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Longtime Stark & Knoll attorney retires
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: December 15, 2020
As an estate planning and administration attorney, Stark & Knoll Co. partner Philip S. Kaufmann spent much of his time assisting families with disabled children in crafting special needs trusts that would enable them to thrive long after their parents had passed away.
“I believe I created peace of mind for a lot of parents over the years,” said Kaufmann. “It is a subspecialty that requires you to understand your client’s goals and carefully implement those goals in a way that provides for the child in the future without jeopardizing the child’s government benefits.
“It is a very positive practice and over the years I’ve gotten to know some of the children that were helped by my work.”
In mid-September, Kaufmann officially retired from Stark & Knoll, where he practiced for 11 years.
“I really enjoyed my job, but the firm has many capable lawyers and I know I left my clients in good hands,” said Kaufmann, 74.
In an email, Stark & Knoll Managing Partner John Krajewski said Kaufmann would be missed, stating “He has provided outstanding service to thousands of clients for over 40 years. We have been fortunate that he has been at Stark & Knoll for the past 11 years. Phil has volunteered and served on many community organizations over the years,” adding “he has had an immense impact on the community.”
Stark & Knoll Estate Planning & Probate Group partner Loma L. Swett described Kaufmann as “a well-accomplished professional” and an “all-around good person” that people are pleased to say they know.
“Phil always made himself available to clients whenever they needed him,” said Swett. “He was more than their attorney; he became involved in their lives and tried to have a positive impact.”
Born and raised in Akron, Kaufmann said he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become an attorney when he was a child.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in political science from Loyola University Chicago, Kaufmann returned to Ohio to attend The University of Akron School of Law.
Shortly after graduating from law school in 1971, he went to work for his father, Frank P. Kaufmann at the family firm Kaufmann & Kaufmann.
Swett clerked for Kaufmann’s father in 1980 while she was in law school.
“I first met Phil back then,” said Swett. “We reconnected in April 2002 when I joined Kaufmann & Kaufmann and we have worked together ever since.”
In 2007, Kaufmann and Swett began working in the Akron office of Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, leaving the firm in 2009 to join Stark & Knoll.
Kaufmann went on to become chair of Stark & Knoll’s Estate Planning & Probate Group.
“As time went on, parents began seeking Phil out for his expertise in special needs trusts,” she said. “He had such a big heart and he really cared about the families and wanted to make sure the children were taken care of.”
Over the years, he’s also mentored many attorneys, including Swett.
“Phil had a predisposition toward including at least one other attorney in his client meetings so that he could educate by example and provide the client with another attorney who could then assist them with their matters,” Swett said.
Kaufmann also served as an important mentor to Stark & Knoll partner Trey Bennett, who joined the firm in 2013 and took over as chair of the estate planning & probate practice group when Kaufmann retired.
“I could not have asked for a better mentor than Phil Kaufmann,” said Bennett. “From day one he put me in front of clients, introduced me to people within the community, got me involved in local organizations and provided me with technical support, which as a young attorney, are exactly the things you need.
“As chair of the practice group, I realize I have almost impossible shoes to fill,” he said. “There will never be another Phil Kaufmann. My best hope is to measure up in some small way to all that he has done in his career.”
Bennett said he misses Kaufmann. “Luckily he still comes by the office and we talk on the phone several times a week.”
A longtime member of the Akron and Ohio State bar associations, Kaufmann was elected as a fellow to the prestigious American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
In 2002, the Akron Bar Association presented Kaufmann with the St. Thomas More award.
Kaufmann has served on the boards of a number of local organizations, including Summit County Developmental Disabilities, St. Edward’s Nursing Home (now The Village of St. Edward) and The University of Akron Board of Trustees, where he is also a past chair.
He is a former member of The University of Akron Foundation Board of Directors and a former member of the National Alumni Board of Directors. He received the Outstanding Law Alumni Award from the university in 2008 and was bestowed an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the school in 2010.
A current and longtime Summa Health board member, Kaufmann was selected as the 2018 honoree of the annual Summa Health Golf Outing.
Looking back at his career, Kaufmann said he wouldn’t change anything.
“I very much enjoyed the practice of law and contributing to Akron through my board service,” he said. “It was very satisfying work.”
As for his plans for the future, he said he would continue to volunteer his time as a board member at Summa Health and see where else he might be of assistance.
Kaufmann and his wife Patricia, a registered nurse who retired from Akron Children’s Hospital in January, live in Akron and have one adult son.
“Our son Christopher has Down Syndrome,” said Kaufmann. “He is doing very well. He works and lives independently. He is part of the reason I devoted much of my practice to helping families with disabled children.”
Kaufmann said he is hoping to travel abroad again once the worst of the pandemic is over.
“My wife and I have been to every continent but Antarctica,” he said. “We love to travel and hope to be able to explore new places soon.”