Ankur Goel Distinguished Service Award from Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates

The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates presents this special Distinguished Service Award to Ankur Goel for your extraordinary pro bono advocacy for the educational rights of children with disabilities. We would like to thank you for the exemplary amicus curiae briefs you have written on COPAA's behalf.

Ankur J. Goel is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP based in its Washington, D.C. office. As a member of the Firm's Health Department, Ankur concentrates his practice in civil, criminal and administrative enforcement matters and complex civil litigation.

Before entering private practice, Ankur was a federal criminal prosecutor in the Justice Department's Criminal Division, Fraud Section, where he investigated and prosecuted health care, securities and other fraud matters. Ankur was also Senior Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

Ankur has given hundreds of pro bono hours to COPAA. In 2004, the amicus curiae brief Ankur wrote the Alegria v. District of Columbia case in the D.C. Circuit stressed the importance of the IDEA attorneys' fees provision to students with disabilities. In 2005, Ankur wrote the amicus curiae brief for COPAA in the Schaffer v. Weast Supreme Court case. It was truly outstanding and demonstrated very effectively the difficulties parents face in navigating the special-education maze. This brief was ultimately joined by 12 other national disabilities organizations. Ankur spent hours with COPAA Amicus Committee discussing potential arguments, and demonstrating his strong dedication to the rights of students with disabilities.

Your legal arguments have been both cogent and compassionate--a rare combination Your work has had tremendous impact for children with disabilities in Washington, D.C and nationwide. We are honored to select you as the award recipient.

Selene Almazan
Chair
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates
www.copaa.org

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