initial board and Kutak Rock has been a major supporter of NABL since then. Several Kutak Rock partners have been on the NABL Board of Directors, some for many years, especially tax lawyers.” 

“Over the nearly 50-year history of NABL, Kutak Rock attorneys have served in virtually all roles at NABL and continue to be heavily involved,” Matthias said. “Thanks to this involvement, attorneys in our firm’s Public Finance practice continue to be technical, practical and pragmatic experts in the field and are recognized as being among the best in the industry.”

NABL states that its vision is “to promote the importance and integrity of the municipal market by advancing the understanding of and compliance with the law affecting public finance” and that its mission is to:

• Educate its members and others in the law relating to state and municipal bonds and other obligations;
• Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas as to law and practice;
• Improve the state of the art in the field;
• Provide advice and comment at the federal, state and local level with respect to legislation, regulations, rulings and other action, or proposals therefor, affecting state and municipal obligations; and
• Deliver advice and comment with regard to state and municipal obligations in proceedings before courts and administrative bodies through briefs and memoranda as a friend of the court or agency.

Matthias has served on the Board of Directors of NABL since 2020 and as part of the Association’s Executive Committee since 2023. Matthias’ one-year term as President will begin on September 10, 2025.