The NABL Member Spotlight initiative is a volunteer-based program. All featured members participate voluntarily and are selected to highlight their contributions and achievements within our community. Participation in the spotlight does not imply endorsement by NABL. If you would like to be featured, please contact us! Now, let’s meet the 2025-2026 NABL President, Matthias Edrich and learn more about his public finance journey:

1. What inspired you to become a NABL member and how did your career in Public Finance start?   

My first job interview towards the end of law school consisted of a reading by my future supervising partner of what seemed to be the entire transcript of a municipal bond transaction. From closing index through indenture to bond counsel opinion, she read each document word for word and discussed, among other very relevant matters, the placement of commas and nonbreaking spaces and the proper usage of the word “shall.” Maybe that interview should have scared me away from the public finance practice. But as I listened to her and her colleagues discuss their work, I could feel their passion for the broader mission of helping communities grow and develop. I wanted to experience this same sort of passion.  As soon as I joined the firm, I recognized that NABL offered the best opportunities to learn about public finance through conferences and substantive projects. I was very fortunate to have colleagues who encouraged me to become active in NABL and who were role models in their interaction with other members, whether as panelists or project leaders.    

2. Tell us about your path to NABL President; how did you start volunteering on committees, projects, and serving on the Board of Directors? 

After two or three years as a “baby bond attorney,” I yearned to participate in a substantive NABL project.  Through my colleagues, I saw that participation in NABL projects resulted in fun and challenging tasks, and I recognized the potential to grow professional friendships and networks that would be fulfilling throughout my career. But I was nervous about asking to be added to a project – after all, I was still a junior associate and did not feel I could contribute substantively. Luckily, I overcame my fear at a NABL conference and asked a panelist for tips on how to be more involved. That panelist remembered our conversation and subsequently added me to my very first project – an exciting analysis of the TEFRA public approval requirement. What followed were equally enthralling projects on private use allocation rules, management contracts, SLGS matters and many more topics de jour, as well as opportunities to participate on conference panels. The more projects there were, the more opportunities arose for participating in NABL activities . . . eventually this led to participating on the board.    

3. As the 2025-2026 NABL President, what are some goals you hope to accomplish this year?  

As an Association, our mission remains unchanged from prior years, generally including the following: (1) providing first-class public finance educational opportunities; (2) enabling members to exchange ideas; and (3) giving advice on federal, state and local government levels relating to law and policy concerning municipal bonds. NABL already does a great job each year organizing and managing activities towards this mission. My goal to assist with this mission in the 2025-2026 NABL year is to work with staff, board members and the general membership to encourage members to share their excitement for NABL with younger attorneys and to include new members in association activities. With strong emphasis on making sure members are involved in association activities and are dedicated to NABL’s mission, I am confident NABL will continue as a strong organization for many years to come. 

4. What advice would you give to new attorneys? 

Apart from advice regarding placement of commas, the virtue of the nonbreaking space and the uselessness of the word “shall,” my more serious advice to a new attorney would be to practice patience. Becoming a somewhat skilled public finance practitioner may take over a decade, and creating a successful practice is a lifetime task. Never mislead yourself by believing you have the definitive answers to all questions – always be open to discussing other perspectives and analysis. And, as a tax attorney, do not be shy about saying “no” loudly and often to make sure you are heard!     

5. What is a fun fact that people might not know about you?  

I grew up in Germany and have a bitter lack of understanding of American pop culture outside of David Hasselhoff.