Crisis Planning Strategies for Your Elder Law Clients 2022

Erik D. Spurlin, Esq., LL.M., CELA, is the founder and principal attorney of Battlefield Estate & Elder Law in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, serving clients throughout Central Pennsylvania. His practice focuses on estate planning and administration, elder law, long-term-care and Medicaid planning, guardianships, special needs planning, fiduciary matters, and related tax issues. He is a Certified Elder Law Attorney and a frequent lecturer for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Mr. Spurlin earned his J.D., cum laude, from Temple University Beasley School of Law and his LL.M. in Taxation, with distinction, from Temple, where he also earned a Graduate Certificate in Estate Planning. He was the sole recipient of the Joseph Price Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in Tax Law. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, summa cum laude, from Arizona State University. Mr. Spurlin is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys, the Elder Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the Estate Planning and Probate Section of the York County Bar Association.

Rebecca A. Hobbs, Esq., CELA is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Hobbs Legacy Law Group, LLC, a boutique law firm serving individuals and families throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania in the areas of elder law, estate planning, special needs planning, trust and estate administration, Medicaid and long-term care planning, guardianships, veterans’ benefits, and related litigation matters. Rebecca is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), a distinction awarded by the National Elder Law Foundation and accredited by the American Bar Association. The CELA® designation is recognized by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and identifies attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional knowledge, experience, and dedication in the practice of elder law. She is licensed to practice law in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey and is accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for veterans’ benefits. Recognized as a leader in the field of elder law, Rebecca was selected for inclusion in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Stars from 2017 through 2024 and was named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers honoree in Elder Law in 2026. She is also the recipient of the 2025 WealthCounsel Award for Scholarship and has been recognized as a Main Line Today Top Lawyer in Elder Law for 2025 and 2026. She has also been consistently recognized as a Top Lawyer in Chester County in the fields of Elder Law and Estate Planning. Rebecca is an active member of numerous professional organizations dedicated to elder law and special needs planning, including the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys (PAELA), and the Special Needs Alliance (SNA). She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Elder Law Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association, where she works to advance education and advocacy on issues affecting older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their families. Rebecca regularly presents continuing legal education programs for attorneys, financial professionals, fiduciaries, and care professionals. She has lectured on a wide range of topics, including elder law, estate planning, trust and estate administration, special needs planning, Medicaid planning, legal ethics, and veterans’ benefits for organizations such as NAELA, PAELA, WealthCounsel, ElderCounsel, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI), county bar associations, and other professional education providers. Rebecca is passionate about helping families navigate life’s most important planning decisions with confidence and clarity. Through proactive planning and compassionate counsel, she helps clients protect what matters most, preserve dignity and independence, and create lasting legacies for future generations.

Ms. Sikov Gross is the managing partner in the Pittsburgh law firm of Sikov and Love, P.A. She is a certified elder law attorney (CELA) through the National Elder Law Foundation as authorized by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and was admitted as an ACTEC Fellow in 2012. In 1998, Ms. Sikov Gross became the founding chair of the Elder Law Committee of the Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA). She is a past chair of the ACBA Probate and Trust Law Section Council. Ms. Sikov Gross is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). She is a past Vice President of the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys (PAELA) and has served on the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Elder Law Section Council. She writes for the Pittsburgh Legal Journal. Ms. Sikov Gross is a frequent speaker for PBI and others as well as for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes at Carnegie Mellon University and at the University of Pittsburgh. She has been listed as an elder law attorney in Best Lawyers in America and has been selected for inclusion in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers®.